Trump criticizes UK Chagos Islands deal as 'terrible' in first meeting with British PM Burnham
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During their first face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, US President Donald Trump criticized a UK agreement regarding the Chagos Islands, calling it a 'terrible deal' and stating he does not support it. The criticism dampened an otherwise cordial meeting, where Trump praised British Prime Minister Andy Burnham as a 'born businessman' and expressed willingness to cooperate. The remarks highlight the challenges Burnham, a Labour leader with limited foreign policy experience who was previously the mayor of Greater Manchester, faces in building a smooth relationship with Trump. Trump had previously dismissed Burnham as a 'small-town mayor' and 'extremely liberal.' Burnham is the UK's sixth prime minister in a decade and the fourth to serve during Trump's two presidential terms. The Chagos Islands issue was discussed due to its 'very important strategic significance,' according to Trump.
Source report
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the UK's agreement regarding the Chagos Islands during his first in-person meeting with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, casting a shadow over an otherwise cordial encounter.
Despite Trump's warm remarks about Burnham on Tuesday—calling him a "natural-born businessman" and expressing willingness to work with him—the comments underscored the challenges the Labour leader faces in building a smooth relationship with the American president.
Speaking to reporters after a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump said:
"I don't support the deal. I think it's terrible. It's a bad deal. People claim ownership but have never shown up for decades or even centuries. I think it's ridiculous. No, we discussed it. It's of very significant strategic importance."
Tuesday's meeting represented the biggest diplomatic test Burnham has faced to date. Until this summer, he served as the Mayor of Greater Manchester with little foreign policy experience. Trump had previously dismissed the new British leader, referring to him as "a mayor of a small town" and "extremely liberal."
Burnham is the sixth British prime minister in a decade and the fourth UK leader Trump has dealt with across his two presidential terms.
Source
domesticWestern
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Trump praises UK PM Burnham as 'natural business person' but slams 'terrible' Chagos deal