Trump to discuss foreign affairs investment in his UK visit
United Kingdom
Donald Trump meets British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday for talks designed to focus the U.S. leader’s unprecedented second state visit firmly on global affairs rather than domestic political problems.
After a day of pomp and ceremony in which Trump rode in a carriage with King Charles and feasted at a state banquet, the U.S. president and Starmer will celebrate the unveiling of a 150 billion pound ($205 billion) package of U.S. investment into Britain.
The deals, covering areas such as technology, energy and life sciences, will offer a renewal of the so-called ‘special relationship’ between the two nations, something Starmer has worked hard to cultivate since Trump became leader in January.
MEETING IS NOT WITHOUT PERILS.
But the meeting is not without perils. Later on Thursday, the two leaders will hold a press conference, when journalists could quiz both over the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer was forced to sack Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S. last week after his close ties with Epstein were documented and Trump’s relationship with the late financier has also come under scrutiny.
“For Starmer, he is having a difficult domestic time and he needs a positive international narrative and to bring Trump on board on key issues,” said Evie Aspinall, director of the British Foreign Policy Group think tank.
“For Trump … it is important to him to show there is value in having close relations with him. For both sides, they realise there is a lot to be gained.”
Trump, speaking alongside Charles at Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, described his visit as “truly one of the highest honours of my life”.
Starmer hopes this sentiment will continue into Thursday and deter the U.S. leader from straying into more sensitive areas, such as Britain’s online safety laws and position on Israel.
Instead, Starmer will want to champion the deals secured between the two countries, including a new technology pact with companies from Microsoft to Nvidia, Google and OpenAI pledging 31 billion pounds ($42 billion) in investments over the next few years, in AI, quantum computing and civil nuclear energy.
