Special relationship in the spotlight

Economy, terror, war - and re-election. Both David Cameron and Barack Obama have a
lot to play for this week, says Peter Oborne. When President Obama’s state visit to Britain was announced last February it was seen as little more than a lavish ceremonial event. For Obama the lure was clear. Staying at Buckingham Palace in the wake of the royal wedding would play well with the folks back home, who were glued to the build-up to William and Kate’s big day, as well as providing the perfect prestigious backdrop to the launch of his campaign for a second four years inthe White House. Meanwhile, David Cameron had a golden chance to build his credentials as an international statesman. And for both men, there was a solid need to rebuild Anglo-American relations, which suffered near-collapse under Gordon Brown, who was treated with open contempt by the United States in the dying days of his premiership.


But the two leaders now meet at a time of international crisis. As well as presenting the right image, officials say there will be real, substantive issues on the table when Obama meets Cameron after Air Force One touches down in London next Tuesday.Doubtless, the war with Libya will top the agenda. The United States was, at best, lukewarm about the Libyan military intervention when it was conceived three months ago and is increasingly worried that the war may drag on aimlessly into next year’s presidential campaign.Afghanistan – where Britain has been America’s strongest coalition partner – is less of a source of tension. Obama and Cameron share the aim of quitting this theatre of war as soon as possible, and by 2015 at the latest. Nevertheless, Cameron’s unilateral decision to cut British troop numbers by 450 – just under five per cent of the 10,000 based in southern Afghanistan – has enraged the US military, though less so the White House.Officials are highlighting the mounting power and independence of Russia as a third cause of discussion at next week’s bilateral meeting. They say there is mounting concern that ex-president Vladimir Putin will return to fight the upcoming presidential electionson a strongly anti-Western and nationalist platform.