Burnham Heads Into First Trump Meeting With ‘Common Ground’ on His Mind

(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he expects to find common ground with Donald Trump when the two leaders meet face to face for the first time in New York, marking a major diplomatic test for the new British government.

Burnham and the US president have already spoken twice by phone since the prime minister entered Downing Street in July. Burnham says those conversations have established a connection and a productive relationship, despite his much more critical comments about Trump when he was mayor of Greater Manchester.

Speaking to reporters travelling with him to the United States, Burnham said he intended to take a pragmatic approach, meeting Trump “where he is at” while searching for areas where the two countries can work together. He also described the UK-US relationship as strong and said he personally trusted the American president.

The meeting is expected to cover some of the biggest international issues facing both countries, including the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. Burnham is expected to press for additional air defence support for Ukraine, while Britain also wants to discuss efforts to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route that has been heavily disrupted by the conflict with Iran.

AI will be another important part of Burnham’s visit. In his first address to the United Nations General Assembly as prime minister, he is expected to argue for greater international cooperation on artificial intelligence, highlighting both its economic potential and the need to manage its risks. Britain and the United States are also launching work on a new AI and Autonomy partnership focused on protecting critical infrastructure.

The government has sought to demonstrate that cooperation through defence technology as well. Britain says the UK and US have conducted the first launch of an American heavyweight torpedo from a British uncrewed underwater vessel. The 12-metre Excalibur drone, built in Plymouth, was used in UK waters during the exercise, with officials linking the technology to future efforts to protect infrastructure such as undersea data cables.

Despite the positive tone, there are several areas where Burnham and Trump could disagree. The UK government’s decision to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank could come under discussion, while differences also exist over immigration, energy policy, Ukraine and questions surrounding British territories and sovereignty.

The encounter is particularly notable because Burnham previously took a sharply different position on Trump. As Greater Manchester mayor, he said the US president was not welcome in the city and that he would refuse to meet him. Burnham now argues that entering Downing Street has changed the nature of his responsibilities and that working with other leaders is necessary even where disagreements remain.

For Burnham, the New York meeting therefore goes beyond a first handshake with the US president. It is an early opportunity to establish how his government intends to balance a close relationship with Washington with its own positions on Ukraine, the Middle East, AI, trade and international cooperation. The meeting takes place alongside his first major appearance at the UN, where he is expected to present his broader vision for Britain’s role on the world stage.