US State Secretary to discuss support for Ukraine with UK Prime Minister in London
Photo: Antony Blinken (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
US Secretary of State Anhony Blinken will discuss efforts to support Ukraine in its war against Russia, as well as responses to the conflict in the Middle East with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other officials in London, according to the US State Department.
US State Department says that during his meetings with Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Blinken will also discuss issues such as the Indo-Pacific region and the AUKUS defense pact between the US, Australia, and the UK.
Blinken's trip comes amid reports that Tehran has supplied ballistic missiles to Russia. An EU official called the information credible.
Last week, CNN and the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed sources, that Iran had provided Russia with short-range ballistic missiles.
Blinken's visit to London came a week after the UK suspended some arms export licenses to Israel over equipment that could be used in the Gaza war.
The administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running to succeed him, is under pressure from war critics to suspend some arms sales to Israel, Washington's closest ally in the Middle East.
According to a statement from the UK government, Blinken is in London and will begin talks with Lemmy on a strategic dialogue between the UK and the US to strengthen ties that deliver growth and security.
The statement also says that the talks will cover key elements of the UK-US relationship, including defense and security, Europe, Ukraine, the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, and other global priorities.
Lemmy says in a statement before the meeting that in a more unstable and dangerous world, it is even more important that their countries are closely connected.
The State Department has already stated that the United States and its partners are ready to take serious action against Iran over the possible transfer of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia.
