British Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces a double test on the world stage Tuesday.

He meets U.S. President Donald Trump for the first time and addresses the United Nations General Assembly.

It is a rapid rise for the new leader.

He went from mayor of Manchester to leader of a G7 country in weeks.

Burnham will urge Trump to increase U.S. support for Ukraine.

He also hopes to avoid U.S. criticism of the U.K.'s ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

He wants to show Britain can help solve major challenges.

These range from Middle East conflict to the fast evolution of artificial intelligence.

He also aims to move past a decade of Brexit-driven discord with European neighbors.

On his flight to New York, Burnham said he had authorized limited military support for Saudi Arabia.

A Royal Air Force plane will refuel Saudi jets taking "defensive" action against Houthi missiles from Yemen.

He said he would discuss with Trump ways to end the on-off war between the U.S. and Iran.

That war has disrupted oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and raised global fuel prices.

He said Britain wants the conflict to end quickly and is ready to play its part.

Burnham said he would try to find "common ground" with Trump.

Trump has called him a nice guy but "unfortunately" a liberal.

Burnham said the two had "found a connection" in two phone calls since he took office in July.

In his speech Tuesday evening, he plans a note of "hope" despite "dark clouds of instability."

He will focus on AI, arguing Britain can be an "honest broker" for global agreement.

He says this is because London has good ties with the U.S., Europe and China.

He will also say Britain is moving on from the decade since its 2016 vote to leave the European Union.