Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom on Monday, as announced by the State Department. This trip comes shortly after Britain halted a portion of its arms export licenses to Israel due to concerns that the equipment could be used in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

During his trip, which is expected to last until Tuesday, Blinken will initiate the U.S.-UK Strategic Dialogue, emphasizing the importance of the nations’ relationship, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Blinken’s agenda includes meetings with high-ranking officials to discuss various topics, such as the situation in the Indo-Pacific, the AUKUS defense pact involving the U.S., Australia, and Britain, as well as the collective response to support Ukraine against Russia.

On September 2, Britain announced the immediate suspension of 30 of its 350 export licenses to Israel, citing fears that the equipment might contribute to significant breaches of international humanitarian law amid Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

The administration led by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris is facing pressure from critics regarding the ongoing conflict, with calls to halt some military aid to Israel, the U.S.’s closest ally in the Middle East. A U.S. official indicated in July that while the Biden administration would resume the delivery of 500-pound bombs to Israel, larger 2,000-pound bombs would still be withheld due to worries about their usage in Gaza.

CIA Director William Burns, who is the U.S. chief negotiator focused on ending the Gaza conflict, stated in London on Saturday that a more detailed proposal for a ceasefire would be forthcoming shortly.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by David Gregorio)