British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunakhas started this Wednesday a two-day trip to USA to try to recover economy of the United Kingdom and the international prestige lost after the Brexit. The objective is to move towards agreements in the area of green energy and seek greater economic and military cooperation with Washington to deal with the growing threat of China on the international scene. The ‘premier’ will meet this Thursday with the US president, Joe Bidenwith the regulation of artificial intelligence (IA) and military support for Ukraine as other items on the agenda.
Sunak trusts that the visit will serve to advance agreements that help the United Kingdom to recover its economic and geopolitical weight after leaving the European Union. The announcement of investments worth 16 billion euros from US companies has been a first step towards that goal, although the idea of a future agreement of free trade between the two countries is ruled out for now. He british government has viewed with suspicion the protectionist measures recently approved by the Biden administration, which include significant subsidies for the development of renewable energy.
Despite the differences in economic matters, Sunak’s intention is to reach agreements that give a break to the automovile industry British, hurt by Biden’s protectionist policies. On the table is the possibility that British companies that export vehicles to the US can benefit from green subsidies and compete on an equal footing with US firms. The deal would give a boost to Britain’s battered economy and to Sunak’s aspirations to renew his term in Downing Street.
Artificial intelligence
Beyond the economic field, Sunak wants to take advantage of the visit to position the United Kingdom as one of the main references in the development and regulation of AI. In his plans is to address with Biden the creation of an international control body that helps establish limits to a technology still in initial phase. “Artificial intelligence is growing at a rate we didn’t know was possible. We still don’t know what he’s capable of,” Sunak warned in an interview with ‘Sky News’.
Control of this and other key technologies will be essential in creating a common front against the economic threat and Chinese military. “By combining our vast economic resources and expertise, we will grow our economies, create jobs and we will keep our people safe in the future,” Sunak said in statements to the British press on his way to Washington. The two leaders also plan to address the situation in Ukraine and seek common ground in the election of the new Secretary General of the NATOa position to which the current UK Defense Minister aspires, Ben Wallace.
Red carpet
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This will be the fifth time that Sunak and Biden have met since the British ‘premier’ took office, the first on American soil. A visit that tries to recover the good harmony between the two countries after a turbulent period marked by political instability and changes in leadership in the British Government. Sunak’s success in negotiating the Protocol of North Ireland with the EU has made him win integers in the eyes of the Biden administration, who has shown a special interest in keeping intact the good friday deals.
The improvement in relations between the two countries has had its first signs in the place where Sunak will stay during his stay, the President’s Guest House, known as the “most luxurious hotel in the world”. This will be the first time that a British Prime Minister has stayed overnight in this residence since David Cameron. The leaders of the two countries will offer a joint press conference after the bilateral meeting this Thursday at the White Housebefore Sunak’s return to the UK.