UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has arrived in New York City, expressing confidence that he will find "common ground" during his first face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday. The high-profile encounter, taking place on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly, represents a crucial diplomatic moment for the British leader, who assumed office in July. The two men have already spoken twice by telephone, conversations that Downing Street described as establishing a productive relationship.
Speaking to reporters on his flight to the United States, Burnham expressed optimism about building a rapport with the American president. "We've found a connection. So, I will go with where I feel it's right, to meet him where he is at, and search for that common ground, which I'm sure we'll find," Burnham said, adding, "I'm looking forward to it." He also characterized the broader UK-US alliance as being "as strong as it's ever been." During the flight, Burnham indicated that the UK would take a pragmatic stance regarding North Sea oil and stated he was not embarrassed by a recent hoax message exchange.
Accompanied by his wife, Marie-France Van Heel, Burnham is embarking on a busy day of diplomacy in New York. A central element of his visit will be an address to the UN General Assembly, where he is expected to focus heavily on the opportunities and dangers presented by artificial intelligence (AI). Explaining his agenda, Burnham said: "I will be making the case for closer international co-operation on AI, a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and renewed efforts to bring an end to the conflict in the Middle East because what happens abroad impacts each and every one of us at home."
As part of this diplomatic push, the Prime Minister will announce the launch of a new AI and Autonomy partnership between the UK and the US. This initiative is designed to protect critical national infrastructure using advanced AI technology. However, the plan has already drawn sharp domestic criticism. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is expected to condemn the proposal on the final day of his party's conference, arguing that it "doesn't come close to meeting the scale of the threat" and "only risks making us more dependent on a Trump administration in the pocket of the tech bros." Instead, Davey intends to call for a global pause on superintelligent AI and propose the creation of a new International AI Safety Agency, following warnings from industry experts about the technology's existential dangers.
While British officials remain highly conscious of the potential risks of a joint public appearance with an unpredictable US president, the two nations continue to showcase deep military cooperation. Ahead of the meeting, the UK revealed that British and American forces recently conducted a landmark military exercise in British waters. For the first time, a heavyweight American torpedo, designed to sink ships and deep-diving submarines, was successfully launched from a British uncrewed underwater vehicle. The 12-meter-long autonomous drone, named Excalibur and manufactured in Plymouth, represents a technological breakthrough aimed at safeguarding vital deep-sea infrastructure, such as underwater data cables. Commenting on the successful test, Burnham remarked: "Our work together already shows what can be achieved when our two countries combine our expertise and innovation."
In addition to defense and technology, Burnham addressed questions regarding the future of the Chagos Islands. The UK government has been negotiating to hand sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while paying to lease back the joint US-UK military base located on Diego Garcia. Burnham, who spoke with Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam on Monday, reiterated the strategic importance of the site. "I said that we remain determined to secure the long-term operation of the base, which is crucial to our security and that of our allies," Burnham said. "The assurance I gave was I will work towards a resolution, at the moment we don't have that, but I gave an assurance that I would commit to working towards one."
