In his visit on Thursday, the prime minister will try to leverage the U.K.'s so-called "special relationship" with U.S. and act as a bridge between the Trump administration and U.S. allies in Europe.

Starmer's sought a U.S. commitment to “backstop” European peacekeeping in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia, which Trump avoided.

The Prime Minister is to hold a press conference in Downing Street this evening. Sir Keir Starmer will speak at 5pm after pledging to raise defence spending from its current 2.3% share of the economy to 2.5% by 2027.