<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-09-18/Starmer-and-Trump-to-discuss-foreign-affairs-and-investment-1GLICiIzCes/img/cf1b6e74eb3445d6ae69a3f55f299866/cf1b6e74eb3445d6ae69a3f55f299866.png' alt='U.S. President Donald Trump (L) reacts alongside Britain's King Charles III after delivering a speech during a State Banquet at Windsor Castle, Windsor, the United Kingdom, September 17, 2025. /VCG'
U.S. President 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.
After a day of ceremony in which Trump rode in a carriage with King Charles III and feasted at a state banquet, the U.S. president and Starmer will celebrate the unveiling of a 150 billion pound (about $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.
Talks on investment and foreign affairs
Trump, speaking alongside King Charles at Windsor Castle, described his visit as “truly one of the highest honors 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 (about $42 billion) in investments over the next few years in AI, quantum computing and civil nuclear energy.
The British leader will also turn the focus to foreign affairs on Thursday when he hosts Trump at his Chequers country residence, hoping to persuade the U.S. leader to take stronger action against Russia.
Meeting is not without risks
However, the meeting is not without risks. Later on Thursday, the two leaders will hold a press conference where journalists could raise sensitive questions.
On Israel, the British leader is under pressure to raise the assault on Gaza with Trump, who has expressed frustration over Israel’s air strikes against Hamas leaders in Qatar but overall has been supportive of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump has criticized some European countries over their decision to recognize a Palestinian state as “rewarding Hamas,” although he told reporters he didn’t mind Starmer “taking a position.”
Trump is also demanding that Europe stop all purchases of Russian oil before he will agree to impose heavier sanctions on Moscow.
“Those two geopolitical areas are likely to be the friction points in the conversations,” said political analyst Aspinall. “There will be some awkward moments in those conversations.”
(With input from Reuters)
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