"John Swinney and Donald Trump remain at odds on a whole range of issues - but something has fundamentally changed in their relationship. On Wednesday, Scotland's first minister will don his sharpest evening wear to attend a State banquet at Windsor Castle in honour of the US president. Six months ago there seemed little chance that the SNP leader would have anything to do with President Trump's second state visit to the UK."
"Trump has since lifted a pause on the US supply of weapons to Ukraine but his commitment to its defence against Russia remains in question. Swinney also criticised the Trump plan to take over Gaza and develop the coastline into a Riviera of the Middle East style resort, saying it would amount to "ethnic cleansing". But now he is set to join Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch at the Windsor banquet."
John Swinney will attend a State banquet at Windsor Castle honoring US President Donald Trump despite prior strong disagreements. Swinney previously described the visit as "unthinkable" after the Oval Office ambush of Ukraine's president and criticised a Trump plan for Gaza as amounting to "ethnic cleansing". Trump has since lifted a pause on US weapons supplies to Ukraine, but questions about his commitment to Ukrainian defence persist. Several politicians have chosen to boycott the banquet, and Swinney will be the only devolved first minister attending while Northern Ireland and Wales are represented differently.
Read at www.bbc.com
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