Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to US President Donald Trump for his "role in securing the landmark ceasefire and hostages deal in Gaza" during a call between the two leaders.

The prime minister’s office said the two leaders agreed to meet soon and discussed trade, the economy and the Middle East.

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have discussed the importance of “close and warm ties” between Britain and the US and agreed to meet soon, Downing Street said.The call, which lasted 45 minutes and covered issues including trade and the economy, are the first between the two leaders since the US president’s inauguration on January 20.It comes hours after Mr Trump praised the UK Prime Minister for having done “a very good job thus far” and said they had “very good relationship”.In a readout of the call, which lasted 45 minutes, a Number 10 spokesperson said the president had opened by sending his condolences to Sir Keir after the death of his brother Nick, who had cancer and died on Boxing Day.Sir Keir thanked him for his kind words and “congratulated him on his inauguration”, Downing Street said.“The Prime Minister paid tribute to President Trump’s role in securing the landmark ceasefire and hostages deal in Gaza.“The president welcomed the release of Emily Damari and sent his best wishes to her family.“They discussed the importance of working together for security in the Middle East.”It comes amid concerns about the prospect of global tariffs and a changed US policy on Ukraine under the new administration.Downing Street said the two leaders also discussed trade and the economy, “with the Prime Minister setting out how we are deregulating to boost growth”.“The two leaders stressed the importance of the close and warm ties between the UK and the US, and the president spoke of his respect and affection for the royal family.“They agreed to meet soon and looked forward to further discussions then.”The Prime Minister said he looked forward to meeting the president to “strengthen the close ties between our countries”.The phone call came after Mr Trump offered warm words for Sir Keir despite a series of attacks from X owner Elon Musk, a key member of the president’s inner circle.The tech entrepreneur has used his platform to criticise the Prime Minister and safeguarding minister Jess Phillips over the issue of grooming gangs.But the president told reporters on Air Force One that he and Sir Keir “get along well” despite the difference in their political views, and that they were due to have a call this weekend.“I like him a lot,” Mr Trump said.“He’s liberal, which is a bit different from me, but I think he’s a very good person and I think he’s done a very good job thus far.“He’s represented his country in terms of philosophy.“I may not agree with his philosophy, but I have a very good relationship with him.”Mr Trump added that the UK was being considered as the destination for the first international trip of his second term.Sir Keir most recently met the president in New York during the US election campaign.The pair also spoke on the phone after Mr Trump’s victory, with Downing Street saying both men agreed that the relationship between the UK and the US was “incredibly strong” and would “continue to thrive”.After Mr Trump’s inauguration, Foreign Secretary David Lammy indicated Sir Keir would visit Washington within weeks.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump and has agreed to meet with him soon, the UK government said in a statement on Sunday.

The talks came hours after Donald Trump gave an unexpectedly warm endorsement of Keir Starmer, saying 'I like him a lot' and he's done 'a very good job thus far'