United States President George Bush is to steer clear of Britain in a new year re-election tour of Europe, partly to give British Prime Minister Tony Blair space to rebuild his damaged foreign policy around the Middle East peace process, climate change and aid to Africa.
The prime minister needs US support to make progress on all three issues, but believes the US president’s priority must be to visit EU institutions in Brussels, especially the newly appointed commission.
Bush is expected to extend his February visit by also travelling to Germany and France, the two countries that led the opposition to the war in Iraq. He has been lobbied by Richard Lugar, the chairperson of the US foreign relations committee, to visit Germany.
Blair has predicted privately that the second Bush administration will prove to be different from the unilateralist first term. But an early visit by Bush to Britain would remind the electorate of Blair’s close relationship with the president. With a general election likely in May, it is unlikely that Bush will visit Britain ahead of the G8 summit in Gleneagles set for June.
Part of Blair’s re-election strategy is to recalibrate his foreign policy. His advisers want him to return to issues popular with sections of the middle class, such as aid for Africa and climate change.
The prime minister is also hoping to host a peace conference on the Middle East in London in February, which is likely to concentrate on the proposed Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the need for Palestinians to renounce violence, the first phase of the road map to peace.
Blair will visit Jerusalem just before Christmas where he is likely to reassure the Israelis he is not unduly forcing the pace on the road map.
Blair sold the war in Iraq on the basis that he can secure US agreement to use its influence to persuade the Israelis to return to the negotiations. So far, there has been little sign of US commitment. – Guardian Unlimited Â