Latest news with #statevisit
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
How is Windsor preparing for Donald Trump's visit?
US President Donald Trump has met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf course on his visit to just over a month, the President will be hosted by King Charles III in Windsor, Berkshire, as part of his second state visits include a major security operation - but what sort of planning goes into visits like this? Preparation Former Police Chief Tim Brain, who has handled plenty of visits like this before, told BBC Radio Berkshire that preparation for the visit would have started like many others - with a huge, detailed risk assessment."That is both in terms of security, general security, physical security, but also very basic things like traffic and health and safety that all have to go off very, very smoothly," he said. A planning team responsible for this would have been put in place as soon as the visit was announced, he said."All forces have got their own operations departments that are there to deal with major events," he said."Inside the force, the planning... would have started with getting the right people in place."He said they would also put together "a large operational order" alongside the risk assessment."It will be many pages thick, that covers every aspect of this in terms of planning, location and timing," he said. 'Jigsaw' operation Mr Brain said the security operation would involve coordinating both with the President's security teams, as well as protocols in place for the heads of state he was meeting."Any president of the United States is going to have a very, very high profile - this one perhaps more so than most - and of course they come with their own physical security teams," he said."The responsibility for the security of the President comes with the secret service of the United States, and they don't absolve themselves of that responsibility, so there will be very closely liaison between the secret service and the host force."This combined with King Charles III's own security meant it had to be a "closely interlocked operation", he said."There'll just be so many jigsaw pieces in the puzzle that have to fit together and that's another one of them," he said. Protest planning Another thing that needs to be considered as part of the plan is the possibility of protests taking place, like those that have taken place in Edinburgh, Mr Brain said."Many state visits will come with that element of it now, because even if a protest group has no connection with the principal involved, they may nevertheless take the opportunity that a high profile event like this creates," he said there was often an open dialogue between the police and protest organisers."There'll be liaison between the protest organisers and the police leads on this, so that they can have a plan about where they can stand, what they can say, what they can do, what they can show," he said."Trying to get the balance right between allowing peaceful protest, which is a right that we all have, and maintaining public order and safety will be a key dynamism in the operation." Whilst a security operation like this would be a "challenge", Mr Brain said it was one that police officers would rise to."They will enjoy the opportunity to do something as big and as comprehensive as this," he said."This is going to be a buzz... it will be stressful, but that's what they're there for. " You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Will Trump's visit go with a swing – or is it on course for disaster?
Hundreds of guards, high perimeter fences, watchtowers... no, it's not Alligator Alcatraz but a corner of rural Ayrshire, where Donald Trump owns a little golf course. After the eagle has landed, he will be enjoying a little downtime before heading off to his other international links, up in Aberdeenshire. That's the Trump International – as some recently installed unofficial signage wittily added, 'Twinned with Epstein Island '. Anyway, he's overpaid, oversexed, and over here, and he's going to get a mixed reception. Will he meet the King? Not on this occasion. Inexplicably, the environmentally conscious, vaguely progressive monarch won't be at Balmoral, so handy for the Trump International course. Therefore, not even a plate of Duchy Original oatcakes will be laid on for the 47th president by His Majesty. Instead, the King and Queen will be sequestered at Windsor Castle, phone off the hook. However, the red carpet, tiaras and gold plate will be on full ostentatious royal display when Trump returns for his full state visit, his second, from 17 to 19 September. Even Trump should be impressed by the quantity of gilt, solid silver and precious jewels he'll be surrounded by. It'll be just like the redecorated Oval Office, but less gaudy. Will he address both houses of parliament? Again, circumstances have somehow worked against the planners. By unusually bad luck, parliament will be in recess for both visits, so President Trump won't have the pleasure of being able to spot Nigel Farage, Lord Mandelson, Lady May or any other old acquaintances at such a gathering. On the plus side, he'll be spared some unruly types shouting 'Free Palestine' and 'Release the Epstein Files'. Trump says he's not bothered about all that, even if President Macron, President Reagan, and President Barack Hussein Obama (as Mr Trump likes to call him), among others, have been granted the honour. Just as well, eh? What about the prime minister? Good news here. After plenty of golf, and inspecting the finest courses in the world (by far, actually; there's nowhere like them anywhere; there really isn't; make golf great again...), he's got a little time booked in with Keir Starmer on Monday. For reasons no one understands, Trump gets on with this woke, radical, left-wing human rights lawyer, so you never know what might emerge. Starmer is keeping it fairly light – so no negotiations on steel tariffs, for example – but he will have to raise the Middle East. Even Trump must be uncomfortable seeing pictures of starving infants in Gaza, and the first lady might also have pointed out that Benjamin Netanyahu has been playing America along. Unlikely to be a bust-up, anyway, given that Starmer has so far declined to follow Macron in recognising full Palestinian statehood. Less happily, Scottish first minister John Swinney has managed to wangle a meeting with Trump (something denied to Nicola Sturgeon in her day), and might wind him up a bit, Zelensky-style. Let's hope so: the fallout could be spectacular. Any chance of the Blimp flying? It's possible. There are reports that the giant inflatable model of Trump as a mewling baby in a nappy, seen on previous visits, is being readied, but probably more for London. In Scotland, its appearance anywhere near the president might invite an attack from an F-16. Is Trump really half Scottish? Afraid so, aye. His mum, Mary Anne MacLeod (b 1912), came from the Outer Hebrides and emigrated (presumably legally) to the United States in 1930. She married Fred Trump six years later, gave birth to Donald in 1946, and the rest, as they say, is Trumpery.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Poll of the day: Is hosting Trump good diplomacy – or a diplomatic disaster waiting to happen?
Donald Trump is making two visits to the UK this year – a private trip focused on his Scottish golf courses, and a full-blown state visit in September, complete with a welcome from King Charles III. The US president is spending time at his resorts in South Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire and is expected to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scotland's first minister, John Swinney. He also plans to open a new course dedicated to his Scottish-born mother. While Downing Street has hailed the trip as a 'historic' opportunity to strengthen UK-US ties, the invitation has sparked backlash. Protesters have accused Trump of spreading hate, accelerating climate breakdown and undermining democratic norms. A wave of demonstrations has been planned around both visits – with activists saying the UK should not be 'rolling out the red carpet' for a leader with such a controversial record. In Westminster, several MPs have spoken out against the state visit, with some calling it 'inappropriate' and even urging parliament to deny Trump a platform altogether. But White House sources say no parliamentary address is expected, and insist the trip is purely diplomatic. So, is Trump's upcoming state visit a smart move to preserve international relations – or a mistake that sends the wrong message? Vote in our poll and tell us what you think in the .
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Indian PM Modi welcomed with fervour in Male, as India-Maldives mark 60 years of ties
Male: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Maldives on Friday as a part of his second leg of the two-nation visit. He received a welcome from President Muizzu and senior ministers from the government upon his arrival. With chants of Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata ki Jai, members of the Indian diaspora greeted the PM. There was also a cultural performance hosted by the diaspora in his honour. PM Modi witnessed the cultural performance alongside President Mohamed Muizzu. He also interacted with members of the Indian diaspora, who expressed great enthusiasm upon meeting PM Modi. The Maldivian capital, Male, wore a festive look on Friday, adorned with large posters, colourful banners, and fluttering Indian flags, as the island nation geared up to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his two-day state visit. PM Modi has been invited by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and will attend the country's 60th Independence Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour. The Office of the President of Maldives in a post on X, upon PM's arrival said, "The Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Shri @narendramodi arrives in the Maldives on a state visit, at the invitation of His Excellency President Dr @MMuizzu. This historic visit is Prime Minister Modi's first visit to the Maldives since assuming his third term, and coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Maldives' independence as well as the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and India." During his stay, Prime Minister Modi will hold talks with President Mohamed Muizzu to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across key sectors. The visit also marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives. India has played a key role in supporting the Maldives through development aid, infrastructure projects, and emergency assistance in recent years.
Japan Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Britain and Europe are changing together
Many state visits are empty, symbolic acts that have little to no policy content or lasting significance. But every now and then, such a visit changes the shape of international relations. Could French President Emmanuel Macron's recently concluded trip to London be one of them? Macron's recent three-day trip, the first state visit to the United Kingdom by a European Union head of state since Brexit in 2020, had plenty of pomp and pageantry. But it also focused on policy and politics, which reflects a profound shift in the U.K.'s circumstances since leaving the EU. During the upheaval of the Brexit psychodrama, there was little interest in constructive exchange, and the U.K.'s relationship with Europe remained defined by its lurching departure from the bloc. But nearly a decade on, Donald Trump is back in the White House and has launched a trade war on the world. Russian President Vladimir Putin has shredded the European security order. And Chinese President Xi Jinping has resorted to threats of economic coercion — a striking reversal from the 'golden era' of U.K.-China relations proclaimed in 2015. Even more dramatic, perhaps, are the changes in the EU. The big policy initiatives launched during Macron's U.K. visit reflect the forces that are turning the bloc on its head. First, the EU is moving from a peace project to a war union. For most of its existence, the EU sought peace through economic integration. But Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 reoriented the bloc toward security — a goal that has taken on greater urgency since Trump cast doubt on the United States' commitment to collective security on the continent. There is broad support for this new orientation. According to a recent opinion poll conducted by the European Council on Foreign Relations, many Europeans favor increased defense spending, conscription and the development of a European or national nuclear deterrent. Against this backdrop, Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took a bold first step toward establishing an independent nuclear deterrent with the Northwood Declaration, in which they agreed that 'there is no extreme threat to Europe that would not prompt a response by our two nations.' A second major change is the development of 'securonomics.' The EU economy is under pressure from Trump's tariffs and China's export restrictions on magnets and critical minerals. EU policymakers now talk of de-risking, diversifying and deepening the single market, rather than pursuing free-trade agreements. While the U.K. has made it clear that it will not rejoin the single market or the customs union, the question is whether it can persuade the EU that it can be counted on to help the bloc achieve its new trade goals or whether it will be given unfriendly treatment because it is seen as posing a risk to those objectives. Domestic politics in Europe has also undergone a rapid transformation. It has been fascinating to watch Macron — once a poster boy for liberal universalism — reinvent himself as a champion of secure borders and protectionism, while taking a tougher stance on crime. This volte-face has seen mainstream European politicians shift focus toward defending national sovereignty — from Russia, China, Trump and migration — while they try to contain populist parties such as Marine Le Pen's National Rally and Alternative fur Deutschland. That is the backdrop for the ground-breaking deal that Starmer and Macron signed on migration returns. Starmer's approach to Europe is a marked improvement from that of former Conservative prime ministers Boris Johnson (who compared the EU to Napoleon and Hitler) and Liz Truss (who questioned whether Macron was a friend or a foe). Starmer has proved himself, particularly with his deft diplomacy on Ukraine, to be a reliable partner and stakeholder, regaining the trust of EU institutions and member states. One senior German policymaker told me how impressed he was by the U.K. filling the leadership vacuum created by Trump's disregard for Ukraine. In other words, the U.K. is widely seen in Europe as being 'part of the team' again. The EU-U.K. summit in May provided a clear framework for deepening the relationship, not least through a Security and Defense Partnership that paves the way for British participation in European defense programs. But the U.K. government has remained far too cautious in other areas. Most notably, Starmer has been careful not to cross the Labour Party's self-imposed red lines: no freedom of movement, no customs union and no single market. Future historians may well wonder why Starmer did not aim higher. The changing international environment offers Starmer a clear opportunity to redraw Europe's political map, which would establish him as one of Britain's most consequential leaders. But to do so, Starmer must convince British voters that today's Europe is a different creature from the one they imagine: a defense community that is more focused on safeguarding the continent than on transcending the nation-state. And he must explain how the U.K. can help build this new European security order, so long as it banishes the Brexit mindset. As a post-liberal Europe emerges, Britain must stop clinging to the past and seize the chance to shape the continent's future in a way that advances its interests. That requires acknowledging that both the EU and the U.K. have entered a new era. Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, is the author of "The Age of Unpeace: How Connectivity Causes Conflict" (Bantam Press, 2021). © Project Syndicate, 2025
