Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has met senior members of President-elect Donald Trump’s team during a trip to New York.
Mr Johnson met Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and his chief strategist Steve Bannon.
He will also meet key Republican figures in Washington DC, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and senators Bob Corker and Mitch McConnell.
The subject of the talks has not been publicly revealed but the Foreign Office said the visit followed a successful meeting last month between the Prime Minister Theresa May’s chiefs of staff and Mr Trump’s team.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “The discussions will be focused on UK-US relations and other foreign policy matters.”
Mr Johnson has been critical of Mr Trump in the past, including his response to the billionaire’s description of parts of London as a no-go area for police.
Mr Johnson had replied: “The only reason I wouldn’t go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump.”
The meeting comes after Mrs May condemned Mr Trump’s comments about groping women as “unacceptable” but voiced hopes that the relationship between the two countries could flourish during his presidency.