Key facts
- US President Donald Trump met with Andy Burnham in New York.
- Trump said he could do business with Burnham and that UK-US relations are "more up now."
- Trump criticized the UK's deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
- Burnham stated the UK would work to find a resolution for the Chagos Islands deal.
- Burnham reaffirmed the British position on the Falkland Islands to Trump.
- Trump expressed opposition to globalist schemes to control AI, advocating for US encouragement of the technology.
US President Donald Trump met with UK leader Andy Burnham on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, with Trump stating he could do business with Burnham and that UK-US relations are "more up now" under his leadership. Burnham reported establishing a "good connection" with Trump during their discussions on trade and immigration.
However, Trump reiterated his strong opposition to the UK's deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and pay to lease back a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, calling the agreement "terrible." The deal, which would see the UK cede sovereignty and pay an average of £101 million ($136 million) per year to lease the base, was paused indefinitely in April after Trump withdrew his support. Burnham acknowledged inheriting the situation and stated the UK would "work hard" to find a resolution with US partners, emphasizing the base's importance for security.
Burnham also informed Trump of the British position on the Falkland Islands, defending the right of the islanders to self-determination. The meeting occurred amid ongoing comments from Argentina's president, Javier Milei, about recovering the islands.
In separate discussions, Burnham met with Apple's executive chairman Tim Cook to discuss global principles for artificial intelligence, aiming to unlock its potential while guarding against risks. This contrasts with Trump's stance, who, in his UN address, rejected "globalist schemes" to control AI and stated the US would "encourage it, not rein it in."
Following his meeting with Trump, Burnham met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, apologizing for a slight delay caused by his bilateral talks running over.