Trump says he can do business with Burnham
US President Donald Trump meets Andy Burnham for the first time at the UN, criticizing the Chagos deal and discussing Falkland Islands sovereignty.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Donald Trump meets Andy Burnham in person for the first time at the UN.
- Trump states UK-US relations are stronger and he can work with Burnham.
- Trump criticizes the Chagos Islands deal and stresses Diego Garcia's importance.
- Burnham vows to defend Falkland Islanders' self-determination rights.
US President Donald Trump has stated that Andy Burnham is a leader he can do business with, following their first-ever in-person meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Trump remarked that UK-US relations are in a much stronger position now that Burnham is in power, as the two leaders addressed questions from assembled reporters outside the meeting.
Trump praised Burnham, stating that he gets it and understands what needs to be done. He also reiterated his criticism of the Chagos Islands agreement, emphasizing that the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia remains strategically vital, particularly for US operations concerning Iran.
"Yeah, I think so, he gets it, he understands what he has to do."
Donald Trump
The controversial deal would have involved the UK ceding sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius while paying an average of £101 million ($136 million) annually to lease back the base. However, the agreement was indefinitely paused in April after Trump withdrew his backing.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This high-profile meeting marks a critical juncture in transatlantic relations following previous friction over Middle East policies. Trump's intervention highlights how American diplomatic pressure continues to shape key British territorial and defense commitments worldwide.
Private discussions between the leaders also touched upon the Falkland Islands, which remain under a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina. Burnham firmly maintained that the UK will stand firm against threats and defend the right of islanders to remain British.
During his UN trip, Burnham also focused on artificial intelligence governance, meeting with business leaders including Apple executive chairman Tim Cook to advocate for unified global AI standards, before holding talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Source: BBC Politics
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