UK/US: Shared challenges and shared opportunities (October 12, 2009)
The Prime Minister and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have reaffirmed the close working relationship of Britain and the United States on the key issues affecting the world.
Mrs Clinton visited Gordon Brown at Chequers, the PM’s country residence, at the start of her five-day tour of Europe.
Earlier in the day, she met with UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband who said they had a “detailed, intensive and productive” meeting with Afghanistan and Pakistan at the top of the agenda.
On Afghanistan
Mr Miliband spoke of a “shared strategy” and said that Britain and the US were working closely together to ensure the coalition effort was “as clear, as effective and as decisive as possible”.
Mrs Clinton made it clear that the Obama administration was committed to Afghanistan, and said that al Qaeda did indeed pose a “direct threat” to both the US and Britain.
She praised the bravery of British troops and added:
“Our strategy remains the same - we are committed to Afghanistan.
“We are very clear that the conjunction of al Qaeda and elements of the Taliban and other extremists pose a direct threat to our two countries and to the world.”
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said:
"The shared strategy that has been set out by our Prime Minister and by the President is founded on some very clear principles, above all the principle that we have a very strong stake in a strong, sovereign, independent Afghanistan that’s able to defend its own people from the ravages of the Taliban.
Our resolve, joint resolve shared with forty other nations is strong and clear and the people of Afghanistan do not want a return of Taliban rule in Kabul and we are determined to work with a new Afghan Government to prevent that."
On Iran
They also discussed Iran, where the Foreign Secretary said 'Iran will never have a better opportunity to establish normal relations with the international community'.
"We’ve also reviewed the position on Iran where our countries work so closely together, including on the most recent revelation of the covert Iranian uranium enrichment site. My point on this is very simple, that Iran will never have a better opportunity to establish normal relations with the international community and it will never have a better opportunity than to show that the peaceful intent that marks its words about its nuclear programme is matched by its deeds."
Hillary Clinton also spoke of the pivotal leadership the UK has shown towards securing the recent unanimously adopted UN Security Council Resolution 1887:
"British leadership is important to the P5 +1 process as we work together to press the world’s grave concerns about Iran’s nuclear programmes.
We agreed that the P5 +1 meeting in Geneva was a constructive beginning, but it must be followed by action. Words are not enough and we are speaking with a single voice and delivering a clear message to Iran. The international community will not wait indefinitely for evidence that Iran is prepared to live up to its international obligations."
Other important issues they discussed were the Copenhagen Climate Conference which takes place in less than 60 days.
Mrs Clinton met Mr Brown at Chequers, before heading to Dublin for talks with Irish officials.
UK foreign policy news
- Foreign Secretary's Eid message (November 26, 2009)
- UK standing shoulder to shoulder with India (November 26, 2009)
- FCO hosts British-Arab community (November 26, 2009)
- UK continues to call for full settlement freeze (November 25, 2009)
- Global call for end to violence against women (November 25, 2009)
- Trial begins on human rights abuses in DRC (November 25, 2009)
- Commonwealth leaders head to Trinidad & Tobago (November 25, 2009)
- UK support for Kosovo is robust and enduring (November 24, 2009)
- Afghanistan is number one foreign policy priority (November 24, 2009)
- FCO appoints Head of Digital (November 24, 2009)
