Ed Miliband is set to urge Donald Trump's White House to secure a lasting ceasefire in Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease the cost of living for Brits.
Talks with US officials
The senior Cabinet minister is set to discuss Russia's illegal war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict as he meets with senior members of the Trump administration for the first time since taking up the role.
Mr Miliband will meet with the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday, who invited the Foreign Secretary to Washington DC after their first meeting at ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in Manila.
Context of the visit
It comes after the erratic US President said he believed he and the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham are “going to have a very good relationship” as he again stressed the need for the UK to tackle immigration and open up North Sea oil - before claiming Britain was currently “a bankrupt country”.
The Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State are expected to discuss a range of issues, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz, to help ease the cost-of-living crisis.
Miliband's statement
Mr Miliband said: “I am greatly looking forward to my second meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in which we will discuss the ongoing work to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and secure a lasting ceasefire, which is essential to ease cost of living pressures on British families.
“We will also discuss how we can continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine against Russia's war - as well as the importance of addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and working towards a lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis.”
Previous criticism and expected topics
Mr Miliband has previously branded Trump a “racist, misogynistic self-confessed groper”, who had “lowered the bar for idiocy.”
In the meetings, Mr Miliband is expected to stress that Ukraine's security is inseparable from the rest of Europe, and reiterate the UK's commitment to stand with Kyiv for as long as it takes.
He will also discuss the importance of addressing the urgent humanitarian situation in Gaza and redoubling international efforts to secure a lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis.
