American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that she expects the US to work "very, very well" with Gordon Brown as Prime Minister.
Ms Rice hailed outgoing PM Tony Blair as a tremendous visionary but made clear that she expected the transatlantic relationship to remain "very strong" under his probable successor.
Her comments came after US President George Bush hailed Mr Blair as "a good friend" after his announcement on Thursday that he would stand down as PM on June 27.
Mr Bush also described the Chancellor as "easy to talk to, a good thinker ... an open and engaging person" and made clear he hoped to work well with him on issues including Iraq.
Ms Rice told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I think the relationship will be very close, in part because Britain and the United States are such key allies.
"The bonds with Prime Minister Blair have been forged through some of the most difficult times, through the time of 9/11, through the time of the attacks on London, through Afghanistan and Iraq and Northern Ireland, and those are bonds of friendship that come from having been through some of the toughest circumstances.
"But Britain and America will always be friends and I know that we will work very, very well with Gordon Brown when he becomes Prime Minister."
