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Leaders set to highlight new US investment in UK

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UK not expected to secure lower metals tariffs

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Divides over Ukraine and Israel could cause tension

(Adds Trump's arrival in paragraph 1, 5)

By Steve Holland, Elizabeth Piper and Andrew MacAskill

CHEQUERS, England, Sept 18 (Reuters) -

Donald Trump arrived at British Prime Minister Keir

Starmer's country residence on Thursday for talks designed to

focus the U.S. leader's unprecedented second state visit firmly

on global affairs rather than domestic political problems.

After a day of pomp and ceremony in which Trump rode in a

carriage with King Charles and feasted at a state banquet, the

U.S. president and Starmer will celebrate the unveiling of a 150

billion pound ($205 billion) package of U.S. investment into

Britain.

The deals, covering areas such as technology, energy and

life sciences, will offer a renewal of the so-called 'special

relationship' between the two nations, something Starmer has

worked hard to cultivate since Trump became leader in January.

EPSTEIN TIES AND 'FREE SPEECH' DIFFERENCES MAY COME UP

Starmer, standing alongside his wife Victoria, greeted Trump

warmly at his Chequers country residence to the sound of

bagpipes for a meeting which is not without perils.

Later on Thursday, the two leaders will hold a press

conference, when journalists could quiz both over the late sex

offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Starmer was forced to sack Peter Mandelson as ambassador to

the U.S. last week after his close ties with Epstein were

documented and Trump's relationship with the late financier has

also come under scrutiny.

"For Starmer, he is having a difficult domestic time and he

needs a positive international narrative and to bring Trump on

board on key issues," said Evie Aspinall, director of the

British Foreign Policy Group think tank.

Trump would want to show there was value in close relations

with Starmer, she said. "For both sides, they realise there is a

lot to be gained."

Trump, speaking alongside Charles at Windsor Castle, the

oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, described his

visit as "truly one of the highest honours of my life".

Starmer hopes this sentiment will continue into Thursday and

deter the U.S. leader from straying into more sensitive areas,

such as Britain's online safety laws and position on Israel.

Speaking at Wednesday's banquet, Trump said Britain had

"laid the foundations of law, liberty, free speech and

individual rights" under its empire and "must continue to stand

for the values and the people of the English speaking world".

A few hours later, he cheered the suspension of late-night

host Jimmy Kimmel over comments made about the assassination of

conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Trump has pressured

broadcasters to stop airing content he finds objectionable.

STARMER EXPECTED TO CHAMPION DEALS

Instead, Starmer will want to champion the deals secured

between the two countries, including a new technology pact with

companies from Microsoft ( MSFT ) to Nvidia ( NVDA ), Google and OpenAI pledging

31 billion pounds ($42 billion) in investments over the next few

years, in AI, quantum computing and civil nuclear energy.

The British leader appears to have resigned himself to not

getting any further reduction on steel and aluminium tariffs,

according to comments from an official playing down the

prospect. But Starmer can say Britain is increasingly a

destination for U.S. investment, aligned to its financial

services, tech and energy sectors.

Starmer will also turn the focus to foreign affairs, hoping

to persuade the U.S. leader to take stronger action against

Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Trump pleased Europe by calling Russia "the aggressor" in

the war last weekend but he is also demanding that Europe stop

all purchases of Russian oil before he will agree to impose

heavier sanctions on Moscow.

On Israel, the British leader is under pressure to raise the

assault on Gaza with Trump, who has expressed frustration over

Israel's air strikes against Hamas leaders in Qatar but overall

has been supportive of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump has also criticised some European countries over their

decision to recognise a Palestinian state as "rewarding Hamas",

although he told reporters he did not mind Starmer "taking a

position".

"Those two geopolitical areas are likely to be the friction

points in the conversations," said political analyst Aspinall.

"There will be some awkward moments in those conversations."

($1 = 0.7328 pounds)

(Editing by Lincoln Feast and Philippa Fletcher)