U.S.-U.K. relations are special

Opinion: May 18, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Kansas City Star: The United Kingdom has a new, more conservative government, but the initial signs indicate that little will change in its relations with the United States.

At a time when global issues seem to be stacking up, this is good news for President Barack Obama’s administration. The U.K. long has been America’s strongest ally, and it must be hoped that its first coalition government since the end of World War II will want to maintain close relations.

The government led by Prime Minister David Cameron of the Conservative (Tory) Party and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats have signaled continued support of the combined efforts in Afghanistan, Iran and the Middle East peace process.

Both leaders have voiced the common post-Iraq invasion concern in the United Kingdom that they can also be critical allies while maintaining a special friendship with America.

Tied together

The United States and United Kingdom are tied together at many levels, and it is in the best interests of both to continue this relationship.

Britain’s foreign policy is more likely to shift away from the coziness Tony Blair and Gordon Brown had with the European Union, with whom there is growing unease about the Greek credit crisis.