What Britain needs from Donald Trump – POLITICO

LONDON — Donald Trump and Keir Starmer have become good at smiling and shaking hands, but Britain’s prime minister will be hoping for more than that this week.

Serious policy questions will be bubbling just under the sheen of royal pomp when the U.S. president touches down Tuesday for his unprecedented second state visit. Trump will meet Starmer at Chequers — the PM’s residence in rural England — for talks and a press conference Thursday after a day of pageantry with King Charles III.

Downing Street wants to focus on a tech partnership, nuclear energy, financial services and soft power. Starmer’s spokesperson said the “unbreakable friendship” between the two nations “will reach new heights.” (The reference to Travis Kelce’s sports podcast was accidental.) No. 10 even pledged to ensure grassroots access to basketball ahead of the visit, though the details of this were hazy Monday.