Barack Obama declares UK-US 'an essential relationship'

Arrival: U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama step off Air Force One at Stansted
12 April 2012

Barack Obama arrived in Britain for a three-day state visit, declaring the UK-US partnership "an essential relationship for us and for the world".

The US president flew into Stansted airport ahead of schedule last night to avoid the possibility of disruption to air travel from the ash cloud from an erupting Icelandic volcano.

He had been due to fly from Ireland on board Air Force One this morning to be greeted at the Essex airport by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

But the decision was taken to bring forward the visit after the announcement of cancellations to some UK commercial flights due to the ash billowing from the Grimsvotn volcano - with more disruption expected in the days to come.

The state visit - only the third by a US president to the UK in 100 years - comes at a time of close co-operation between Britain and America on issues ranging from Libya to Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and the Middle East peace process.

This strong partnership was reflected in a joint article written by Mr Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron for The Times, in which they declare: "Ours is not just a special relationship, it is an essential relationship - for us and for the world."

After his early arrival, Mr Obama was spending the night in the US ambassador's residence in London, Winfield House in Regent's Park.
Despite the hasty change to their planned schedule, Mr Obama and wife Michelle were still given the formal welcome expected of a state visit.

They were greeted by the Lord in Waiting Viscount Brookeborough, who met them on behalf of the Queen.

Instead of a traditional red carpet they left the plane on special red-carpeted stairs because of windy conditions at the airport.

Today they will be greeted by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. There will then be a ceremonial welcome for the visitors in the Palace garden from the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, and the Obamas will view the royal picture gallery before a wreath-laying visit to Westminster Abbey and a state banquet in the evening.

The couple will stay as guests of the Queen at Buckingham Palace tonight and tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be devoted to politics, with talks between Mr Obama and Mr Cameron at 10 Downing Street, followed by an address to both Houses of Parliament, in which the president is expected to say that the US has no closer ally in the world than Britain.

In their joint article, Mr Obama and Mr Cameron put the transatlantic partnership at the heart of the drive for global stability and prosperity.
"When the United States and Britain stand together, our people and people around the world can become more secure and more prosperous," they wrote.

"And that is the key to our relationship. Yes, it is founded on a deep emotional connection, by sentiment and ties of people and culture. But the reason it thrives, the reason why this is such a natural partnership, is because it advances our common interests and shared values.

"It is a perfect alignment of what we both need and what we both believe. And the reason it remains strong is because it delivers time and again.

"Ours is not just a special relationship, it is an essential relationship - for us and for the world."

They also promised not to abandon the protesters fighting for democracy in the "Arab Spring".
"We will not stand by as their aspirations get crushed in a hail of bombs, bullets and mortar fire," said the two leaders.

"We are reluctant to use force, but when our interests and values come together, we know we have a responsibility to act...
"We will stand with those who want to bring light into dark, support those who seek freedom in place of repression, aid those laying the building blocks of democracy."

It comes after Foreign Secretary William Hague and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton sent out a message to Syria's President Bashar Assad to halt his regime's repression of pro-democracy activists.

Speaking to American reporters shortly before Mr Obama's arrival, Mr Cameron said there was "an incredible alignment of views" between his administration and the White House on key global issues, including the military mission in Libya, the uprisings of the Arab Spring, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

And he paid lavish tribute to Mr Obama's style, saying that as well as being "courageous" over issues such as Osama bin Laden, he was also "thoughtful, measured and serious".

The current closeness of the UK-US relationship was remarked upon at a joint press conference following talks between Mr Hague and Mrs Clinton at the Foreign Office.

Mrs Clinton joked: "If there were any closer alignment, we would worry about each other."
The two leaders are expected to drop in on a barbecue being hosted by their wives Michelle and Samantha for families of military personnel involved in joint UK-US missions overseas.

Mr Obama is due to travel on to France on Thursday morning for the G8 summit of leading industrialised nations in Deauville, also being attended by Mr Cameron.

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