Photo. The White House/X
„Today, however, we celebrate a relationship between our two countries that surely neither (George) Washington nor King George III could possibly have imagined”. His Majesty King Charles III to President Donald Trump at the Official State Banquet at Windsor Castle 17th September 2025.
With the conclusion of the Second State visit of President Donald Trump to the United Kingdom from the 16th-18th September, the „Special Relationship” shows signs of its evolution at pace. That was the very clear message that both sides signalled after this very monumental event. This article is an overall assessment and analysis of the strategy behind the State Visit in the wider context of the constantly developing UK-US „Special Relationship” and what was gained from the viewpoint of the United Kingdom.
What was the purpose for the visit and how was it achieved?
The visit was aimed at reinforcing the traditionally strong Trans-Atlantic bond between former colony and ancient colonial power which stands in contrast to many other post-colonial relationships of former empires, by the very high level of importance that both sides invest in it. The paradox in US-UK relationships is often in the way in which each side regards the other. The most ardent of American „Patriots” who espouse the core narrative about the history of the American Revolution as a liberation from the tyranny of a British Monarch, will paradoxically consider any opportunity to meet the UK Royal Family a mark of high social elevation. In similar fashion US Presidents have elicited a similar level of adulation and respect from both Royals and common people alike in the UK.
According to the Daily Telegraph (14/09/25) it was during an official visit to the White House in February 2025 that the invitation for President Trump to experience an unprecedented second official State Visit was issued. It originated from King Charles III but was delivered by way of a personal letter from the pocket of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the White House in the middle of an official meeting between UK Prime Minister and US President Donald Trump. It was, a cleverly choreographed exercise in British soft power diplomacy instrumentalising the institution of the Monarchy, for which President Trump has a very high regard, to flatter the President knowing that as this would be a unique second state visit then naturally the President would accept as he would consider it a great honour.
That diplomatic gesture was something that had been carefully prepared even before Trump was re-elected. On winning the UK election Starmer, was watching very closely the probable outcome of the US election and despite the UK Labour party sending volunteers to aid the Presidential campaign of Kamala Harris, the UK government gauged that Trump would probably win and very carefully managed its relationship with him. After the assassination attempt it is reported that Starmer contacted Trump to offer his sympathy and support and this genuinely touched Trump paving the way for the building of a very warm personal relationship between the two leaders. This was cemented during the Trump election campaign by a private dinner at Trump Towers, despite what seemed a strong Harris polling performance at that moment in time. The significance of a Prime Minister visiting him, a not yet elected candidate and not an elected leader, doubtless boosted both Trumps self-valorisation and his image of Starmer.
The tactic worked as Trump in characteristic fashion responded with positive statements about Starmer as someone with whom he could do business. Thus, the alliance of the left-wing progressive human rights lawyer- Sir Keir Starmer and the transactional Republican tycoon Donald Trump, was sealed despite their very clear ideological differences, with substantive disagreements over important questions of both domestic and international policy positions.
In a clear spirit of pragmatism and national self-interest, no effort would be spared to showcase the unique „Royal” subtle diplomatic power that would make both Trump the centre stage of the pageantry and yet in equal measure would force him to acknowledge that there was something about the quality and character of the British Royal Families ceremonies that would leave him awestruck.
What were the Key moments of the Trump visit and their effect on the UK-US relationship?
The visit was divided into two days and two different locations. The 17th of September at Windsor Castle was the occasion for the Royal ceremonial and pageantry and 18th September at Chequers; the Prime Ministers weekend retreat would be the business part of the visit.
Royal Diplomacy and Soft Power Projection – Day One
The decision to host the President in the secure and more private location at Windsor Castle reflected the security concerns caused by the feeling of opposition from some sections of society to the visit. It was in the grounds of Windsor Castle that the UK Armed Forces put on their most consequential display to make sure the president felt duly honoured. This was a fundamental part of the diplomatic strategy. The military and ceremonial honours included 1,500 all-service military personel,150 horses and marching bands from the Royal Marines, the Army and the Royal Air Force. The Red Arrows display team flew its impressive display however the fly past of the US Air Force F-35s who were due to fly symbolically with the RAF had to be cancelled due to bad weather!
At the Official State Banquet, King Charles warmly greeted President Trump but, in his speech, sent very clear if subtle messages as to what he wanted heard and taken onboard by his guest:
In his first point, the King celebrated the UK-US „Special Relationship” as a unique geopolitical phenomenon including a joke about former animosities between his ancestor King George III and George Washington. He emphasised how much is shared through ties of history and culture between both countries. In unity not division is found strength was the message.
The King then highlighted the importance of protecting nature for future generations by implication he stressed the need for clean air, water, and food, which was a subtle reminder to President Trump’s to review his aggressive pro-fossil fuel stance.
The central part of his speech to Trump was his clear repulsion at the continued aggression committed by Putin against Ukraine openly implying firmly that Putin is a tyrant and he very clearly signalled the importance of the UK and US standing together to support Ukraine to deter aggression and secure a just and lasting peace. King Charles who is also Monarch of Australia) also signalled the importance of the AUKUS deal and the Indo -Pacific region, since it is where the threat posed by China to the democratic world is being confronted.
He finished off by alluding to the historical precedents such as joint UK-US action at D-Day to signal to the US and most critically to President Trump, that isolationism and disengagement are not viable options for the number one world superpower at this critical time of tension and turmoil. He praised Trump for the sincerity of his efforts in trying to secure peace and resolve protracted conflicts throughout the world and framed this as a goal that both men share, thus subtly encouraging him to embrace his way of thinking.
The King humorously touched on his own positive experiences in the US, by mentioning Trumps British heritage (through his royalist Scottish mother) and Trumps owning golf courses in the UK. To some this could seem a frivolous way of „doing diplomacy” but here lies the genius of the deployment of Soft Power Diplomacy that lies at the heart of this visit from the UK perspective. The King’s speech was part of a broader „charm offensive” aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties, including securing long term major defence, tech and energy investments from US firms and opening his guest to different perspectives on crucial issues.
The most surprising effect, however, has been in evidence in recent days, in the apparentVolte-Face of President Trump about Ukraine winning and taking the fight to Russia. It has been reported by several sources that it was in large part as a direct result of the interaction of President Trump in private discussions with King Charles. The discrete but highly effective influencing is not something that should ever be dismissed as irrelevant or ineffectual. For those struggling to understand the nature of the British Monarchy as non-political unifiers and representatives of the nation, this is the best example of the important role they play behind the scenes on behalf of the strategic interests of the United Kingdom and the wider community of democratic nations.
UK-US Both Open for Business – Day Two
The last day of the visit was at Chequers; the official country residence of the UK Prime Minister and it was the scene of two landmark events which concluded the State Visit. The first event following a private business meeting was the official signing of the US-UK Tech Prosperity Deal followed by an official press conference to sum up the State Visit and showcase the quality of the „Special Relationship”.
US-UK Tech Prosperity Deal – Triumph for Investment and Concerns for Sovereignty
In terms of deals and „real world” business investment the visit centred on the symbolic signing of the Technology Prosperity Deal (TPD), a landmark agreement committing both nations to the joint development and partnership in the future-critical areas of quantum computing, AI, cybersecurity and nuclear energy. In a spirit of mutual reciprocity, the UK committed to over 80 billion USD in defence and technological procurement from the US which in turn secured highly valued UK contracts.
Summary of key defence, finance and infrastructure spheres of investment:
- Technology and AI received £35.5 billion.
–Microsoft: £22 billion for AI supercomputing infrastructure,
–Google: £5 billion for data centres and R&D;
–Nvidia, OpenAI, CoreWeave, Salesforce, Cisco: Combined investment of £8.5 billion for the manufacture of AI chips, cloud infrastructure and digital acceleration.
These investments will support the UK Stargate initiative to construct world-leading AI infrastructure and is projected to increase employment in tech sectors, accelerate innovation in defence, healthcare and finance and above all boost the place of the UK as a global AI hub,
- Finance & Investment received £108.9 billion.
–Blackstone: £100 billion over 10 years in UK assets.
–Citigroup, Bank of America, BlackRock, PayPal, S&P Global: Combined total of £8.9 billion in financial services, fintech and job creation.
These will solidify London’s central role as a post-Brexit global financial hub which in turn will drive growth in data centres, digital payments and financial analytics. Amongst the key beneficiaries of job creation will be Belfast and Manchester.
- Manufacturing & Infrastructure received £4.8 billion.
–Prologis: £3.9Billion in life sciences and logistics.
–Stax: £37Million for port emission-reduction tech.
–Daventry Rail Freight Terminal: £900Million expansion.
These investments impact the enhancement of supply chain resilience, green logistics, advanced manufacturing and the delivery of the UK’s net-zero goals and critical infrastructure modernization.
- Defence & Security received £1.65 billion.
- Palantir Technologies: £1.5Billion for AI defence systems.
- Boeing: £150M for Wedgetail aircraft upgrades
These investments will impact and strengthen the UK’s defence AI capabilities and systems for decision-making, military planning, and targeting as part of the Digital Targeting Web enabling commanders to fuse data from multiple sources for rapid battlefield decision making. Palantir will also establish its main European defence and operations HQ in the UK resulting in both greater NATO interoperability and the consolidation of the UK’s strategic autonomy.
- Energy & Nuclear received £0.65 billion
–Amentum: £150 million in nuclear engineering;
–X-Energy & Centrica: Modular nuclear reactor development.
These investments will support the UK’s clean energy transition to supply the needs of the newly established data centres, create 3,000 jobs in Glasgow, Warrington and the Midlands and lead to further development and advances in small modular reactor (SMR) technology for greater strategic energy autonomy.
To sum up the Deal, it is a concrete way of ensuring not only strong bilateral defence-industrial ties, but also in confirming the position of the UK as a key nodal point and trusted partner in the US-driven military/technological digital ecosystem. This deal can also be seen as a pulling together of allied forces to face down the major threat in the technological sphere that comes from the US and Western partners most serious competitor which is China as evidenced in Trump’s pivot from the Euro-centric focus to the Indo-Pacific.
Whilst this level of investment is seen as a potentially significant boost for the UK, there are some voices that are critical about the deal. The former Deputy-Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Meta’s former president of global affairs warned that this agreement risks turning the UK into the tech vassal of the US and that the UK is lazily surrendering its own potential to US tech giant interests calling the deal „sloppy seconds from Silicon Valley”. Others in UK tech have warned about possible dangers and raise concerns about governance, accountability and long-term sustainability issues. Some warn of a strategic AI infrastructure becoming a security liability through hostile-actor penetration due to accelerated AI deregulation. Other concerns include levels of energy consumption for AI data centres and current limited generation capacity. Additionally, the feeling is by some that the UK by hosting infrastructure will end up paying the cost of other nations tech success and get left behind in the process. The reality will have to be seen.
Trump–Starmer Summit and Press Conference: Strategic Realignment and Diplomatic Balancing in US–UK Relations
The joint press conference between US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer marked a clear pivotal moment for UK-US relations in which the Leaders displayed both strategic cooperation and diplomatic restraint. Whilst the leaders both showcased unity on defence and technology, there were nonetheless clear and underlying tensions on Middle East policy, green energy and the complex question of illegal migration.
Recognition of Palestine by Starmer
The first tension concerned the UK plan to recognise the Palestinian State. In their interaction they disagreed, although interestingly Trump remained tactful and respectful. Trump voiced concern over Hamas, whilst Starmer denouncing Hamas, defended the move as part of a broader peace strategy. Nonetheless the disagreement took place in a friendly atmosphere where the positive personal chemistry was underlined by both leaders.
Illegal Migration
The second point of contention concerned how to deal with question of illegal migration. Trump declared the need for a firm and resolute approach, even suggesting a military solution. In this he fed into the domestic UK political situation where the question of how to resolve the influx of illegal migration is causing a great problem for the Government. The Prime Ministers popularity is dropping significantly, and migration is one reason. Prior to the visit there was a 100,000 strong anti-immigration protest under the title „Unite the Kingdom” reflecting the current anxiety about levels of migration especially the illegal variety. In response Starmer emphasised his commitment to bilateral agreements to resolve this issue but so far this has proved far from adequate to secure the UK borders.
„Drill baby drill” Trump and Starmer diverge on renewable energy but converge on Nuclear Trump criticized directly the UK’s Net Zero strategy, particularly its reliance on wind and solar energy, calling them „a very expensive joke” and „pathetic”. He urged Starmer to „drill baby drill”, referencing his own energy policy in the US and claimed that expanding North Sea oil and gas production would lower energy prices and reduce inflation. Starmer replied by defending a policy of using fossil fuels and renewables, stating that oil and gas from the North Sea would remain part of the UK’s strategy „for many years,” but emphasized the importance of renewables to lower household bills and meet climate goals. However, despite their differences on fossil fuels and renewables, both leaders found a common ground on nuclear energy, signing the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy, which aims to accelerate deployment of modular reactors and aligning of regulatory frameworks.
Ukraine and NATO Cohesion
Both leaders condemned Russian aggression and pledged their continued support for Ukraine. Starmer’s push for expanded sanctions and Trump’s criticism of Putin when he vented his feeling of betrayal by him, indicates a shared commitment to European security, albeit with differing styles and approaches. This alignment signals a clear continuity in US–UK support for Kyiv.
The summit and press conference reaffirmed the durability of the US–UK alliance, particularly in defence and technology. However, future relations will depend on the ability to navigate ideological differences without undermining operational cooperation and sustained investment in joint capabilities and strategic infrastructure.
Conclusion
This visit has doubtless proved a temporary success for the incumbent UK PM, who has recently experienced several political humiliations, most notably the very recent scandal driven resignations of both his Deputy Prime-Minister Angela Rayner and the Ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson. This even came up as an awkward question at the joint Press Conference and Trump diffused it by claiming not to know him, despite evidence to the contrary! This is in addition to the mounting discontent in UK society with several government policies most notably over the question of illegal migration. The opinion polls consistently place the Reform Party of Brexit Campaigner Nigel Farage making enormous gains against both their Labour and Conservative rivals and within his own Labour Party, Starmer faces a growing demand for more radical policies from the far left-wing of his party.
In this context for the United Kingdom, this visit was an opportunity to reassert itself on the world stage and to gain several very important deals. The UK can now be said to find itself in a unique position in benefitting from US investment deals as well as from less punishing tariffs than its EU neighbours have suffered, it can act in intermediary role between the US and the EU due to its unique and good relations with both. In the time of the original „Cold War”, the UK was openly referred to by the US military/political elite as „Americas unsinkable aircraft carrier” due its role as the staging point of the defence of NATO and Europe. In a certain more general sense that is role that the UK has managed to carve for itself again after this visit.
The „Special Relationship” is clearly a very strong one as it can manage both the personal relationships between its leaders and the greater strategic interests of both sides within this partnership in a cohesive manner. It is not and could never pretend to be a relationship of equals but as this visit has shown, it is not just in the exercise of hard power that influence is achieved, but as in the case of this visit it was soft power diplomacy, as exercised by King Charles III, that has proved to achieve results. For the UK, it was a masterclass in statecraft and a signal that the Special Relationship is not only alive but thriving.
Author: Andrzej Marszewski