Keir Starmer to travel to US for talks with Joe Biden with Gaza on the agenda

Visit comes days after UK announced a partial ban on arms exports to Israel

US President Joe Biden shakes hands with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council during Nato's 75th anniversary summit in Washington. Reuters

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to the US for talks with President Joe Biden about continuing efforts to secure a hostage and ceasefire deal in the Israel-Gaza war.

Friday's visit, the second since Mr Starmer was elected to office in July, comes after the UK announced a partial ban on arms exports to Israel.

The decision, which was made public on Monday, affects 30 weapons export licences to Israel that UK authorities said might have been used to commit “serious violations” of international humanitarian law.

Reports suggest that the US had privately warned Britain against suspending export licences over concerns it could hamper efforts to achieve a ceasefire.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the leaders will have "an in-depth discussion on a range of global issues of mutual interest".

Other topics due to be discussed include threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea posed by Yemen's Houthi rebels, western support for Ukraine as it tries to repel Russia's invasion and shared concerns about the Indo-Pacific.

"They will also discuss opportunities to strengthen US-UK co-operation to secure supply chains and increase climate resilience," the White House said.

"President Biden will underscore the importance of continuing to strengthen the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom."

Mr Starmer last visited the White House two months ago for one-on-one talks with Biden when he was in Washington for the Nato summit.

Since then, Mr Biden has announced he will not be seeking a second term as president following concerns about his health.

His vice president Kamala Harris will instead be the Democratic Party's candidate for America's highest office.

In recent weeks, the Prime Minister has also travelled to Berlin and Paris, as he seeks to build trust with the leaders of the UK's close EU allies.