First official visit to the US
Prime Minister David Cameron has travelled to Washington for his first official visit to the United States since becoming Prime Minister
The PM and President Obama are scheduled to meet on Tuesday for a one-to-one meeting and working lunch where they will build on their discussions in the margins of the G8 and G20 in Canada last month.
Writing in the Wall St Journal, the PM set out their shared agenda:
When I see President Obama this week we have a very clear common agenda: succeeding in Afghanistan, securing economic growth and stability at home and across the world, fighting protectionism. And on one issue in particular, Lockerbie, let me be absolutely clear there’s no daylight between us. I have the deepest sympathies for the families of those killed in the bombing. Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was found guilty of murdering 270 people. They weren’t allowed to go home and die in their own bed with their relatives around them. I never saw the case for releasing him, and I think it was a very bad decision.
The Prime Minister will also meet four US senators to discuss allegations surrounding the release of the Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi.
While in Washington, Mr Cameron will also be holding in-depth meetings with Vice-President Biden and senior members of Congress to discuss common issues including foreign policy, trade, the economy and the BP oil spill.
On Wednesday, the PM will be briefed on Afghanistan operations at the Pentagon before travelling to New York for talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on foreign policy issues and preparations for the Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in September.
He will also be meeting senior figures from the US business community to discuss the prospects for increased trade and investment with the UK before attending a dinner hosted by the Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg.