UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had dinner with former US President Donald Trump for the first time in New York. The two-hour meeting took place at Trump Tower, where they were joined by Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Starmer was in New York for the UN General Assembly but wanted to take the opportunity to meet Trump and build a relationship.
While details of their discussion have not been shared, Starmer expressed that it was “good” to meet Trump, who is running for president again. Trump praised Starmer, calling him “very nice” and complimenting his political efforts.
Interestingly, Lammy, who was present, has previously criticized Trump, calling him a “racist” and a “neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath.” Starmer did not meet with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during this trip but mentioned he hopes to connect with her in the future.
Starmer emphasized the importance of personal relationships in international politics, stating that knowing your counterparts face-to-face is crucial. He also noted that the UK has maintained a strong relationship with the US, regardless of who holds office. He reassured reporters that the UK will work with whoever is president after the upcoming election, avoiding speculation on future issues.
Overall, this meeting is seen as an important step for Starmer to engage with key figures in US politics ahead of the November election.
According to the BBC, maintaining a good relationship with the US is vital for the UK, especially concerning issues like the Middle East and support for Ukraine .
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2439897mg2o