For a new British prime minister, the first meeting with a US president has always been a pivotal encounter, but officials are well aware of the added jeopardy of a public appearance alongside the most unpredictable president in American history.<\/p>\n
In advance of the meeting, the UK revealed that the UK and the US have, for the first time, fired an American torpedo from a British undersea drone in a military exercise.<\/p>\n
The torpedo, described as “heavyweight” by UK officials, is “designed to sink ships and deep diving submarines”, Downing Street said.<\/p>\n
It was launched in UK waters last week from a 12-metre long undersea drone called Excalibur, made in Plymouth.<\/p>\n
It is the first time either the UK or the US have launched a torpedo from an uncrewed underwater vessel, rather than a crewed submarine, and is seen as a breakthrough in attempts to protect vital infrastructure such as deep sea data cables.<\/p>\n
“Our work together already shows what can be achieved when our two countries combine our expertise and innovation,” the prime minister said.<\/p>\n
Burnham was also asked by reporters about the UK government seeking to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and pay to lease back the joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia.<\/p>\n