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POLITICS

Barack Obama in Downing Street for surprise meeting with Rishi Sunak

The former US president arrived for an undisclosed meeting with the prime minister to discuss the work of his foundation and the threat of AI to democracy
The “informal” meeting was the first time Barack Obama had met Rishi Sunak
The “informal” meeting was the first time Barack Obama had met Rishi Sunak
CARL COURT/GETTY IMAGES

Barack Obama has paid a visit to Downing Street this afternoon for talks with Rishi Sunak on topics including the rise of artificial intelligence.

The trip was described by No 10 as a “courtesy visit”, with the former US president also holding a separate meeting with Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party.

Obama, 62, who served in the White House from 2009 to 2017, smiled and waved as he stood outside Downing Street. He was not greeted outside by Sunak.

The pair spoke for about an hour, with several officials present at times as well as some one-to-one conversation.

The former president discussed the work of his Obama Foundation
The former president discussed the work of his Obama Foundation
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

The rise in AI was among the topics discussed, an issue on which Obama has tried to forge international consensus in recent years. He has sought to lead a global debate about the risks posed by AI to democracy in the United States and abroad.

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His Obama Foundation held a forum at the end of last year to examine “how we can learn from the past and harness the power of AI in a way that benefits, rather than undermines, our democracy”.

The meeting on Monday was “informal” and initiated by Obama’s team, according to No 10.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “He was making an informal courtesy drop-in as part of his trip to London, where he is conducting work of the Obama Foundation.”

Obama left No 10 with the US ambassador, Jane D Hartley
Obama left No 10 with the US ambassador, Jane D Hartley
STEFAN ROUSSEAU/PA

He added: “I think President Obama’s team made contact and obviously the prime minister was very happy to meet with him and discuss the work [of the foundation].”

It marked the first time Sunak and Obama have met. The prime minister only became an MP in 2015, a year before Obama’s last official visits.

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In 2016 Obama made a three-day state visit to the UK before the EU referendum. He used it to warn that Britain would be at the “back of the queue” if the country voted to leave.

Obama jokingly declined to answer questions as he exited No 10. When pressed by journalists about his meeting with Sunak, he said “I’m tempted” before getting into a Range Rover with Jane D Hartley, the US ambassador.

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