Five Recommendations for David Cameron

Nile Gardiner / July 20, 2010

David Cameron’s visit to the United States this week offers the prime minister a major opportunity to assert a stronger British presence on the world stage after a period of notable decline under Gordon Brown. On both Afghanistan and Iran, two key issues likely to feature heavily in his White House meeting on Tuesday, his position should be clear: Britain will stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States in defeating the Taliban and standing up to the Iranian nuclear threat.

The world needs robust U.S.-British leadership, which has been strikingly absent in recent years. David Cameron has the skill and charisma to build up a powerful partnership with Washington, but must be careful to maintain British interests while doing so, and must not be afraid to stand up to the Obama administration on key areas of disagreement, including how best to deal with the global economic downturn. He should also be aware that Barack Obama is an increasingly weakened president, with many policies that are not only harmful to the United States but to America’s standing in the world as well. President Obama has contributed to a significant weakening of the Special Relationship, which might only be reversed after he has left the White House. (more…)