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UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he expected to find “common ground” with US President Donald Trump when they hold their first face-to-face meeting on Tuesday, according to the BBC.
The two leaders are in New York for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations. They have spoken by phone twice since Burnham became prime minister in July, with Downing Street describing the discussions as the basis for a “productive relationship”.
“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 told reporters on his flight to the United States.
Asked about UK-US relations, Burnham said he believed the relationship was “as strong as it’s ever been”.
Burnham to address AI and international conflicts
Burnham travelled to New York with his wife, Marie-France van Heel, for a day of diplomacy and an address to the UN General Assembly.
His speech is expected to focus on the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence. Burnham said he would make the case for closer international cooperation on AI, a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and renewed efforts to end the conflict in the Middle East.
The UK prime minister is also expected to announce the beginning of work on a new AI and Autonomy partnership between the UK and the United States. The initiative will focus on using AI technology to protect critical national infrastructure.
However, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is expected to criticise the plan at the final day of his party’s conference. He is set to argue that it does not match the scale of the threat and could increase the UK’s dependence on the Trump administration.
Davey is also expected to call for a global pause on superintelligent AI and propose the creation of an International AI Safety Agency.
UK and US conduct torpedo exercise
Before the meeting, the UK announced that the two countries had, for the first time, fired an American torpedo from a British uncrewed underwater vessel during a military exercise.
UK officials described the weapon as a heavyweight torpedo designed to sink ships and deep-diving submarines. It was launched last week in UK waters from a 12-metre-long underwater drone called “Excalibur”, which was made in Plymouth.
The exercise marked the first time either country had launched a torpedo from an uncrewed underwater vessel rather than a crewed submarine. Officials said the development could help protect critical infrastructure, including deep-sea data cables.
“Our work together already shows what can be achieved when our two countries combine our expertise and innovation,” Burnham said.
Chagos Islands agreement remains unresolved
Burnham was also questioned about the UK government’s plan to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.
The agreement was paused indefinitely in April after Trump withdrew his support. Burnham spoke to Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam on Monday.
He said the UK remained determined to secure the long-term operation of the base, which he described as crucial to the security of the UK and its allies.
“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,” Burnham said.
