Burnham and Trump to Hold First Meeting at UN

Britain’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to hold his first meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York as he prepares to set out his priorities for Britain’s role in an unsettled international order.

U.S. officials said the leaders will meet during talks alongside the annual gathering of world leaders. Burnham is also scheduled to address the General Assembly on Tuesday, outlining his view of where Britain should position itself amid global tensions.

Ukraine And Defence Priorities

Burnham’s trip to the UN comes after limited foreign travel since he took office in July. He has previously visited Kyiv, where he said he would press Trump to send interceptor missiles to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences ahead of another winter in the war.

Officials said Ukraine remains at the top of his agenda as he speaks to the US administration alongside other European and international concerns.

Middle East Shipping Route And Economic Pressures

The British government also plans to raise efforts to restore free movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The route has been largely blocked since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran in February, sending oil prices higher and adding pressure to Britain’s attempts to restart economic growth and ease the cost of living.

Burnham is expected to use the UN meeting to discuss possible ways to address the disruption to one of the world’s key energy corridors.

Past Criticism, Then A Search For Common Ground

Burnham, a Labour politician, has been outspoken about Trump in the past. As mayor of Greater Manchester, he said in 2017 that the president would not be welcome in the city, and two years later he said he would refuse to meet Trump if he visited.

Since becoming prime minister in July, Burnham has said he tries to find “common ground” with other leaders and has already spoken with Trump twice since he replaced Keir Starmer.

Trump has described Burnham as “a nice guy”, while also recently making comments that have irritated U.K. officials. Those remarks included expressions of support for Irish unification and speculation about the future of the Falkland Islands, which Britain and Argentina both claim.

What Else Is On The Agenda

In addition to Ukraine and Hormuz, U.K. officials said they were preparing for further discussions that may draw criticism from allies and counterparts. Topics include Britain’s ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and plans to regulate large American technology firms.

Burnham’s trip also comes amid wider pressure on middle-sized powers to form closer alliances in response to Washington’s “America first” foreign policy. He is travelling as Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and others urge greater co-ordination among countries seeking to protect their interests.

Back home, Labour Party chairwoman Bridget Phillipson said Burnham would be “pragmatic”, adding that Britain and the US administration would not agree on every issue, but that maintaining the relationship was important for national interest.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urged Burnham to take a firmer stance, saying it was “really clear” Trump only responds when criticism is direct. Davey said Britain should adopt the approach taken by European and Canadian leaders in telling the US president that current treatment of the country and the world is not acceptable.

Burnham is also expected to announce soon whether Britain will approve new oil and gas fields off Scotland. Separately, U.K. officials have been alert to the wider diplomatic fallout of Trump’s earlier threats to seize Greenland, after a deal was announced between Greenland, Denmark and the United States to strengthen US military presence while keeping the island under Danish control.

Join the discussion?

22 September 2026