British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to hold crucial talks with her American counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington on Monday, the UK Foreign Office has revealed to GB News.
The high-level meeting comes as diplomatic efforts to end the devastating war in Ukraine intensify but under a backdrop of increased pressure on the UK government from the Trump Administration over the UK having “lost control” of inward migration and splits between the two nations in their policies towards the recognition of Palestine as a state, plus support for Ukraine in its war to defend itself against Russia.
The visit marks Cooper’s first trip to the US capital since she took on the role of Britain’s top diplomat in September.
Her arrival coincides with Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the leaders of France and Germany in London, reports AP.
The meetings on Monday follow days of intensive discussions last week between Ukrainian and US officials in Miami. The talks centered around a US-led initiative to bring an end to the nearly four-year conflict in Ukraine, which has become Europe’s deadliest war in eight decades.
President Zelensky described a recent call with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as “very substantive and constructive.” The Ukrainian leader and his negotiating team engaged in the promising exchange on Saturday.
UK and US to reaffirm commitment to Ukraine peace deal
According to the Foreign Office in London, Cooper’s Washington visit will see “the UK and US reaffirm their commitment to reaching a peace deal in Ukraine.” The statement emphasized Britain’s support for “President Trump’s ongoing efforts to secure a just and lasting peace.”
The transatlantic allies are also set to focus their discussions on the situation in Gaza. The talks will “cover US efforts to sustain the ceasefire and make progress on President Trump’s peace plan,” London added.
The US-backed ceasefire and hostility deal, which came into force in October, brought an end to two years of full-scale fighting triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed on Sunday that he anticipates moving into the second phase of the US-sponsored ceasefire plan for Gaza “very shortly.” However, he acknowledged that this phase “is more difficult.”
Cooper to address Sudan conflict and need for humanitarian truce
The UK Foreign Office also stated that Cooper will discuss the ongoing conflict in Sudan during her visit. She will emphasize “the urgent need to press the warring parties to agree to a humanitarian truce, the prevention of atrocities and humanitarian access.”
In a separate announcement on Sunday, Cooper revealed that London will host a significant international summit next summer to address global “flows of dirty money.” The Illicit Finance Summit, scheduled for June 23-24 at Lancaster House, will bring together governments, civil society, and private sector representatives, including major banks. The aim is to discuss strengthening global enforcement efforts to “prevent, disrupt and recover dirty money.”, reports LBC.
US officials criticize UK governments over immigration inaction
US officials have told diplomats in the UK that British people have been “let down” by successive governments on immigration issues. In a memo sent to US embassies last week, American diplomats in Britain were instructed to gather information and begin reviewing crimes committed by migrants.
The cable, which was also sent to other embassies in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, singled out the UK as an example of failing to take action to “solve the mass migration crisis.” According to the memo seen by The Times, “The British government in particular, time and time again we’ve seen governments – whether it be Conservative governments, Labour governments – say that they’re going to take action to solve the mass migration crisis.”
The memo further stated, “And time and time again, despite the people continuously voting for a resolution or at least some sort of relief from the pressures of mass migration, nothing has really happened.” The criticism from US officials underscores the growing frustration with the UK’s inability to effectively address immigration concerns, despite public support for action.
