Washington D.C. & Missouri – April 2025

The Coalition for Global Prosperity facilitated a cross-party delegation of UK Parliamentarians to the United States, including Saqib Bhatti MP, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP, Bradley Thomas MP, Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst MP, Fred Thomas MP, Matt Vickers MP, and our Chair the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt. The delegation visited Washington D.C. and Missouri to strengthen the UK’s partnership with the US on security, prosperity and leadership across global development, defence, and diplomacy.

To begin their visit, the delegation met with the Eleanor Crook Foundation (ECF) in Washington D.C., to explore the vital role of nutrition in global health and stability. Joined by experts including Porter DeLaney, former Congressman Charlie Dent of the Aspen Institute and Philomena Orji from Helen Keller International, the group heard how Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), now rebranded as LifePack, offers a cost-effective, American-made solution to childhood malnutrition.

Discussions focused on the difficult consequences of USAID funding freezes, the long-term economic and health costs of child stunting and wasting, and how nutrition investments support maternal health, global security, and economic resilience. The group heard how US farmers and manufacturers across 27 states are connected to RUTF production—underscoring the American interest in global health leadership.

The delegation then visited the World Bank for a series of high-level meetings with UK Executive Director Vel Gnanendran, Vice President Ed Mountfield, and FCV Director Shubham Chaudhuri. These conversations focused on multilateral development bank reform, support for fragile and conflict-affected states, and the World Bank’s growing emphasis on private sector mobilisation.

Discussions also addressed the Bank’s work in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and the need for continued UK engagement in multilateral institutions to counterbalance growing Chinese influence and to protect global development outcomes in an increasingly fragile world.

At the Embassy of Ukraine, the MPs met with Ambassador Oksana Markarova to reaffirm the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression. The Ambassador provided a candid update on the international political landscape and Ukraine’s current needs—emphasising the importance of movement on the issue of  frozen Russian assets, ensuring military aid, and preparing for long-term reconstruction. 

At the Atlantic Council, the group took part in a roundtable discussion with transatlantic security experts including Philippe Dickinson and Jörn Fleck. Topics included European defence, AUKUS, US strategic posture, and the need for NATO members—particularly the UK—to shoulder greater responsibility to ensure US commitment to European security amid growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

That evening, the delegation was welcomed to Capitol Hill by Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), who hosted a private evening tour of the Capitol Building. The visit served as a powerful reminder of the democratic values and historical ties that underpin the UK-US alliance.

The following morning, the delegation attended a working breakfast with Congressmen Richard Hudson and Adrian Smith to discuss the prospects for a UK-US trade agreement. Parliamentarians engaged in a productive dialogue on regulatory alignment, pharmaceutical and automotive supply chains, and the opportunities for deeper cooperation in AI, digital trade, and green technology.

Later that day, the group visited the Pentagon for a meeting with Patrick Witt, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Topics included innovation in defence, R&D collaboration, and accelerating technological interoperability through initiatives like AUKUS Pillar II. MPs heard about Maritime Big Play, a landmark exercise between the UK, US, and Australia that showcased private sector-led experimentation across new defence platforms.

The delegation also held meetings with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT), and Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) to explore Arctic security, energy policy, and the strategic implications of AUKUS. In conversations with Congressman Moore, the MPs discussed the importance of British visibility and leadership within AUKUS and opportunities to shape Pillar II initiatives around quantum, cyber, and AI.

During a meeting with Rep Bob Latta, Chair of the British-American Parliamentary Group, MPs reflected on the power of parliamentary dialogue in shaping shared priorities across trade, energy, and international development.

The day concluded with a reception hosted by the Eleanor Crook Foundation, highlighting the critical role of nutrition in tackling global malnutrition and showcasing US leadership in food-based innovation. This was followed by a private dinner hosted by Liz Schrayer, President of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, where MPs explored how development assistance is essential to national security, global stability, and economic opportunity.

In Missouri, the delegation travelled to Washington University in St. Louis for a lab visit with Dr Mark Manary, one of the world’s leading experts in paediatric malnutrition and founder of Project Peanut Butter. MPs learned about the high efficacy of RUTF and its use across Malawi, Ghana and Sierra Leone, as well as the UK’s role in championing localised production and distribution. Dr Manary shared insights on brain development, recovery rates, and the transformative power of peanut-based solutions in emergency nutrition.

In Jefferson City, the group met with Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe to discuss UK investment opportunities in defence, agriculture and advanced manufacturing. Missouri is home to Boeing’s fighter jet and missile production, including the new F-47, and has strong transatlantic ties through its partnership with Swedish defence firm Saab. The Governor also expressed concern about foreign land ownership and the growing influence of China in agricultural markets.

The delegation then met members of the Friends of the UK Caucus to discuss legislative engagement and trade. Missouri has a longstanding connection to the UK, including through agriculture and defence, and state-level diplomacy was highlighted as a key avenue for expanding transatlantic cooperation.

The visit concluded at the National Churchill Museum in Fulton—site of Winston Churchill’s 1946 “Sinews of Peace” speech, where the term “Iron Curtain” was first coined and the concept of the “Special Relationship” was born. The delegation reflected on Churchill’s vision and the enduring partnership between the UK and US in an era of renewed geopolitical challenge.