Foreign Secretary David Lammy is scheduled to host U.S. Vice President JD Vance at Chevening House, the foreign secretary’s official country residence in Kent, this Friday.
“The Vice President and Foreign Secretary will discuss a variety of topics pertaining to the U.S.-UK relationship,” the White House stated, outlining the agenda for the meeting.
Vance is currently in the UK with his family for a private holiday. Their itinerary reportedly includes a significant amount of time in the Cotswolds, as well as a planned visit to Hampton Court Palace.
Chevening, a Grade I listed mansion with extensive gardens featuring a lake and maze, is traditionally available for use by UK foreign secretaries.
Lammy and Vance have reportedly established a strong working relationship through regular meetings on official trips since Lammy assumed his role last year, finding common ground in their shared Christian faith.
Lammy attended mass at Vance’s Washington residence during an official visit in March. This week, he is reciprocating by extending the hospitality of Chevening House to Vance and his family.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast last summer, Lammy commented: “Let me just say on JD Vance that I’ve met him now on several occasions, we share a similar working-class backgrounds with addiction issues in our family.
“We’ve written books on that, we’ve talked about that, and we’re both Christians. So I think I can find common ground with JD Vance.”
The two leaders are expected to hold a bilateral meeting prior to being joined by their families at Chevening.
The Vice President’s visit follows Donald Trump’s recent trip to Scotland, a private visit centered around his golf courses.
Trump previously met Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, agreeing a trade deal with the bloc, and is slated for a full state visit in September.
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