UK foreign secretary confirms closed-door meeting with Trump

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron confirmed Tuesday that he held closed-door talks with ex-President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach, Florida golf resort.

Cameron said his meeting with Trump ahead of November's presidential election where the ex-president is seeking a second term in office "was entirely in line with precedent of government ministers meeting with opposition politicians in the run up to elections."

"These things are entirely proper," Cameron told reporters at the State Department after meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "But it was a private meeting. So I haven't really got anything to add to your questions, but we discussed a range of important geopolitical subjects."

The meeting was first reported by CNN, which cited two anonymous source familiar with the visit.

While Cameron repeatedly declined to go into detail on his closed-door talks with Trump, he said they discussed the situation in Gaza, Ukraine and "the future of NATO."

He said continued aid for Ukraine -- something Trump has loudly criticizes -- is "profoundly" in the US interest.

The UK top diplomat further said that London will not suspend arms transfers to Israel following legal advice that has been the subject of intense speculation.

"I have now reviewed the most recent advice about the situation in Gaza, and Israel's conduct of their military campaign. The latest assessment leaves our position on export licenses unchanged. This is consistent with the advice that I and other ministers have received," he said.

"As ever, we will keep the position under review. Let me be clear, though, we continue how to have grave concerns around the humanitarian access issue in Gaza, both for the period that was assessed and subsequently," he added.