LONDON (Reuters) – Ron DeSantis met Britain’s international minister James Cleverly throughout a go to to London on Friday geared toward boosting financial ties, forward of an anticipated announcement by the Florida governor that he’ll run for U.S. president.
DeSantis has been on a global tour this week as he prepares to launch a 2024 presidential bid that might pit him in opposition to former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination.
“The Overseas Secretary met Governor Ron DeSantis in London at the moment to debate the shut and essential partnership between the UK and Florida,” a international ministry spokesperson stated.
“This assembly was a chance to strengthen ties with the fourth-largest U.S. state, and assist bilateral financial cooperation that’s already price greater than 5 billion kilos ($6.2 billion) a yr.”
DeSantis is embroiled in a battle with the Walt Disney Co over a Florida measure banning classroom dialogue of sexuality and gender id with younger kids. On Thursday he stated a lawsuit filed in opposition to him by Disney was politically motivated.
Political Cartoons on World Leaders
He was additionally as a consequence of meet Enterprise and Commerce Secretary Kemi Badenoch on Friday afternoon, and maintain talks with companies in London. A spokesperson for Badenoch’s division declined to touch upon what they characterised as a personal assembly.
Britain has pursued commerce accords with particular person U.S. states as talks over a free commerce settlement with the US authorities have been frozen.
Britain has agreed state-level offers with Oklahoma, Indiana, North Carolina and South Carolina to this point.
(Reporting by Alistair Smou; enhancing by Jonathan Oatist)
Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters.
