British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Tuesday that he and US President Donald Trump had established a “good connection” during their first discussions.
The two leaders met for the first time in New York, where they discussed several foreign policy and trade issues despite differences between their governments.
Burnham and Trump Hold First Meeting
Following the meeting, Trump described Burnham as a “natural business person.”
Their talks covered a wide range of topics, including Ukraine, trade relations and the future status of the Falkland Islands.
Burnham said the UK-US relationship remained highly important and indicated that both sides intended to build on their initial discussions.
UK-US Relations Remain a Key Foreign Policy Issue
Managing Britain’s relationship with the United States is expected to be one of the major foreign policy challenges facing Burnham’s government.
The UK and US have traditionally maintained one of the world’s closest diplomatic and security partnerships.
However, tensions have emerged over several areas of foreign policy, including the US-Israeli military action against Iran earlier this year.
Despite those differences, the first public meeting between Burnham and Trump concluded without any major diplomatic confrontation.
Trump Criticises Diego Garcia Agreement
One area of disagreement remains the future of Diego Garcia, which hosts a strategically important US-British military base in the Indian Ocean.
After the meeting, Trump again criticised Britain’s proposed arrangement over the Chagos Islands, describing the agreement as a “terrible deal.”
Burnham has said his government will seek a solution to the dispute.
Chagos Islands Deal Faces US Opposition
Britain agreed last year to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after more than two centuries of British control.
Under the agreement, the UK would retain a 99-year lease over Diego Garcia, allowing the joint US-UK military facility there to continue operating.
However, the legislation needed to implement the agreement was later paused amid opposition from the United States.
Trump reiterated his objections on Tuesday, arguing that the sovereignty arrangement should not proceed in its current form.
The issue is likely to remain an important test of UK-US relations as Burnham and Trump continue discussions on security, trade and foreign policy.
