Donald Trump begins his second state visit to the UK. The former US president and candidate in the upcoming election arrived with his wife Melania at Windsor Castle, where they were welcomed by King Charles III. According to the AP, there was a ceremony, inspection of the guard of honour and the laying of a bouquet in St George's Chapel. The day culminated with a state banquet attended by Prince William and Princess Kate.
Tech Prosperity Deal: £31bn investment
As reported by Reuters, the main point of the visit was the announcement "Tech Prosperity Deal"...a giant deal between London and Washington. The value of the projects exceeds £31 billion (about $42 billion).
- Microsoft has pledged £22 billion of investment to expand cloud infrastructure in Britain.
- Nvidia confirmed the expansion of research and production in the field of artificial intelligence and high-performance graphics processors.
- Google announced the construction of a new data center.
According to the British government, the agreement also includes cooperation on civil nuclear energy and research into safe artificial intelligence. The prime minister said it was a "historic step that will cement Britain's position as a technology leader in Europe".
Royal reception for Donald Trump
The Windsor ceremony had all the hallmarks state visits. Trump and his wife were greeted with military fanfare, an honor guard and the traditional ritual of inspection. King Charles III then met privately with the American delegation, while the evening banquet provided an opportunity for further discussions and speeches on strengthening transatlantic relations. According to the AP, security measures were extraordinary - the Windsor area was cordoned off and several hundred police officers were deployed.
Protests and controversies
Donald Trump's visit is accompanied by massive protests. As the Washington Post reported, hundreds of people demonstrated in London and at Windsor. The activist group Led By Donkeys projected images of Trump and the financier onto the castle walls Jeffrey Epsteinto point out his past contacts. Protesters criticised Trump's stance on human rights, climate and foreign policy. According to CBS, police arrested several people who tried to disrupt security corridors.
TIME magazine reported that feminist and environmental organizations joined the demonstrations. They believe that the British government is sending the wrong signal by giving state honours to a politician whose positions they consider problematic. Nevertheless, the programme went ahead as planned.
The importance of the visit for Britain and the USA
Donald Trump's visit comes at a time when the US presidential election is approaching and the debate on Britain's post-Brexit position is ongoing. As Reuters reports, London has sent a signal that strategic partnership with the United States remains one of the pillars of British foreign policy.
Thus, the overall picture of the day shows two faces of the visit: on the one hand, ceremonies, billions of dollars of technological investment and the strengthening of transatlantic ties; on the other hand, protests, controversy and questions about whether the Donald Trump a fitting partner for royal honors.
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