Cameron on crucial visit to US

David Cameron and US President Barack Obama have described the "unique and essential" relationship between the US and UK ahead of a visit by the British prime minister to Washington. In a joint article highlighted here, the two leaders said "the world counts on our alliance". During the three-day trip they will discuss what they call "the next phase of the transition" in Afghanistan, officials said here. Tensions over Iran and the violence in Syria will also be high on the agenda. Cameron made his first official visit to the US as prime minister in July 2010. The latest meeting comes ahead of NATO and G8 summits. In their joint article published by the US media, the two leaders said the alliance between the UK and US was "a partnership of the heart, bound by the history, traditions and values we share". Meanwhile, Commentators here said the most significant conversation between the two men was likely to be about Iran and Israel. Other topics likely to be discussed include the state of the global economy and international aid. During the trip, on which Cameron will be accompanied by his wife Samantha, the prime minister will become the first foreign leader to be welcomed aboard the presidential plane, Air Force One, by President Obama. They will fly together to Ohio a crucial swing state in this year's presidential election, to watch a game of basketball, according to the official programme of the PM. Following the deaths of six British soldiers and the massacre of 16 Afghan civilians by a US serviceman, the long-running war in Afghanistan is certain to dominate formal discussions in the White House, the officials added. There will also be a star-studded state dinner at the White House. The Prime Minister will not see any of the candidates for the Republican presidential nomination during his visit, though Downing Street played down suggestions that this amounted to a snub, pointing out that none of them requested a meeting. There will be Republicans present at tomorrow's official lunch and state dinner. In its editorial today, the Financial Times newspaper said there is much that still binds the two nations in foreign and defence policy. The UK government remains heavily committed to the US-led mission in Afghanistan. London has allied itself with Washington in confronting Iran's nuclear ambitions. The British and US intelligence services continue to enjoy a high degree of trust and co-operation. On Syria, the US and UK continue to believe there is no scope for intervention against President Bashar al-Assad's brutal crackdown, the main business daily in Europe said. But they must ask what will happen if Assad's forces continue to escalate their bloody crackdown, it went on. The FT said Obama, for his part, would be entitled to ask Cameron "some searching questions", in particular about the British prime minister's vision for UK foreign policy. "The two countries may be close, but in Washington doubts remain about exactly what sort of strategic role Cameron envisages for the UK. The British, like other European states, are implementing sweeping cuts in defence spending. Throughout the Eurozone crisis, they have looked increasingly marginal players in the European Union", the editorial noted. Some have accused Cameron of harbouring unrealistic illusions about Britain's role, the paper commented.