Blair calls for new trans-Atlantic alliance

By Peter Munro

November 5, 2004

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has called on America and Europe to "build a new alliance", amid speculation that he had privately hoped that George Bush would be defeated.

Mr Blair said Mr Bush's re-election had come at a crucial time for trans-Atlantic relations, battered over the war in Iraq and terrorism.

"A world that is fractured, divided and uncertain must be brought together to fight this global terrorism in all its forms," Mr Blair said yesterday.

He called on both sides to work together for peace in the Middle East and to alleviate poverty in Africa.

But there was a strong feeling among British Government officials that foreign policy would have been much easier if John Kerry had won - especially in dealing with the three Middle East hot spots of Iraq, Iran, and Israel-Palestine, and in trying to rebuild US-European relations.

European leaders yesterday appeared to heed Mr Blair's call. French President Jacques Chirac said that strong trans-Atlantic ties were essential to heal bitter divisions over the Iraq war.

"Our co-operation, our joint fight against terrorism and our efforts to promote freedom and democracy must continue to develop in a spirit of dialogue, esteem and mutual respect," he said in a letter congratulating Mr Bush.

Leaders in Italy and Russia said the election verdict would strengthen the US and benefit their countries.

In Germany, a Foreign Ministry official said he hoped Mr Bush would seize a chance for a fresh start with Europe. However, several German politicians, including Michael Moller, the deputy parliamentary leader of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's party, reflected popular dismay at the result.

Robin Cook, the former British foreign secretary, said the win meant Mr Blair was "denied the chance of having a new partner and a new agenda for international relations that does not come with the baggage of Iraq".

Mr Blair was yesterday forced to defend the "important" relationship between the US and Britain. A defeat for Mr Bush would have exposed Mr Blair over Iraq in the lead-up to next year's general election in Britain.

The Blair camp reportedly believes that Mr Bush will adopt a less unilateralist approach in his second term, on issues such as the Middle East.

But some Labour MPs warned that President Bush might instead try to use his mandate to act against other so-called rogue states, such as Iran.

Mr Blair, throughout the Bush first term, presented Britain, without much success, as a bridge between the US and the rest of Europe.

That approach is going to be tested in the next few months.

France has been pressing for a European Union arms embargo against China to be lifted in spite of US objections that US forces could, theoretically, be on the receiving end of European arms in the Taiwan Strait. A decision is expected to be made after Christmas.

Britain, far from siding with the US, is backing France and the rest of Europe.

London will try to placate Washington by suggesting that the existing European Union code of conduct on arms will be as effective as an embargo because it denies sale of weapons for internal repression or for external aggression.

There are other issues that will strain US-British relations, including global warming, stem cell research and Britain's failure, as the lead nation on drugs in the international coalition, to curb poppy cultivation in Afghanistan.

- with agencies