The United Kingdom will remain an 'indispensable' partner, says Obama.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US President Barack Obama said on Friday that the US relationship with both the United Kingdom and the European Union will be enduring, following the British decision to leave the bloc.

"The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision," Obama said in a statement. "The United Kingdom and the European Union will remain indispensable partners of the United States even as they begin to renegotiate their relationship."

The British decision led Prime Minister David Cameron to announce his resignation and was the biggest blow to the project of greater European unity since the Second World War.

The decision was met with acceptance by US authorities, although it caused shocks on Wall Street and in other markets around the world.

US Vice President Joe Biden, during a visit to Ireland, said that the US would have preferred the UK to have voted to remain in the EU, but that he respects the result.

"I must say that I expected a different outcome. We would have preferred a different outcome... but the United States has a long-standing friendship with the United Kingdom, and this very special bond will endure," he said in a speech in Dublin.

Obama, during a visit to London in April, argued against leaving.

He travelled to London at Cameron's request, whom he calls a friend, urging Britons to remain in the EU. The unusual intervention was denounced as interference by supporters of Britain's exit.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday that the U.S. relationship with both the United Kingdom and the European Union will be enduring, following Britain's decision to leave the bloc.

"The people of the United Kingdom have spoken, and we respect their decision," Obama said in a statement. "The United Kingdom and the European Union will remain indispensable partners of the United States even as they begin to renegotiate their relationship."

The British decision led Prime Minister David Cameron to announce his resignation and was the biggest blow to the project of greater European unity since the Second World War.

The decision was met with acceptance by US authorities, although it caused shocks on Wall Street and in other markets around the world.

US Vice President Joe Biden, during a visit to Ireland, said that the US would have preferred the UK to have voted to remain in the EU, but that he respects the result.

"I must say that I expected a different outcome. We would have preferred a different outcome... but the United States has a long-standing friendship with the United Kingdom, and this very special bond will endure," he said in a speech in Dublin.

Obama, during a visit to London in April, argued against leaving.

He travelled to London at Cameron's request, whom he calls a friend, urging Britons to remain in the EU. The unusual intervention was denounced as interference by supporters of Britain's exit.