Presidents and Prime Ministers may come and go, but the special relationship between Britain and the United States endures. Or at least that鈥檚 what British politicians would have you believe. But as Tony Blair arrives in Washington you could forgive him for being a touch anxious as he aims to ensure that he builds a strong working relationship with George W. Bush.
Blair enjoyed a remarkably close relationship with Bill Clinton as the two men found an ideological soul mate in each other and struck up a genuine friendship. But does personal chemistry actually matter? Some, like Ray Seitz, US ambassador to Britain in the early 90s. think not "George Bush and Tony Blair should get on but if even if they don鈥檛, it doesn鈥檛 matter as personal chemistry comes way down the list of what counts. The most important fact is that our two countries share the same fundamental values and interests"
Clinton and Blair were not the only ones to develop a strong personal bond. Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan also built a relationship on shared values and especially their anti-communism. But now for the first time in a quarter of a century since the days of Gerald Ford and James Callaghan, a special relationship will have to develop between a Labour prime minister and a Republican President and some think that the agenda is moving onto more difficult terrain. Tony Blair may talk about being a bridge between Europe and America but some think that the special relationship is a one way street and the truth is that you will hear the phrase a lot more in London than you will in Washington.
Some Americans would argue that their country has a special relationship with many countries - Mexico, Canada, Israel and Japan included. And Britain鈥檚 European allies will be looking closely to ensure the traffic is not one way and that Tony Blair will be representing their views on issues like missile defence to Washington.
The new US administration looks set to take a more unilateral posture and push ahead with missile defence while Europe moves on with developing its own defence identity, something that some Americans feel could undermine NATO, the bedrock of the Atlantic alliance. So expect lots of smiles when Tony meets George - they will get on because they have to but there are signs that Tony Blair鈥檚 aim of being a bridge between the United States and Europe could be getting tougher.
