Amidst the escalating tensions in the Middle East, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel to London next week for discussions on the ongoing crisis. The US Department of State confirmed the news on Saturday, revealing that Blinken’s visit will precede British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s trip to Washington to meet with US President Joe Biden.
This visit marks a significant development in US-UK relations, particularly considering that Blinken’s two-day stay in London will be the highest-level US official visit since the Labour Party’s victory in the July general election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.
According to the US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, Blinken will engage in a strategic dialogue aimed at “reaffirming our special relationship” with the UK. The discussions will encompass a range of crucial global issues, including the situation in Asia, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and collaborative efforts to support Ukraine.
The White House previously announced Starmer’s upcoming visit to Washington, marking his second trip to the US since assuming office. The UK Prime Minister first met with Biden in July during the NATO summit in Washington, shortly after assuming his leadership role. The US and the UK have historically maintained a strong partnership, collaborating closely on a wide range of global issues, including the ongoing conflicts in Israel-Gaza and Russia-Ukraine.
It’s noteworthy that since taking office, Starmer has adopted a more critical stance towards Israel compared to his Conservative predecessors. The Labour government has suspended some arms shipments to Israel and voiced concerns about the potential misuse of British arms for violating humanitarian law. The Starmer administration has also reversed the previous government’s plans to challenge the International Criminal Court’s authority to pursue an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While the US, which is not a member of the ICC, has opposed efforts to target Netanyahu, arguing that Israel has its own accountability mechanisms, it has not disputed the UK’s decision to restrict arms shipments to Israel. Washington acknowledged that the UK has its own procedures for making such assessments.
The upcoming meetings between Blinken and UK officials and Starmer and Biden are anticipated to shed light on the US-UK partnership’s approach to the intricate global challenges they face, particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine.
