The month of September has brought much discussion in the international world. We saw many historic events take place, each having the potential to shape global politics uniquely. In that global arena, the United States has been the center of the post-World War II order, and its current president, Donald Trump, aims to uphold the country’s now threatened hegemony on the global system through his unpredictable policies.
The Visit
Donald Trump was invited by King Charles III on a first-of-its-kind state visit to the United Kingdom. The invitation letter from the king was presented to the president by the prime minister of the UK, Keir Starmer, in the Oval Office earlier this year. The president was delighted as he became the first American or any global elected official to be invited to the UK for a state visit for a second time. Hosted by the late Queen Elizabeth II, his first visit took place during his initial term in 2019, and according to the president, it was a highlight of his term. Trump’s fondness for the British royal family is something that Starmer cleverly utilized throughout this state visit, indicating that he understands the kind of approach one ought to take to sway the president in their national interests.
In his three-day stay, Donald Trump was showered with the best that Britain had to offer, and he loved every moment of it. The visit was marked by extravagant displays tailored to his love for spectacle. It began with a grand welcome, featuring a gilded carriage ride, a ceremonial military parade with a Guard of Honour, and a flypast by the Red Arrows. The highlight was a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle, where he was the guest of honor. The visit was characterized by high exclusivity and security, keeping him within royal grounds.
There was an obvious lack of a public address, hinting that Starmer wanted him away from the protests. Trump repeatedly emphasized the fact that no leader before him had been invited to stay in Windsor Castle, referring to it as “the ultimate” between itself and Buckingham Palace. This carefully arranged display of British pageantry seemed to impress him, with Trump calling it one of the “highest honors” of his life. Yet the question remained in British minds: would all this flattery bring any fruit?
Protests and Controversies
In the days leading up to the visit, there has been a lot of debate and controversy surrounding it. The first was the removal of the official who had planned the visit itself yet was sacked before he could attend it. The UK ambassador to the US, Lord Peter Mandelson, was let go because of his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Though the knowledge of their relationship has been public for a long time, the recently released 50th birthday book from 2003 exposed Mandelson’s letter to Epstein in which he describes him as his “best pal.” Along with the letter, a selection of emails from an estimated 100 emails between the two, from 2005 to 2010, brought to light that Mandelson not only supported but also defended Epstein during and long after his conviction.
According to Starmer, this revelation was new and was far different from what he had previously understood. After taking immediate action, Starmer expressed that Lord Mandelson would have never been appointed had he been aware of the true gravity of his relationship to Epstein, as it goes against his and the administration’s policies regarding violence against women. Despite it all, Lord Mandelson has played a crucial part in the trade and investment deals signed between the UK and US this year.
Reports indicate that his key achievement was establishing the framework for a trade deal, celebrated during an Oval Office meeting in May. The deal, known as the “Economic Prosperity Deal,” brokered earlier this year, aimed to decrease the effects of new US tariffs on UK goods, specifically in the automotive and steel sectors. The agreement resulted in reduced tariffs on a quota of UK-made cars and eliminated certain tariffs on steel and aluminum.
Lord Mandelson is not the only person with ties to Jeffrey Epstein who was a part of this trip. President Trump himself has been accused of having a deeper part in the Epstein case than he admits to. The president, who had been Epstein’s close friend for years, said the letter in the birthday book containing his signature was not written by him. He has repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s actions, saying their friendship ended a long time ago. It is important to note that Trump has never been accused of anything in the Epstein case.
On a separate occasion, he was found liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll in a civil case in 2023. This is the only instance where a court ruled against him. Though many other women, including underage girls, have accused him of sexual misconduct. The conspiracy around Trump’s involvement in the Epstein files has gained momentum since the release of the birthday book originally compiled by his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell for his birthday.
In an effort to get the files made public, protestors projected a video containing a timeline of Trump-Epstein events onto the walls of Windsor Castle, where the president and first lady were going to stay. Four men were arrested for this act and were later released on bail. In another instance, protestors unfurled a massive Trump-Epstein picture near Windsor Castle. Hinting at a drastically different sentiment for Trump inside and outside the walls of the castle.
On the British side of affairs, the tech prosperity deal comes at a crucial time for Sir Keir and his administration. The British prime minister has been under immense pressure lately as the public seems to be losing confidence in him. Though he started his Labour Party government with a landslide victory last year, two controversies led to the reshuffling of vital personnel in his cabinet. Lord Peter Mandelson was fired while housing secretary, deputy leader of the Labour Party, and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned following a tax scandal.
She served as a vital bridge between working-class people and the Labour Party in a way that Starmer could not. Her resignation poses a significant political challenge for the government, and Starmer was saddened by her departure. Although the prime minister demonstrated his commitment to high standards by accepting the resignation, this incident eliminated a popular and genuine voice from the front bench, lost significant public support, and may reveal internal divisions within the party.
Moreover, Nigel Farage, the prime minister’s main rival and leader of Reform UK, happens to be President Trump’s old friend. He was excluded from the guest list for the formal dinner hosted by the king and found it insulting. Another excluded individual was London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who was left out at the request of the president himself, as the two share a history of dislike for one another. It is also important to note that Farage is a right-wing, anti-immigration politician who is on track to be Britain’s next prime minister.
Farage and Trump share similar political sentiments, while the same cannot be said about Starmer and Trump. Though the British PM explained that they’re two leaders who respect and understand each other while maintaining the careful image of friendship between the two. Trump revealed that they only have a few disagreements, such as the recognition of a Palestinian state; the two countries have a very special bond. Sir Keir constantly reminded us of the “special relationship,” almost as though he was trying to convince himself of it.
The Cost-benefit Analysis
Trump’s first visit cost the UK government an estimated £3.9 million in 2019, while the cost of this visit is thought to be higher. The public and media are always quick to point out the hypocrisy of such state visits because countries throw extravagant parties for people in power and people with the power of investment, i.e., businessmen, while the cost falls on the average taxpayer.
The main deal signed between the US and UK, the Tech Prosperity Deal, is worth £150 billion in total investment from the US. The deal is meant to create jobs and boost economic growth in the country. American giant Microsoft is leading with a £22 billion investment for the UK’s largest AI supercomputer, followed by Google promising £5 billion over two years, while CoreWeave pledges £1.5 billion for AI data centers, among other firms.
The new “AI Growth Zone” in the Northeastof England is projected to create a minimum of 7,600 jobs. These investments are meant to serve as catalysts for more development in the British tech industry and to establish the UK as a frontrunner in artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies, in turn creating even more opportunities for employment and economic growth.
The second deal, a multibillion-pound agreement called the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy, aims to enhance energy security and develop new infrastructure by speeding up the construction of nuclear reactors and ensuring reliable, low-carbon energy for high-demand sectors like AI data centers. It intends to cut the approval time for new nuclear facilities from three to four years down to about two. The agreement emphasizes the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced modular reactors (AMRs), which are more compact and cost-effective than traditional plants.
A significant part of it involves Centrica, the UK’s largest energy supplier, and the US firm X-energy, which will create up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, capable of providing power to 1.5 million homes and generating up to 2,500 jobs. Additionally, US company Holtec, along with EDF Energy and Tritax, will establish advanced data centers powered by SMRs in Nottinghamshire, with an estimated value of around $15 billion. The overall program is expected to generate at least $54.4 billion in economic value, while for the US, it enhances nuclear technology exports and strengthens international commercial relationships.
Additionally, despite the visit, there was minimal to no change in the critical tariff landscape. The US maintained its high duties of 25% on major UK exports like steel and aluminum, as talks to eliminate these tariffs stalled and Trump remained non-committal about the future. While a smaller, pre-existing economic prosperity deal offered some limited tariff reductions on goods like cars and aerospace products. These were restricted by quotas and only applied to a small fraction of overall UK-US trade, leaving the majority of current tariff rates unchanged.
What the Deals Mean
The sheer amount of focus on the tech sector is due to the lack of infrastructure that is holding Brits back, something that Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, pointed out when discussing that he foresees the UK emerging as a leading “AI superpower,” powered by the nation’s expertise and research capabilities. This deal could build the very infrastructure that is lacking.
However, the fact remains that all of these numbers are meant to prove to the British public that their choice in the last election is still worth it and to restore the confidence of the people in the government. The effects of these tech investments are going to be felt in the economy in the long term at best. The widespread and fast relief that the British public was hoping for is simply not present in these deals and requires different action.
Conclusion
The recent visit of US President Donald Trump to the UK was a carefully curated attempt by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government to capitalize on the “Special Relationship.” The lavish displays designed to cater to the president’s preferences created an image of significant mutual warmth, despite ongoing political differences and the controversy surrounding the Mandelson-Epstein connections. From an investment perspective, the visit was successful, but it did not achieve a crucial goal: the removal of the high 25% tariffs on UK steel and aluminum, indicating the limitations of Starmer’s appeal.
Domestically, the visit was marred by the firing of Lord Mandelson and the resignation of Deputy PM Angela Rayner, which undermined the government’s integrity claims. In conclusion, while the UK gained substantial long-term investment that could position it as an “AI superpower,” the immediate political hurdles and the failure to secure vital tariff reductions suggest that the special relationship emphasizes personal diplomacy and future possibilities rather than resolving current trade issues.
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Manhal Zaka Khan is a writer currently interning at Paradigm Shift. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in social sciences at SZABIST Karachi, majoring in international relations. Her writing interests encompass all areas of the social sciences, as she explores and examines the world through a critical and analytical perspective.