Trump, Starmer sign 'groundbreaking' tech partnership

US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer formally signed a tech partnership on Thursday to strengthen cooperation in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and nuclear energy.
'It is the biggest investment package of its kind in British history,' Starmer said at his country residence Chequers during Trump's UK state visit, calling the agreement 'groundbreaking.'
Trump's visit has delivered pledges from mostly US tech giants and financial groups to invest a combined £150 billion in Britain over several years.
At the start of a business reception, some of the leading names in US and UK business were welcomed by the two leaders and praised for helping cement ties by investing in deals ranging from technology to energy.
It was the second day of Trump's unprecedented second state visit to Britain, which the US leader described as an 'exquisite honour' after enjoying a day of pomp and ceremony, including a 'fantastic' state banquet at Windsor Castle with King Charles.
Sitting next to each other in a marquee in the grounds of Starmer's Chequers country residence, Starmer and Trump celebrated the unveiling of a record $205 billion package of US investment into Britain, part of a wider £250 billion package officials say will benefit both sides.
'This is a great day for the special relationship,' said Starmer, thanking the business leaders, including Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang and GSK's Emma Walmsley.
'A celebration of what has gone before, of course, but more than that, a moment to deliver investments, jobs and deals which will improve people's lives now and light up the special relationship for years to come.'
Trump was equally effusive. 'The ties between our countries are priceless.
'We've done some things that financially are great for both countries ... I think it's an unbreakable bond we have, regardless of what we're doing today. I think it's unbreakable.'
Starmer has pitched Britain as a destination for US investment, aligned to its financial services, tech and energy sectors so it can draw in US capital and build out its infrastructure and grow the economy.
He might have resigned himself to not getting any further reduction on steel tariffs, but he was keen to champion the wider deals, including a new technology pact with companies from Microsoft to Nvidia and OpenAI pledging £31 billion and £100 billion from Blackstone. - Agencies