By Irene Escudero
Aylesbury, UK, Sep. 18 (EFE) – United States President Donald Trump and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a pact worth billions of dollars in technology investment but maintained disagreements over Palestine.
On the second and final day of Trump’s second state visit to the United Kingdom, he and Starmer were surrounded by technology tycoons to announce record investments in the United Kingdom of £150 billion (approximately 203 billion dollars).
However, both leaders stayed at odds over the recognition of the Palestinian state.
“I have a disagreement with the prime minister on that score, one of our few disagreements, actually,” Trump said at a press conference at the PM’s Chequers country residence outside London.
Joint work in the Middle East
The UK government announced in July that it would recognize the State of Palestine in September, before the UN General Assembly, if Israel did not meet a series of conditions, including taking steps to end the “catastrophic” situation in Gaza, declaring a ceasefire, and ensuring that it would not annex the West Bank.
On Thursday, Starmer said that the situation in Gaza is “intolerable,” saying that the hostages have been held for a long time and “must be freed.”
“We need aid to get into Gaza at speed. And so it’s within that context of a plan for peace, which we’re working hard on … that the question of recognition needs to be seen,” he said.
“It’s part of that overall package which hopefully takes us from the appalling situation we’re in now, to the outcome of a safe and secure Israel, which we do not have,” he added.
“I want it to end, but I want the hostages back,” Trump said of the war in Gaza.
“I don’t want the hostages used as human shields, which is what Hamas is threatening to do,” he added.
Renewal of vows
However, Trump and Starmer seem to have found new common ground on the conflict in Ukraine, as Trump was blunt in admitting that he thought this war would be the “easiest” to solve because of his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin,but he had been let down.
“I mean, frankly, Russian soldiers are being killed at a higher rate than the Ukrainian soldiers. But, yeah, he’s let me down,” the US president added, referring to Putin.
Starmer said they “discussed today how we can build our defences further support Ukraine and decisively increase the pressure on Putin to get him to agree to a peace deal that will last,” he added to the press.
Additionally, Trump was asked about the dismissal of British Ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson over his links to convicted sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
The president claimed not to know the former ambassador, despite photos that suggest otherwise.
Sidestepping the question, he said Starmer would be “better” placed to answer it.
A million-dollar deal
Trump said goodbye to King Charles III at Windsor Castle on Thursday morning and arrived at Chequers, where he was greeted by Starmer, far from the cries of protest that have been heard in London against the visit.
At Chequers, as happened during Wednesday’s state banquet, important business leaders and executives were present.
Praising the commitment, Starmer said, “The deals and investment being announced today break all records.”
“What a day, 250 billion pounds (340 billion dollars) flowing both ways across the Atlantic,” Starmer said. “
It is the biggest investment package of its kind in British history by a country mile,” he added.
Likewise, London and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding to improve bilateral cooperation in science and technology.
They will do so through the development of AI, leading the “golden nuclear age,” achieving the “true quantum advantage,” and securing 6G, according to the document. EFE
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