LONDON (AP) — The spotlight is shifting from ceremonial grandeur to substantive dialogue as President Donald Trump prepares to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, marking the final day of his state visit to the United Kingdom. Key topics on the agenda include technology investments, steel tariffs, and other potentially sensitive issues.
On Wednesday, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were honored by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, where they experienced a lavish display of British royal traditions, including gold-trimmed carriages, ceremonial soldiers in traditional attire, artillery salutes, and an extravagant banquet in grand surroundings.
This marks Trump’s unprecedented second state visit to the U.K., highlighted by the largest military honor guard ever organized for such an occasion. The visit aims to underscore the enduring strength of the U.S.-U.K. relationship, almost 250 years after its contentious beginnings in 1776. The prime minister will welcome Trump to Chequers, a historic 16th-century manor house that serves as a countryside retreat for British leaders.
The ceremonial welcome will include an honor guard complete with bagpipers, reflecting Trump’s Scottish heritage, and the leaders will view items from the archives of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who famously termed the U.S.-U.K. connection as a "special relationship." The visit will feature a lunch of Dover sole followed by key lime pie and a performance by the Red Devils parachute team.
Regarding the long-awaited tech partnership, the two leaders are set to sign a “tech prosperity deal” aimed at injecting billions into artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and nuclear energy sectors in the U.K., creating thousands of jobs. This deal includes a U.K. component of Stargate, an AI infrastructure initiative backed by Trump and led by OpenAI. Notably, American companies have pledged £31 billion ($42 billion) in investment in the U.K.'s AI landscape, with Microsoft leading the charge with a commitment of $30 billion for projects such as the nation’s largest supercomputer.
Crucially, British officials maintain that no concessions will be made concerning the digital services tax or internet regulation in exchange for this deal. However, while a trade agreement in May reduced U.S. tariffs on key British auto and aerospace industries, negotiations to eliminate the 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum have stalled, which could be met with disappointment from the British steel sector if unresolved.
Starmer, dealing with recent political challenges, aims for a successful state visit to counter a series of setbacks including the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner over a tax error. With his Labour Party trailing in the polls following a resounding election victory fourteen months prior, the state visit holds significant political weight for the prime minister.
According to Leslie Vinjamuri, president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the dynamics of the visit will be more challenging for Starmer than for Trump. The U.S. president is likely to benefit politically from being celebrated by the British establishment.
Starmer should expect probing questions regarding Jeffrey Epstein, especially considering he recently dismissed Britain’s ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, due to a past friendship with the convicted sex offender. The subject overshadowed Trump’s previous visit to the U.K., where he faced intense media scrutiny regarding Epstein while also discussing matters of governance.
Further complexities are anticipated in discussions about Ukraine and the Middle East. Starmer has played a crucial role in bolstering U.S. support for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia, whereas Trump has shown frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin but has hesitated to impose additional sanctions, leaving future actions uncertain. Additionally, Starmer diverges from Trump on the issue of Israel’s conflict in Gaza, planning to seek formal recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations.
This vital meeting between the leaders is poised to unfold amidst intricate negotiations and shifting political landscapes, with wide-ranging implications for both nations.
