Trump to arrive in Britain as the two nations line up deals worth $12.8 billion

LONDON – US President Donald Trump was due to arrive in Britain late on Sept 16 for a second state visit at which the two nations will seal deals worth more than US$10 billion (S$12.77 billion), a renewal of a “special relationship” Prime Minister Keir Starmer is keen to champion.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and British finance minister Rachel Reeves were leading events before Mr Trump’s arrival, announcing a “Transatlantic taskforce” to deepen work between two of the world’s largest financial centres.

Mr Trump will then be greeted by King Charles on Sept 17, for a day of pomp at Windsor Castle, a regal show of soft power that Mr Starmer hopes will offer him protection from possible pitfalls during the trip.

Pomp-laden visit a diversion for both leaders

The visit should provide Mr Trump with a diversion less than a week after a close ally, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was shot dead, a killing that has appeared to affect the president deeply.

Mr Starmer is also looking to turn the focus onto geopolitics and investment after enduring a tough couple of weeks that have undermined his authority.

First he was

forced to sack his deputy

and then six days later his ambassador to the US, Mr Peter Mandelson, over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Starmer wants to pitch Britain as a destination for US investment, closely aligning its financial services, tech and energy sectors with larger peers to try to drive much-needed economic growth at home.

To that end, business executives including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman are due to attend, while senior US officials said on Sept 15 that deals worth more than US$10 billion would be announced during the visit.

Google said it would invest £5 billion (S$8.72 billion), partly on a new data centre close to London that would help meet demand for AI services.

A spokesperson for Mr Starmer described the state visit as “a historic opportunity” coming “at a crucial time for global stability and security”.

“The prime minister will discuss the challenges that both our countries face, and the opportunities, as we enter a new era of our deep and unparalleled relationship,” the spokesperson told reporters.

Starmer will host Trump on Sept 18

Mr Starmer will turn the focus to foreign affairs on Sept 18 when he hosts Mr Trump at his Chequers country residence and will attempt to draw a line under his handling of the departures of his deputy, Ms Angela Rayner, and Mr Mandelson.

He gave both his full-throated support before being forced to let them go, prompting questions over his political judgment at a time when Mr Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK party holds a hefty lead the polls.

Mr Mandelson’s ties to the late Epstein that

led to his sacking

could present Mr Starmer with a tricky moment with Mr Trump, whose administration had close ties to the former ambassador and whose own relationship with the financier has also come under scrutiny.

Mr Starmer has justified his abrupt sacking of Mr Mandelson last week by saying he was not aware of the depth of the ex-ambassador’s ties to Epstein and

Mr Trump has denied writing him a birthday letter

which Democrats in the House of Representatives made public.

Trump to be treated to royal pageantry

On Sept 17, Trump and his wife, Ms Melania, will be treated to British royal pageantry, including a carriage tour, a state banquet, a flypast by military aircraft and a gun salute.

A day later, Mr Starmer welcomes Mr Trump to Chequers, a 16th century manor house in the southern English countryside, to discuss investment, tariffs on steel and aluminium, ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the situation in Gaza.

Both nations will have sizeable delegations and will be largely protected from planned anti-Trump protests.

Mr Trump will also be joined by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will hold talks with Britain’s newly-appointed foreign minister, Ms Yvette Cooper. REUTERS