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Obama arrives in London with EU referendum high on the agenda Obama arrives in London with EU referendum high on the agenda
(35 minutes later)
US president Barack Obama arrived at London Stansted airport on Thursday, beginning an official visit where issues of foreign policy will be the priority. The US president, Barack Obama, arrived at London Stansted airport on Thursday, beginning an official visit where issues of foreign policy will be the priority.
During his visit Obama and prime minister David Cameron will hold talks on a range of foreign policy issues including the the ongoing battle against Islamic State (Isis) militants in Iraq and Syria. The president will also try to persuade British voters not to ditch their membership of the European Union ahead of a 23 June referendum. During his visit Obama and David Cameron will hold talks on a range of foreign policy issues including the the battle against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. The president will also try to persuade British voters not to vote to leave the European Union in the referendum on 23 June.
The talks on the fight against Isis will focus on how to achieve the objective of re-taking the north Iraq city of Mosul – something that Obama has said he hopes may be possible by the end of this year. The talks on the fight against Isis will focus on how to retake the northern Iraqi city of Mosul – something that Obama has said he hopes may be possible by the end of this year.
Mosul, where Isis has its Iraq headquarters, is viewed as the key strategic prize – after Iraqi forces recently took back Ramadi, west of Baghdad. Britain is part of the US-led coalition that provides training and air support to Iraq forces. Mosul, where Isis has its Iraqi headquarters, is viewed as the key strategic prize after Iraqi forces recently took back Ramadi, west of Baghdad. Britain is part of the US-led coalition that provides training and air support to Iraqi forces.
Related: Barack Obama has a right to be heard on Europe. And Britain should listen | Peter WestmacottRelated: Barack Obama has a right to be heard on Europe. And Britain should listen | Peter Westmacott
Cameron and Obama will also discuss the progress in taking on Isis in Syria, where British planes have joined the US bombing campaign, since the House of Commons voted to back military action in December. Cameron and Obama will also discuss the progress in taking on Isis in Syria, where British planes have joined the US bombing campaign since the House of Commons voted to back military action in December.
Downing Street sources said that in total, across Syria and Iraq, coalition airstrikes had killed more than 25,000 fighters, and destroyed or damaged more than 22,000 targets. They added: “The fall of Mosul is an important objective, and tomorrow’s talks are expected to address how this will be achieved.” Downing Street sources said that in total, across Syria and Iraq, coalition airstrikes had killed more than 25,000 fighters and destroyed or damaged more than 22,000 targets. They added: “The fall of Mosul is an important objective, and tomorrow’s talks are expected to address how this will be achieved.”
Speaking ahead of the trip, Cameron said: “[Isis’s] brutal campaign of terror is creating instability and causing unimaginable suffering in Syria, Iraq and beyond. I look forward to talking to the President about our joint efforts to root out extremism around the world. I am confident that Britain and the US can continue to build on a solid basis of friendship and a shared commitment to freedom, democracy and enterprise to shape a better world for future generations.” Speaking before the trip, the prime minister said: “[Isis’s] brutal campaign of terror is creating instability and causing unimaginable suffering in Syria, Iraq and beyond. I look forward to talking to the president about our joint efforts to root out extremism around the world. I am confident that Britain and the US can continue to build on a solid basis of friendship and a shared commitment to freedom, democracy and enterprise to shape a better world for future generations.”
The president is also widely expected to weigh into the debate about Britain’s future in the European Union, ahead of June’s referendum. The president is also widely expected to weigh in to the debate about Britain’s future in the European Union.
However, his intervention is expected to be carefully considered, in a bid to avoid stoking anger among leave campaigners who resent the way Cameron has called in support from a heavyweight coalition of global policymakers. However, his intervention is expected to be carefully considered, in an attempt to avoid stoking anger among leave campaigners who resent the way Cameron has called in support from a heavyweight coalition of global policymakers.
Iain Duncan Smith, the former work and pensions secretary, said by backing the remain campaign, Obama would be asking British citizens to accept a surrender of sovereignty Americans would never be willing to contemplate. Iain Duncan Smith, the former work and pensions secretary, said that by backing the remain campaign Obama would be asking British citizens to accept a surrender of sovereignty that Americans would never be willing to contemplate.
“I have a huge amount of respect for America’s unrelenting commitment to the patriotic principle of self-governance. President Obama, and every one of his predecessors, have ferociously protected the sovereignty of the USA – and I only wish we could say the same of our leaders,” he said.“I have a huge amount of respect for America’s unrelenting commitment to the patriotic principle of self-governance. President Obama, and every one of his predecessors, have ferociously protected the sovereignty of the USA – and I only wish we could say the same of our leaders,” he said.
Obama will also attend a 90th birthday lunch for the Queen during his visit; and he and Cameron will then fly on to Germany, for a summit with the German, Italian and French leaders on Monday about the future of Libya. Obama will also attend a 90th birthday lunch for the Queen during his visit. He and Cameron will then fly on to Germany for a summit with the German, Italian and French leaders on Monday about the future of Libya.
The United Nations envoy to Libya, Martin Kobler, said foreign powers should offer training and military support to Libya’s fledgling government, combined with an end to the UN arms embargo.The United Nations envoy to Libya, Martin Kobler, said foreign powers should offer training and military support to Libya’s fledgling government, combined with an end to the UN arms embargo.
“The Isis expansion can only be stopped militarily,” he said. “There is a consensus that a united Libyan army needs training, the lifting of the weapons embargo is very important..” “The Isis expansion can only be stopped militarily,” he said. “There is a consensus that a united Libyan army needs training, the lifting of the weapons embargo is very important.”
His comments come as Isis steps up its offensive against Libya’s oilfields. An assessment has circulated in foreign missions reports that, in the past two weeks, the militant group has broken out of its base in the coastal town of Sirte. His comments come as Isis steps up its offensive against Libya’s oilfields. An assessment has circulated in foreign missions reporting that, in the past two weeks, the militant group has broken out of its base in the coastal town of Sirte.
Related: David Cameron can learn a lot from Obama. Decency and dignity for starters | Polly ToynbeeRelated: David Cameron can learn a lot from Obama. Decency and dignity for starters | Polly Toynbee
The Obama summit with European leaders has a wide agenda, but the presence of Italian prime minister Mario Renzi suggests a chief focus will be Libya, including the need to defeat Isis and stem the migrant crisis. The west is pressing the new Libyan government to seek permission for the EU’s Operation Sophia to operate inside Libyan waters, increasing the effectiveness of the EU’s efforts to defeat the people traffickers. The Obama summit with European leaders has a wide agenda, but the presence of the Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, suggests a chief focus will be Libya, including the need to defeat Isis and stem the migrant crisis. The west is pressing the new Libyan government to seek permission for the EU’s Operation Sophia to operate inside Libyan waters, increasing the effectiveness of the EU’s efforts to defeat the people traffickers.
President Obama has described Libya as his biggest foreign policy mistake, and there is now no quick way to persuade the many Libyan factions to unite behind a stable UN-backed Government of National Accord. Obama has described Libya as his biggest foreign policy mistake, and there is now no quick way to persuade the many Libyan factions to unite behind a stable UN-backed Government of National Accord.
Three weeks after arriving in the capital, its prime minister Fayez Sarraj is shunned by both an Islamist-led Tripoli government and the elected parliament in Tobruk. The need to garner sufficient political support has led the prime minister to hold off from formally requesting western help, including allowing the west to operate in Libyan sovereign waters. His opponents are already accusing him of being a tool of the west. Three weeks after he arrived in the capital, Libya’s prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj is shunned by both an Islamist-led Tripoli government and the elected parliament in Tobruk. The need to garner sufficient political support has led Sarraj to hold off from formally requesting western help, including allowing the west to operate in Libyan sovereign waters. His opponents are already accusing him of being a tool of the west.