On the night of September 16 (UK time), US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrived in London, starting a two-day state visit.
It is expected that today (September 17), Mr. Trump and his wife will be welcomed by King Charles III at Windsor Palace in a grand ceremony.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hopes this visit will help the UK score points in the eyes of US investors, in the context of the domestic economy needing a new boost.
One of the focuses of the visit is the agreement to invest in civil technology and energy worth tens of billions of USD. Microsoft is committed to investing more than $30 billion in the UK over the next four years in cloud computing infrastructure and artificial intelligence. Google is also preparing to spend about £5 billion to build a data center near London.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is betting on the luxury of the royal reception to overshadow the political turmoil he is facing - from the suspicion of Secretary of State Peter Mandelson being sacked for a scandal over his relationship with prostitut billionaire Jeffrey Epstein to the backlash from the opposition. He hopes that a strong international image will reduce attention to internal crises.
However, the visit has also led to mixed reactions from the public: protests have broken out in Windsor, with Trump's supporters accusing his policies of being polarized and risking inciting the far-right. Police have arrested several people for violating regulations on drone flights near Windsor castle - part of increased security measures.
The highlight of the visit, in addition to royal rituals, is the plan to establish a transatlantic working group to promote cooperation in finance, technology and defense. The focus will be on artificial intelligence, civil nuclear energy and high-tech projects, with a total estimated contract value of more than 10 billion USD and could increase if the parties extend their commitments.
