Trump accepts Queen's invitation for visit to UK

British Prime Minister Theresa May has said that U.S. President Donald Trump will make a state visit to the United Kingdom as he accepted an invitation conveyed from Queen Elizabeth for a visit later this year.

Speaking at the White House, May congratulated Trump on his victory and said she had secured an assurance of U.S. support for NATO and made early progress on discussions about a US-UK trade deal, reports the CNN.

Meanwhile, Trump said he was honoured that May had agreed to be the first foreign leader to visit after his inauguration and predicted that they would build a strong partnership.

He said that the relationship between the two countries was a "force for peace," adding that a free and independent Britain was a "blessing to the world."

Further, May said that she is willing to voice her differences with the US administration apparently, potential disagreements about support for sanctions against Russia in the wake of its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

While Trump said that it was "too early" to talk about sanctions, he re-stated his hope for a good relationship with Russia -- as good, he said, as with the UK.

May, who stressed the importance of international institutions in a speech to Republican leaders Thursday, said that Trump was "100% in favor of NATO.