UK PM Starmer invites Donald Trump for state visit on behalf of King Charles; ‘would be an honor’, says US President
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, on behalf of King Charles, formally invited President Donald Trump for a state visit to Britain. The invitation, extended at the start of their White House meeting on Thursday, was swiftly accepted by Trump.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the Bristish PM touched Trump’s shoulder as he extended a historic invitation for a second state visit, stating that: “This is really special. This has never happened before. This is unprecedented.”
Recalling Trump’s 2019 state visit, Starmer hailed it as a “tremendous success” and emphasized that the offer for a second visit was “truly historic.”
After reading the letter, Trump asserted: “It would be an honor,” calling the United Kingdom a “fantastic” country.
The high-profile meeting comes as Starmer makes a strategic push in Washington, urging Trump to recognize that a lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved if Kyiv and European leaders are directly involved in negotiations with Moscow.
Following French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit, Starmer’s arrival underscores European apprehension regarding Trump’s enthusiastic pursuit of ending Russia’s Ukrainian conflict, suggesting possible excessive concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump stated on Wednesday during his first Cabinet meeting of his second term, “We’re going to do the best we can to make the best deal we can for both sides. For Ukraine, we’re going to try very hard to make a good deal so that they can get as much (land) back as possible.”
Trump’s renewed relationship with Russia has created unease amongst America’s traditional European allies. These nations find themselves challenged by Trump’s White House return and his commitment to restructure US foreign policy according to his “America First” perspective.
Recent developments include the Trump administration’s discussions with Russia, excluding Ukrainian and European allies. Additionally, the US declined to support UN resolutions attributing responsibility to Russia for the three-year-old conflict. Trump’s evolving stance on Ukraine is causing significant changes in transatlantic relationships.
The administration contests suggestions that Trump is disregarding Europe or showing excessive eagerness for settlement discussions with Putin.
Vice President JD Vance defended the president’s approach, stating, “He hasn’t conceded anything to anyone.”
“He’s doing the job of a diplomat,” he added.
Trump’s meeting with Starmer takes place just a day ahead of his scheduled White House talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two leaders are set to finalise a highly debated agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s critical minerals—key resources for the aerospace, defense, and nuclear industries on Friday. Zelenskyy had previously resisted signing the deal without concrete security assurances from Washington.
