British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is heading to New York on September 21 for the United Nations General Assembly, marking his first major foray into global diplomacy and a test of his pledge to defend British interests even when they conflict with US President Donald Trump.
Burnham, a former mayor of Greater Manchester with limited foreign-policy experience, is expected to meet Trump for the first time on September 22, Reuters reports.
He has signalled a different approach from his predecessor, Keir Starmer, who sought to build close ties with the US president. Burnham has said he will disagree with Trump when he believes it is in Britain’s interests, while describing himself as someone "who tries to work with people".
The UN gathering is expected to focus on Ukraine, the Middle East, climate action and artificial intelligence.
Burnham is also expected to reinforce his call for greater air defence support for Ukraine to counter Russian bombardment, including the delivery of US Patriot systems.
By Sabina Mammadli
