Andy Burnham, the UK prime minister, anticipates finding common ground with US President Donald Trump during their first face-to-face meeting at the United Nations in New York City on Tuesday. The pair have spoken twice since Burnham took office in July, and Downing Street describes their relationship as productive. Burnham plans to discuss AI cooperation, peace efforts in Ukraine and the Middle East, while also announcing a new partnership between the UK and US focusing on using AI technology for national security purposes. This move faces criticism from Liberal Democrats who argue it falls short of addressing AI's dangers adequately.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-22,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Wes Streeting, Britain’s defence secretary, announced that annual payments worth at least £120 million to Mauritius are on hold as the government reconsiders an agreement over the Chagos Islands. This decision came after Donald Trump criticized the deal during a meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the UN General Assembly in New York. The original agreement would see the UK cede sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius and pay approximately £101 million annually to lease back a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which is strategically important due to its location in the Indian Ocean.
Streeting emphasized that the deal cannot proceed without US support, highlighting the need for cooperation with American allies to ensure the agreement safeguards the long-term future of the base at Diego Garcia. The defence secretary noted that previous efforts to adapt the deal have not succeeded, and current negotiations are focused on reaching an arrangement that both Mauritius and the US can accept.
Written for “Chagos Islands Deal” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 38 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
Andy Burnham said he expects to find "common ground" with Donald Trump at the pair's first face-to-face meeting on Tuesday.
asserted
he → publish → Tuesday
The two men have spoken by phone twice since Burnham became prime minister in July, with Downing Street saying those calls established a "productive relationship".
asserted
calls → speak → relationship
"We've found a connection.
asserted
We → find → connection
So, I will go with where I feel it's right, to meet him where he is at, and search for that common ground, which I'm sure we'll find," the prime minister told reporters on his flight to the US, adding "I'm looking forward to it."
asserted
I → go → it
Asked about the state of the relationship between the UK and US, the prime minister said he believes it is "as strong as it's ever been".
asserted
it → ask → UK
Burnham has travelled to New York with his wife, Marie-France Van Heel, for a day of diplomacy and a speech to the UN General Assembly, which is expected to focus on the opportunities and dangers associated with artificial intelligence (AI).
asserted
which → travel → intelligence
He said: "I will be making the case for closer international cooperation on AI, a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and renewed efforts to bring an end to the conflict in the Middle East because what happens abroad impacts each and every one of us at home."
asserted
happens → say → home
The prime minister will also announce the start of work on a new AI and Autonomy partnership between the UK and the US, focused on protecting critical national infrastructure using AI tech.
asserted
minister → announce → tech
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey is expected to criticise this plan at the final day of his party's conference, saying it "doesn't come close to meeting the scale of the threat" and "only risks making us more dependent on a Trump administration in the pocket of the tech bros".
He will also call for a global pause on superintelligent AI and propose a new International AI Safety Agency.
asserted
He → expect → Agency
His criticisms come after a series of stark warnings from the AI industry about the technology's possible dangers.
asserted
criticisms → come → dangers
For a new British prime minister, the first meeting with a US president has always been a pivotal encounter, but officials are well aware of the added jeopardy of a public appearance alongside the most unpredictable president in American history.
asserted
officials → add → history
In advance of the meeting, the UK revealed that the UK and the US have, for the first time, fired an American torpedo from a British undersea drone in a military exercise.
asserted
UK → reveal → exercise
The torpedo, described as "heavyweight" by UK officials, is "designed to sink ships and deep diving submarines", Downing Street said.
asserted
Street → describe → ships
It was launched in UK waters last week from a 12-metre long undersea drone called Excalibur, made in Plymouth.
asserted
It → launch → Plymouth
It is the first time either the UK or the US have launched a torpedo from an uncrewed underwater vessel, rather than a crewed submarine, and is seen as a breakthrough in attempts to protect vital infrastructure such as deep sea data cables.
"Our work together already shows what can be achieved when our two countries combine our expertise and innovation," the prime minister said.
asserted
minister → launch → expertise
Burnham was also asked by reporters about the UK government seeking to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and pay to lease back the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia.
asserted
government → ask → Garcia
It was confirmed in April that the deal had been paused indefinitely because of Trump pulling his support.
asserted
Trump → confirm → support
Burnham spoke to the Mauritian prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, on Monday.
asserted
Burnham → speak → Monday
He was asked by reporters to outline what he had told Ramgoolam, whether he supported the deal and if he had a plan to convince Trump to back it.
asserted
he → ask → it
Burnham replied: "I said that we remain determined to secure the long-term operation of the base, which is crucial to our security and that of our allies.
asserted
which → reply → allies
"The assurance I gave was I will work towards a resolution, at the moment we don't have that, but I gave an assurance that I would commit to working towards one.
asserted
I → give → one
It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
asserted
It → deliver → inbox
The Aporia
