Keir Starmer’s aides spoke to Donald Trump’s group throughout their journey to the US

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Sir Keir Starmer despatched his most senior advisor and nationwide safety adviser to satisfy key members of Donald Trump’s group earlier this month, because the UK strikes to forge nearer ties with the brand new administration .

The Prime Minister dispatched Morgan McSweeney, his chief of workers to Downing Avenue, and Jonathan Powell, his nationwide safety adviser (NSA), to Florida and Washington for high-level talks.

The 2 met with Susie Wiles, who can be White Home chief of workers after Trump’s inauguration subsequent month, and Mike Waltz, the brand new president’s choose for the NSA.

The discussions lined commerce between the UK and the US, Ukraine, the Center East and China, in accordance with Downing Avenue officers. In addition they mentioned Starmer’s plans to go to Washington quickly after Trump is sworn in as president on January 20.

Wiles co-led the Trump 2024 marketing campaign this yr and was praised by the president-elect on stage in his victory speech in November. She was additionally the primary appointment unveiled within the new administration.

Waltz, a Florida congressman and former U.S. Military particular forces officer, is a China hawk and has been touted as a champion of “peace by means of energy.”

Starmer’s efforts to foster nearer ties with the US, which included a dinner with Trump over the summer time and a telephone dialog with the president-elect on Wednesday, face a number of potential flashpoints.

These embody the UK’s settlement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in trade for long-term management of a joint US-UK navy base.

It isn’t clear whether or not the Chagos Islands deal was raised in discussions with Starmer’s aides or in Wednesday’s telephone name. The draft settlement was drawn up by Starmer and the earlier Mauritian prime minister, however was thrown into turmoil following the election of the latter’s successor.

The proposed deal, which aimed to safe the way forward for a vital US navy base in Diego Garcia, additionally drew sharp criticism from key Trump allies, elevating the chance that he would search to dam the deal as soon as in energy.

Powell, Sir Tony Blair’s former chief of workers at Downing Avenue, helped safe the deal after Starmer appointed him as particular envoy for the Chagos Islands negotiations, shortly earlier than his appointment to the UK’s NSA.

Of their telephone name on Wednesday, Starmer congratulated the US president-elect on his latest appointments to his group, whereas Trump mentioned his assembly with the Prince of Wales in Paris earlier this month, in accordance with Quantity 10.

The 2 males additionally mentioned Ukraine and the Center East. “Each agreed their shared ambition to strengthen the shut and historic relationship between the UK and the US,” Downing Avenue added. “They seemed ahead to working collectively on shared priorities, together with worldwide safety and financial progress and prosperity. »

Starmer was not invited to Trump’s inauguration in January, though the president-elect broke the historic conference by asking a number of international leaders to attend.

Trump took the bizarre step of inviting Chinese language President Xi Jinping final week, an indication of his intention to renew the high-level exchanges that came about between the 2 males throughout his first time period.

McSweeney and Powell’s transatlantic journey, which started on December 2, was first reported by The Telegraph newspaper.