British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the United Kingdom will host the first global summit on artificial intelligence (AI) with the aim of addressing the risks that this technology may pose to humanity. During his visit to Washington to strengthen ties with President Joe Biden, the 43-year-old conservative leader will also reaffirm his country’s support for Ukraine.
Sunak highlighted the transformative potential of AI to improve our lives but stressed the need to develop and use it safely. At a recent G7 summit, there was a call for action in this area. While the US has already discussed a code of conduct with the European Union, Sunak advocates a global regulator based in London, arguing that the UK is uniquely positioned to lead in this field.
Sunak’s agenda in the United States also includes discussions on the conflict in Ukraine. Both the UK and the US agree on the importance of continuing to provide military support to Kiev. The visit comes at a time when Russia and Ukraine are accusing each other of destroying the Kakhovka dam, which has caused devastating flooding. Although no culprit has been identified, Sunak has pointed out that Russia has pursued a deliberate strategy to attack Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.
In addition, Sunak has advocated greater economic interoperability between the United Kingdom and the United States, comparing it to the military interoperability that has proven advantageous. However, he does not expect to quickly achieve a post-Brexit trade deal with the Biden administration due to the new US industrial doctrine that does not favor free trade.
On trade issues, Sunak has met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who praised the partnership between the two countries. Both countries share a similar stance on the war in Ukraine and also share concerns about China, which has led to a new trilateral military alliance with Australia.
In summary, Sunak seeks to strengthen UK-US relations, address challenges related to AI and global security, support Ukraine in the conflict with Russia, and explore opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries.