Political reporter Kate Whannel recently covered the discussions between President Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer about a potential trade deal between the US and UK. Trump expressed optimism about the speed at which a deal could be reached, hinting at avoiding tariffs on UK goods. The visit was significant for Sir Keir as he aimed to influence Trump’s decisions on various topics, including trade and Ukraine.
During the White House visit, Sir Keir presented Trump with a letter from King Charles, inviting him for a second state visit to the UK. Trump graciously accepted the invitation, calling it a “great honour” and lauding the King as “a wonderful man”. This second state visit offer was described by Sir Keir as “truly historic”, highlighting the special nature of the invitation.
The discussions between the two leaders covered a range of topics, including the possibility of a Ukraine deal and the UK’s potential agreement with Mauritius regarding the Chagos Islands. Sir Keir reiterated his willingness to send British troops to Ukraine as part of a peace deal, emphasizing the importance of US security guarantees to prevent Russian intervention. Trump hinted at a minerals agreement with Ukraine as a potential security measure for US workers there.
Regarding the UK’s agreement with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands, Trump seemed supportive of the UK’s approach, indicating a willingness to go along with it. This agreement would see the UK cede sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while retaining control over Diego Garcia, home to a US-UK military airbase. The two leaders discussed these issues further during a formal press conference, with Trump emphasizing the potential for a swift US-UK trade deal and Sir Keir focusing on the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence
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