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Brown says US, UK ties strong

"As Tony Blair said, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the American people and with President Bush." — Gordon Brown, British Prime Minister

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Thursday that the special relationship between the US and Britain will remain strong when the US has a new president in January.

Brown also supported US President George W. Bush in his tough stance against Iran and pledged to continue to work closely with the US to stabilize Iraq.

In a news conference after a White House meeting, the two leaders denied that ties had suffered since Brown’s predecessor, Tony Blair left office.

But in his second trip to Washington as prime minister, Brown was also looking to the future. He met earlier with all three major candidates to succeed Bush, Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as well as Republican John McCain.

If Brown prefers one candidate over another, he would not say.

“It is for Americans to decide who their president is going to be,” Brown said.

But he added that he was convinced that “the relationship between America and Britain will remain strong, remain steadfast, that it will be one that will be able to rise to the challenges of the future.”

Up for discussion were the Iraq war, climate change, the global economy and US-Britain relations. Brown also talked about Afghanistan and China with Clinton and Africa with Obama. He and McCain discussed the Arizona senator’s call for creating a League of Democracies and Brown’s proposal for the World Bank to take on an environmental mission.

It was Obama’s first meeting with Brown. McCain met Brown last month during a visit to London, while Clinton and Brown have known each other since her years as first lady.

The relationship between Brown and Bush has been arms length, in contrast with the close bond between Bush and Blair.

Blair’s chumminess with Bush, who is highly unpopular in Britain, contributed to his drop in popularity. Brown has been more wary.

But on Thursday, he seemed to be making a special effort to align himself with the US leader, with effusive praise for Bush, support on Iraq and Iran and even some gentle joking. The British leader said they had had an “excellent meeting” and said “the bond between our two countries is stronger than ever” as a result.

“The world owes President George Bush a huge debt of gratitude for leading the world in our determination to root out terrorism and to ensure that there is no safe haven for terrorism and no hiding place for terrorists,” Brown said. “As Tony Blair said, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the American people and with President Bush.”

Bush made an effort, too.

When a British reporter asked Brown, “Some people would suggest that the special relationship is a little less special than it was under Mr Brown’s predecessor. Is that true or false?” Bush interjected with a forceful answer.

“False,” he said. “Our relationship is very special.”

But ties between the two leaders also had been complicated by Brown’s decision to draw down British troops in Iraq until he put on hold a reduction in troop numbers from about 4,000 to 2,500.

It had been due to begin within weeks but was delayed following a recent spike in violence in the oil-rich southern city of Basra. Brown says it would remain suspended until Iraqi security forces show progress in driving out militias.

Bush went out of his way to praise the contributions — and to honor the sacrifices — of British troops in Iraq. He commented on the “brilliance” of British helicopter crews during recent fighting to support an Iraqi offensive in Basra.

Brown said Iraq, as well as Afghanistan, where British troops also serve alongside US forces, consumed much of the discussion between the two leaders in the Oval Office.

“We believe that our program of over-watch in Basra and in the south of Iraq is making substantial progress,” he said.

The two leaders also touched on efforts to strengthen the international financial system and jump start global trade talks.

Brown also said he would support Bush’s pursuit of more sanctions against Iran aimed at persuading it to halt its nuclear program.

He said he is talking to European leaders about extending European sanctions.

“I make no apology for saying that we will extend sanctions where possible on Iran,” the British leader said. “Iran is in breach of a nonproliferation treaty. Iran has not told the truth to the international community about what its plans are.”
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