London, Jun 3 (UNI): US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania arrived in the United Kingdom on Monday for a three-day state visit during which the President is expected to underscore the importance of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
"I look forward to being a great friend to the United Kingdom, and am looking very much forward to my visit," Trump wrote on Twitter as he landed at London's Stansted Airport.
According to a White House statement, Trump supports a Brexit that will not affected global economic and financial stability while also securing independence to the United Kingdom.
"As the United Kingdom continues to work toward a plan to leave the European Union (EU), the United States pledges to maintain a strong relationship with both," the White House statement said.
Trump and Melania landed on the lawn of Buckingham Palace, where Queen Elizabeth welcomed them for a full-day of royal ceremonies. The first couple was treated to view the royal gift collection at the palace, which will be followed by a tour of Westminster Abbey, tea with Prince Charles and Camilla and state banquet with the Queen.
Speaking ahead of the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, the first to be hosted for a US president since 2011, outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May said that the UK-US relations have underpinned the countries' security and prosperity.
Talks between Mr Trump and PM May will begin on Tuesday, with the pair expected to discuss climate change.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss Huawei. The US has blacklisted the Chinese firm for security reasons, while the UK may allow it to supply "non-core" components for its 5G network.
Minutes before arriving in the UK, Mr Trump criticised the Mayor of London, with whom he has clashed in the past.
"[Sadiq Khan], who by all accounts has done a terrible job as Mayor of London, has been foolishly 'nasty' to the visiting President of the United States, by far the most important ally of the United Kingdom. He is a stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London, not me..." Trump tweeted.
Earlier, Khan wrote in an editorial for The Guardian that Trump was one of the most "egregious examples" of the growing threat of rising nationalism and that it was "un-British to be rolling out the red carpet" for a US president who was "seen as a figurehead of this global far-right movement."
Image credit: @RoyalFamily on Twitter
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