U.K. Prime Minister Cancels Meeting Over Ancient Sculptures Dispute

LONDON: U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancels meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis due to disagreements over the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, housed in the British Museum, reported local media.

Mitsotakis, re-elected in June, advocates for the return of the ancient sculptures to Greece. The cancellation leads to tensions, with Mitsotakis expressing annoyance.

The Labour Party’s Keir Starmer, a potential future U.K. leader, shows willingness to lend the marbles to Athens. The dispute highlights broader issues of cultural repatriation and raises questions about the U.K.’s colonial-era acquisitions, such as the ‘Koh-i-noor’ diamond claimed by India and other nations.