On Thursday, President Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Starmer formalized a new U.K.-U.S. Tech Prosperity Deal, which Starmer characterized as “groundbreaking.”
Starmer lauded the commitment, stating that “the deals and investment being announced today break all records.”
He added, “What a day, 250 billion pounds [340 billion dollars] flowing both ways across the Atlantic.” Starmer declared it “the biggest investment package of its kind in British history by a country mile.”
The agreement heavily emphasizes AI investment. Starmer announced significant capital injections from firms like Nvidia, Nscale, OpenAI, Google, and Salesforce, projecting the creation of “cutting-edge British jobs for years to come.” Starmer anticipates these investments will directly generate up to 15,000 jobs.
Starmer described the deal as a “blueprint to win this new era,” also incorporating commitments to the energy sector.
“To fuel this revolution, we have struck a new deal on civil nuclear power,” he commented, noting that 12 advanced nuclear reactors are slated for construction in the northeast of England. This initiative aims to generate energy “for millions of homes and businesses driving down bills on both sides of the Atlantic and driving up energy security.”
A statement from 10 Downing Street termed the arrangement “the largest commercial package ever secured during a State Visit, underscoring the power of the U.K.-U.S. economic partnership.”
Within the announcement, a $30 billion investment from Microsoft, along with $6.8 billion from Google, and other AI investment packages are designated for the U.K.’s technology sector. This funding will enhance data centers, research labs, and support plans for the nation’s “largest supercomputer in partnership with Nscale.”
The deal appears poised to solidify American AI companies’ foundational role in the U.K.’s AI industry, positioning them to dominate the technology.
Starmer indicated that U.S. companies have pledged £150 billion ($204 billion) in U.K. investment, including £90 billion ($122 billion) from investment firm Blackstone over the next decade. Additionally, pharmaceutical firm GSK has invested nearly $30 billion in the U.S.
Trump highlighted “quantum computing fusion, 6G, and civil nuclear energy” as central to the deal, which aims to foster “deregulation and innovation.”
Trump utilized the occasion to reaffirm the “special” relationship between the U.S. and U.K.
“It’s an unbreakable bond we have. Regardless of what we’re doing today, I think it’s unbreakable,” he asserted.
During a post-signing press briefing, the President claimed, “The United States and the United Kingdom have done more good on this planet than any two nations in human history.” Starmer echoed these sentiments, stating that the relationship between the U.S. and U.K. has “shaped the world.”
Trump also expressed gratitude to Starmer and his wife, Victoria, for their hospitality at Chequers, the U.K. Prime Minister’s country residence.
He then paid tribute to King Charles III and Queen Camilla for hosting him and Melania at Windsor Castle, adding that he would always be thankful to the King for the “fantastic” experience at the state banquet.
This marks another instance of Trump and Starmer highlighting the “special” U.K.-U.S. relationship by negotiating a mutually beneficial agreement. The world leaders also solidified a trade agreement between the U.K. and U.S. in May.
At that time, Trump stated the agreement affirmed that “reciprocity and fairness is an essential and vital principle of international trade.”
Trump confirmed he would maintain his 10% base tariff on most U.K. goods entering the U.S. The earlier deal granted American exports like ethanol, agriculture, and machinery access to the U.K. market, and eliminated steel and aluminum tariffs between the two nations. “They’ll also be fast-tracking American goods through their customs process, so our exports go to a very, very quick form of approval. There won’t be any red tape,” Trump noted regarding the U.K. partnership.
Starmer, upon its unveiling, hailed the trade agreement as “historic,” saying it “delivers for British businesses and protects U.K. jobs.”
Reflecting on the trade agreement during Thursday’s press briefing, Trump commended its benefits for the U.S. economy, particularly the opportunities it created for American farmers.
“The United Kingdom became the first country to make a trade deal with the United States during my second term, and we sort of wanted to make it the first because the bond is so strong,” he commented. “That agreement will create billions of dollars in opportunities for American farmers to sell their products into the U.K., reduce barriers to trade, and give U.S. manufacturers better access to the U.K.’s world-class aerospace supply chain.”