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| Obama plunges into heated debate over Britain’s future in the E.U. | Obama plunges into heated debate over Britain’s future in the E.U. |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| LONDON – President Obama strongly weighed in on one of the biggest political issues of the year Friday, urging Britain to remain part of the European Union and warning that a withdrawal would diminish British influence on the world stage. | LONDON – President Obama strongly weighed in on one of the biggest political issues of the year Friday, urging Britain to remain part of the European Union and warning that a withdrawal would diminish British influence on the world stage. |
| “The European Union doesn’t moderate British influence – it magnifies it,” Obama wrote in a surprisingly frank editorial in London’s Daily Telegraph. “A strong Europe is not a threat to Britain’s global leadership; it enhances Britain’s global leadership.” | “The European Union doesn’t moderate British influence – it magnifies it,” Obama wrote in a surprisingly frank editorial in London’s Daily Telegraph. “A strong Europe is not a threat to Britain’s global leadership; it enhances Britain’s global leadership.” |
| The editorial plunges Obama into the middle of an emotional debate inside Britain only two months before the country’s June 23 referendum on E.U. membership. | The editorial plunges Obama into the middle of an emotional debate inside Britain only two months before the country’s June 23 referendum on E.U. membership. |
| [Breaking down the choices for Britain] | [Breaking down the choices for Britain] |
| It’s highly unusual for an American president to weigh in on the internal affairs of an ally so close to voters going to the polls, a fact that Obama acknowledged in his editorial. | It’s highly unusual for an American president to weigh in on the internal affairs of an ally so close to voters going to the polls, a fact that Obama acknowledged in his editorial. |
| “I realize that there’s been considerable speculation – and some controversy – about the timing of my visit,” he wrote. But, Obama argued that the “special relationship” between the United States and Britain demanded unusual honesty. | “I realize that there’s been considerable speculation – and some controversy – about the timing of my visit,” he wrote. But, Obama argued that the “special relationship” between the United States and Britain demanded unusual honesty. |
| “We are friends who have no fear of each other,” he wrote. “So I will say, with the candor of a friend, that the outcome of your decision is a matter of deep interest to the United States.” | “We are friends who have no fear of each other,” he wrote. “So I will say, with the candor of a friend, that the outcome of your decision is a matter of deep interest to the United States.” |
| Even before Obama arrived, Boris Johnson, the London mayor, accused the president of hypocrisy on the issue. Johnson, who is in favor of leaving the European Union, told the BBC that the United States “wouldn’t dream of sharing [their] sovereignty.” | Even before Obama arrived, Boris Johnson, the London mayor, accused the president of hypocrisy on the issue. Johnson, who is in favor of leaving the European Union, told the BBC that the United States “wouldn’t dream of sharing [their] sovereignty.” |
| Obama, who arrived in London from Saudi Arabia, marked the beginning a three-day visit to Europe at an especially difficult moment for the continent, which faces a slow economy, refugees poring across its borders and a growing terror threat. | Obama, who arrived in London from Saudi Arabia, marked the beginning a three-day visit to Europe at an especially difficult moment for the continent, which faces a slow economy, refugees poring across its borders and a growing terror threat. |
| He is expected on Monday to deliver a major speech in Germany on the problems facing Europe, its critical role on the world stage and its path forward. | He is expected on Monday to deliver a major speech in Germany on the problems facing Europe, its critical role on the world stage and its path forward. |
| Obama has been highly critical of America’s European allies, suggesting recently in an interview with the Atlantic that British Prime Minister David Cameron and his European partners became “distracted” after the NATO-led intervention in Libya and didn’t do enough to bring stability to the country. He’s criticized some European countries for depending too heavily on the United States to provide for their defense, referring to them as “free riders.” | Obama has been highly critical of America’s European allies, suggesting recently in an interview with the Atlantic that British Prime Minister David Cameron and his European partners became “distracted” after the NATO-led intervention in Libya and didn’t do enough to bring stability to the country. He’s criticized some European countries for depending too heavily on the United States to provide for their defense, referring to them as “free riders.” |
| A cold-eyed view of allies has left Obama with few overseas friends | A cold-eyed view of allies has left Obama with few overseas friends |
| Despite those criticisms, Obama remains very popular among the British people and throughout Europe. His decision to visit London so close to the referendum on Britain’s future in the European Union came at the request of Cameron, who has been a forceful and, of late, more embattled advocate for remaining in the 28-nation bloc. | Despite those criticisms, Obama remains very popular among the British people and throughout Europe. His decision to visit London so close to the referendum on Britain’s future in the European Union came at the request of Cameron, who has been a forceful and, of late, more embattled advocate for remaining in the 28-nation bloc. |
| “The U.S. is one of our closest allies. So it’s important to hear Barack Obama on why we should remain in the E.U.,” the prime minister tweeted Friday. | |
| Even though Obama has been outspoken in his support for Britain staying in the European Union, analysts urged him to tread lightly on his visit. “This is an emotionally charged discussion and it really does not respond to calm, rational logic,” said Heather Conley, a senior European analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. | Even though Obama has been outspoken in his support for Britain staying in the European Union, analysts urged him to tread lightly on his visit. “This is an emotionally charged discussion and it really does not respond to calm, rational logic,” said Heather Conley, a senior European analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. |
| Conley said the president should “weigh in” but avoid being part of the story. “Do not exacerbate the tensions surrounding the referendum,” she warned. | Conley said the president should “weigh in” but avoid being part of the story. “Do not exacerbate the tensions surrounding the referendum,” she warned. |
| Prior to Obama’s arrival in London, senior administration officials suggested that Obama would heed that advice. | Prior to Obama’s arrival in London, senior administration officials suggested that Obama would heed that advice. |
| [The queen wants out? A British tabloid claims she does.] | [The queen wants out? A British tabloid claims she does.] |
| “His approach will be that if he’s asked his view as a friend, he will offer it, but he’ll make very clear that this is a matter that the British people themselves will decide,” Ben Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser told reporters prior to the trip. | “His approach will be that if he’s asked his view as a friend, he will offer it, but he’ll make very clear that this is a matter that the British people themselves will decide,” Ben Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser told reporters prior to the trip. |
| With his frank editorial in the Daily Telegraph, Obama seems to have decided that the stakes were too high for the United States to take a lower-profile approach. | |
| Obama chose the Conservative-supporting newspaper, which hasn’t taken a stand on the E.U referendum, to appeal to Conservatives and others seen as crucial swing voters in the referendum. | |
| Obama praised Britain’s leadership in helping to secure a major global agreement to address climate change in Paris last year and its efforts to reach a deal with Iran to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon. | |
| Such international efforts, with the European Union playing a leading role, are essential to peace, prosperity, and international order, Obama wrote. | Such international efforts, with the European Union playing a leading role, are essential to peace, prosperity, and international order, Obama wrote. |
| “Today, we face tests to this order — terrorism and aggression; migration and economic headwinds — challenges that can only be met if the United States and the United Kingdom can rely on one another, on our special relationship, and on the partnerships that lead to progress,” Obama wrote in the Telegraph. | “Today, we face tests to this order — terrorism and aggression; migration and economic headwinds — challenges that can only be met if the United States and the United Kingdom can rely on one another, on our special relationship, and on the partnerships that lead to progress,” Obama wrote in the Telegraph. |
| The terrorist attacks on Paris and Brussels, in particular, have exposed big gaps in intelligence sharing among European countries. Obama argued that a unified counterterrorism partnership that spanned Europe is essential to keeping the continent safe. | The terrorist attacks on Paris and Brussels, in particular, have exposed big gaps in intelligence sharing among European countries. Obama argued that a unified counterterrorism partnership that spanned Europe is essential to keeping the continent safe. |
| “Now is a time for friends and allies to stick together,” he added. | “Now is a time for friends and allies to stick together,” he added. |
| Obama will meet with Cameron later Friday and take part in a press conference with the prime minister in which the E.U. referendum is likely to be a major topic of discussion. Before those events, the president will have lunch with Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate her 90th birthday at Windsor Castle, which Obama jokingly suggested was his real reason for his visit. | |
| “I confess: I do want to wish Her Majesty a happy birthday in person,” he wrote. | “I confess: I do want to wish Her Majesty a happy birthday in person,” he wrote. |
| Karla Adam in London contributed to this report. |