UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will hold talks with US President Joe Biden next week when they will discuss improving economic ties and how to sustain military support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Sunak's spokesman said on Tuesday that the British prime minister will be in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday next week for meetings with Biden, members of Congress
and US business leaders, but there will be no talks about a formal free trade deal.
"The visit will be an opportunity to build on the discussions that the prime minister and President Biden have had in recent months about enhancing the level of cooperation and coordination between the UK and the US on the economic challenges that will define our future," the spokesman noted.
"There will also be an opportunity to discuss issues including sustaining our support for Ukraine."
Sunak, who will be on his first official visit to Washington since he was appointed prime minister in October, wants to forge better ties with the US after they were strained by Britain's departure from the European Union in 2020.
Sunak's spokesman highlighted on Tuesday that there would not be talks about a free-trade agreement on this visit; however, instead there would be a focus on reducing trade barriers in other ways such as agreements with individual states.
The White House mentioned in a statement the two leaders would also discuss the situation in Northern Ireland, which has been without a devolved government for more than a year.
Britain's relationship with the US is partly built on close defense, intelligence, economic and cultural ties and the two sides are largely in lockstep in supporting Ukraine.
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