UK’s recognition of Palestinian state threatens to overshadow Starmer-Trump meeting
Meeting at Chequers intended to rubberstamp trade and tech deals threatens to be overshadowed by news UK will formally recognise Palestinian statehood as soon as Trump finishes state visit.
Keir Starmer will formally recognise Palestinian statehood this weekend after Donald Trump finishes his lavish two-day state visit to the UK.
The British Prime Minister reportedly delayed the announcement until after Mr Trump was due to return to the United States over concerns the issue would dominate diplomatic talks and a news conference on Thursday (local time).
But the planned announcement was leaked to the British press, overshadowing the meeting at Sir Keir’s Chequers estate to rubberstamp trade and tech deals.
The US is staunchly opposed to recognising a Palestinian state, with Mr Trump describing the move as a “reward for Hamas”.
Sir Keir had previously said he planned to recognise Palestinian statehood before the UN general assembly in New York this month if Israel did not meet a series of conditions in Gaza, including committing to a ceasefire and two-state solution.
After being welcomed to Chequers by bagpipers and an honour guard, Mr Trump was due to sign a “tech prosperity deal” with Sir Keir which the UK claims will create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of investment in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and nuclear energy.
British and American companies have also pledged £150bn ($208bn) in investment in tech and pharmaceuticals.
Mr Trump’s state visit turned to trade and politics on Thursday after he and first lady Melania Trump were feted by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle with all the pageantry the monarchy can muster: gold-trimmed carriages, scarlet-clad soldiers, artillery salutes and a glittering banquet in a grand ceremonial hall.
At the banquet, also attended by tech billionaires and media tycoons, Charles trumpeted the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine pact as “vital” and hailed Mr Trump’s “own personal commitment to finding solutions to some of the world’s most intractable conflicts”.
“Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace,” he said. “And our AUKUS submarine partnership with Australia sets the benchmark for innovative and vital collaboration.”
The King’s remarks come amid an ongoing review of AUKUS being conducted by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby and ahead of an anticipated meeting between Anthony Albanese and the US president this month.
Mr Trump made no mention of AUKUS in his toast but lauded the “special relationship” between the UK and US.
“This is truly one of the highest honours of my life, I have such respect for you and such respect for your country for many decades,” he said to the King. “Together we have done more for humanity than any two countries.”
Meanwhile, Sir Keir was missing from the official procession at the banquet, a diplomatic high point of the evening and involved the formally attired guests entering St George’s Hall in predetermined pairings.
Sir Keir’s wife, Lady Victoria Starmer, was paired to enter the banquet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Inside the banquet, Mr Trump was seated next to Charles and the Princess of Wales, who was wearing a couture gown by British designer Phillipa Lepley with a full-length, hand-embroidered gold Chantilly lace evening coat over a silk crepe gown.
The guests enjoyed a menu of Hampshire watercress panna cotta with parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, an organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes, with a thyme and savoury-infused jus, followed by vanilla ice cream bombe with Kentish raspberry sorbet interior with lightly poached Victoria plums, washed down with exclusive wines such as Wiston Estate, Cuvée, 2016, Domaine Bonneau de Martray, Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru, 2018, Ridge Vineyards, Monte Bello, 2000 and Pol Roger, Extra Cuvée de Reserve, 1998.
Earlier, the Trump were welcomed to Windsor Castle with a royal gun salute and carriage ride before laying a wreath on the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II at St George’s Chapel, enjoying a Red Arrow flyover and visiting a special display of the Royal Collection items relating to the United States.
They exchanged gifts, with the royals giving Mr Trump a book to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence next year, and Mr Trump gifting Charles a replica of a president Dwight Eisenhower sword.
The Trumps, remained at Windsor for the day, away from London where a large anti-Trump demonstration gathered in the afternoon.
“We have heard from people across the political spectrum who will be joining in the protest today, because the majority agree that we should not be rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump,” a Stop Trump Coalition spokesman said.
“The large numbers of people marching today are telling Starmer and his government that they must stand up to Trump.”
In Windsor, lamp posts along the high street were adorned with Union Jacks and US flags as Trump supporters and detractors gathered outside the castle walls.
Self-described “Trump super-fan” Jonas Viereck travelled from Germany in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the President.
“He is my role model ever since I was 12 years old,” said Mr Viereck, who has previously followed Mr Trump to Paris, the Vatican, Scotland, the Netherlands and the US.
“Back then I didn’t even speak English the way I do today, I kind of learned it through him because I was watching his speeches and all the social media content. It is one of my greatest goals to meet him at least once in my lifetime.”
Wearing a “Brits for Trump” shirt, Shelley Tristram travelled an hour from Hertfordshire in a show of support for Mr Trump, who she hopes will “talk some sense” into the UK Prime Minister.
“Trump is doing great things in America, he is draining the swamp of all the career politicians who are self-serving and I wish he could come here and do the same thing because the people in power in the UK are not serving the people they are supposed to be serving.”
While the bulk of anti-Trump protesters were out in force in London, there were plenty in Windsor who were unhappy about the President’s visit.
“Despise it if anything,” local retail worker Henry Cornwell said.
“We’ve paid all these taxpayer money to put up the flags, they have kicked out the homeless for no reason, business is stopping just because one man is coming into town that nobody really likes.”
Lynne Iliffe, who travelled to Windsor from England’s Midlands, said she had never been to a political demonstration but “felt so strongly about Trump that I felt I needed to come and express my view”.
“I don’t think he is a very nice person, I think he is purely about himself, power, adoration and wealth. He is just a greedy, greedy man.”
Self-described “Trump super-fan” Jonas Viereck travelled from Germany in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the President.
“He is my role model ever since I was 12 years old,” said Mr Viereck, who has previously followed Mr Trump to Paris, the Vatican, Scotland, the Netherlands and the US.
“Back then I didn’t even speak English the way I do today, I kind of learned it through him because I was watching his speeches and all the social media content. It is one of my greatest goals to meet him at least once in my lifetime.”
Wearing a “Brits for Trump” shirt, Shelley Tristram travelled an hour from Hertfordshire in a show of support for Mr Trump, who she hopes will “talk some sense” into the UK Prime Minister.
“Trump is doing great things in America, he is draining the swamp of all the career politicians who are self-serving and I wish he could come here and do the same thing because the people in power in the UK are not serving the people they are supposed to be serving.”
Lynne Iliffe, who travelled to Windsor from England’s Midlands, said she had never been to a political demonstration but “felt so strongly about Trump that I felt I needed to come and express my view”.
“I don’t think he is a very nice person, I think he is purely about himself, power, adoration and wealth. He is just a greedy, greedy man.”
With AP
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