LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE
Keir Starmer's Overseas Travels as Prime Minister
Starmer's Extensive International Engagements Raise Eyebrows
18 November 2024 · 14:59 UTC
His travels have included key international summits and bilateral meetings to strengthen diplomatic ties.
Starmer's first trip was to Washington DC from July 9-11 for a NATO summit, shortly after taking office.
He then attended the Euro 2024 final in Berlin, followed by the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
By late July, Starmer was back in Berlin for his first official bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz amid discussions on a defense pact.
Starmer's visit to Paris on August 28 for the Paralympics included a significant meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, marking the start of closer diplomatic engagements.
On September 7, Starmer traveled to Dublin for talks with Ireland's Taoiseach Simon Harris, then returned to Washington on September 13 for a surprise meeting with US President Joe Biden.
His Italian trip to meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on September 16 aimed to discuss defense strategies related to the Ukraine crisis.
Starmer's attendance at the UN General Assembly in New York from September 24-27 included a meeting with then-President-elect Donald Trump.
In Brussels on October 2, talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized Starmer's European reset agenda.
The Prime Minister revisited Berlin for a high-profile 'quad' meeting on October 18, followed by a notable presence at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa from October 24-26.
Controversial meetings continued with his attendance at the European Political Community summit in Budapest on November 7, the symbolic Armistice Day commemorations in Paris on November 11, and the COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan on November 12.
Starmer's upcoming participation in the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 18-19 underscores his commitment to global engagement despite domestic concerns about his frequent travels.