UK PM Andy Burnham Set for First Trump Meeting in New York

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump for the first time next week in New York, marking their first face-to-face talks since Burnham took office.

The meeting is expected to take place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, according to a report by The Times citing a source familiar with the plans. Both leaders are scheduled to attend the annual UN gathering in New York.

The planned Burnham-Trump meeting would represent an important moment in UK-U.S. relations as the two governments navigate a range of international and economic issues. Burnham and Trump have already spoken by telephone twice since the British prime minister entered Downing Street in June, but they have yet to hold an in-person meeting.

During their most recent phone conversation on September 7, the two leaders discussed several major geopolitical issues. Burnham reiterated Britain's support for Ukraine and recent U.S.-led efforts to reach a ceasefire. They also discussed the Middle East, including efforts to restore security in the region, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, according to Downing Street.

The United Nations General Assembly provides world leaders with an opportunity to conduct bilateral talks alongside the main diplomatic sessions, potentially giving Burnham and Trump a platform to discuss shared priorities and areas of disagreement.

While The Times reported that the meeting is expected to go ahead, Reuters said it could not independently verify the initial report. A White House official also told The Times that Trump's UN General Assembly meeting schedule had not yet been finalized.

If held as planned, the New York talks would mark the first direct meeting between Burnham and Trump and could help set the direction for relations between London and Washington under the British prime minister's government.