British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington soon, both sides confirmed on Friday.
“He asked for a meeting, and I agreed,” Trump told reporters. “We’re going to have a friendly meeting. We have a lot of good things going on.
“I think he wants to come next week or the weekend.”
The confirmation follows Starmer’s meeting with Trump’s special envoy to the UK, Mark Burnett, in London on Thursday. During their discussion, Starmer took a call from President Trump to finalize plans for his upcoming US visit, Downing Street stated.
Starmer-Trump Relations Strengthen
This will be at least the third time Starmer and Trump have spoken since Trump’s election victory in November. Downing Street has been in discussions with US officials for weeks regarding the visit, though no official date has been announced.
Trump has already hosted several world leaders at the White House, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, The Mirror reported that discussions are underway about King Charles III making an official visit to the US early next year. However, this has yet to be confirmed.
Trade Tariffs and UK-US Economic Relations
Starmer’s visit comes as Britain grapples with potential US trade tariffs. The UK government recently stated it is “engaging” with Washington over Trump’s steel tariffs, in contrast to the firmer stances taken by Canada and the European Union.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Starmer emphasized the strong economic ties between the US and UK, saying:
“The US and the UK share a strong and balanced trading relationship, we invest hugely in each other’s economies and we will continue to work closely with President Trump to boost growth and to create jobs.”
Navigating Complex Global Relations
Starmer faces the challenge of maintaining a positive relationship with Trump while also strengthening ties with the European Union. His government has remained cautious about publicly criticizing Trump’s policies, including his stance on the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
This diplomatic balancing act comes amid personal attacks on Starmer by tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk.
Starmer previously met Trump in New York in September during a two-hour dinner while Trump was still a Republican candidate.
As Britain seeks to navigate trade negotiations and foreign policy under Trump’s administration, Starmer’s visit to Washington could play a pivotal role in shaping future UK-US relations.