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President Obama: Now is time for US and West to lead President Obama: Now is time for US and West to lead
(about 1 hour later)
President Obama has told British politicians that, despite the rise of new global superpowers, the time for US and European leadership "is now".President Obama has told British politicians that, despite the rise of new global superpowers, the time for US and European leadership "is now".
In a speech in Parliament, he said the US and its allies in Europe would remain "indispensable" this century. He said the influence of the US, UK and allies would remain "indispensable," in a speech in Parliament on the second day of his UK state visit.
He is the first US President to address MPs and peers in Westminster Hall, on the second day of his UK state visit. But he said that leadership would need to "change with the times" to reflect economic, security and more challenges.
He praised relations between the US and UK as "one of the oldest and strongest alliances the world has ever known". He is the first US president to address MPs and peers in Westminster Hall.
Mr Obama got a standing ovation as he began his speech - which covered a range of issues including foreign policy, economic development and international security. Rows of the UK's most senior politicians and other prominent lined the historic building to hear the US president talk about the history of the UK's relationship with the United States and its shared values - and outline some of the future challenges facing the world.
As he began, Mr Obama acknowledged that the relationship between the UK and US was forever being "overanalysed" but added: "There are few nations that stand firmer, speak louder and fight harder to defend democratic values around the world than the United States and the United Kingdom." Former British prime ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown sat next to each other in the packed hall - the oldest part of the Houses of Parliament - which fell silent as the US president began his 35-minute speech.
As he began, Mr Obama joked that with an "especially active press corps", the relationship between the UK and US was forever being "over analysed".
But he he added: "There are few nations that stand firmer, speak louder and fight harder to defend democratic values around the world than the United States and the United Kingdom."
'New chapter''New chapter'
President Obama also told politicians gathered at Westminster Hall - who included in their ranks the former prime ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - that the two countries had "arrived at a pivotal moment once more" following global recession and years of conflict. He said the two countries had "arrived at a pivotal moment once more" following global recession and years of conflict.
He said with the winding down of operations in Iraq, progress in Afghanistan and having dealt "al Qaeda a huge blow by killing its leader Osama Bin Laden" it was time to enter a "new chapter in our shared history" with new challenges - like the revolutions in the Middle East and Africa, climate change terrorist networks,. With the winding down of operations in Iraq, progress in Afghanistan and having dealt "al-Qaeda a huge blow by killing its leader Osama Bin Laden", President Obama said it was time to enter a "new chapter in our shared history" with new challenges.
But he rejected arguments that the rise of superpowers like China and India meant the end for American and European influence in the world.But he rejected arguments that the rise of superpowers like China and India meant the end for American and European influence in the world.
"Perhaps, the argument goes, these nations represent the future, and the time for our leadership has passed. That argument is wrong. The time for our leadership is now," he said."Perhaps, the argument goes, these nations represent the future, and the time for our leadership has passed. That argument is wrong. The time for our leadership is now," he said.
"It was the United States, the United Kingdom, and our democratic allies that shaped a world in which new nations could emerge and individuals could thrive."It was the United States, the United Kingdom, and our democratic allies that shaped a world in which new nations could emerge and individuals could thrive.
"And even as more nations take on the responsibilities of global leadership, our alliance will remain indispensable to the goal of a century that is more peaceful, more prosperous and more just.""And even as more nations take on the responsibilities of global leadership, our alliance will remain indispensable to the goal of a century that is more peaceful, more prosperous and more just."
Libya questions But he added that leadership had to "change with the times" and the days were gone when an American president and UK prime minister could "sit in a room and solve the world's problems over a glass of brandy".
Questions about the international community's strategy in Libya featured heavily during an earlier press conference on the second day of President Obama's state visit to the UK. In his speech, Mr Obama also:
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said there was no future for the country - which has seen two months of intense fighting between pro and anti-government forces - with Col Gaddafi in power, and he should step down.
  • Acknowledged differences in the US and UK approach to deficit reduction but said the end goal was the same.
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  • Insisted the allies were preparing to "turn a corner" in Afghanistan - allowing Afghans to take the lead against the Taliban and stopping the country from becoming a haven for terrorists.
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  • Warned North Korea and Iran against flouting their obligations on nuclear weapons
  • Vowed to worked for a resolution to long-running conflicts like that in Sudan, and in supporting a "secure Israel and a sovereign Palestine"
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  • Defended action in Libya - saying it had "stopped a massacre" there
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"The President and I agree we should be turning up the heat in Libya," he said, adding that "all options" for intensifying the pressure on the regime were being considered. President Obama said the US and UK must invest in nations like Tunisia and Egypt which were making a transition to democracy, through trade and commerce, while "sanctioning those who pursue repression".
Mr Obama said the international community had made "enormous progress" in Libya, saving civilian lives under the terms of its UN mandate, and the US was "strongly committed to seeing the job through". "We do this knowing that the West must overcome suspicion and mistrust among many in the Middle East and North Africa - a mistrust that is rooted in a difficult past," he said.
"Gaddafi and his regime need to understand there will be no let-up in the pressure we are applying," he said. He acknowledged that the West had been accused of hypocrisy in its dealings with the region but said the West must acknowledge its interests while insisting it rejected "as false the choice between our interests and our ideals, between stability and democracy".
But he warned against setting any timetable for action and cautioned against the prospect of any decisive change in the military situation on the ground. 'Turning up heat'
"I believe that we have built enough momentum that, as long as we sustain the course we are on, he (Gaddafi) will step down. Ultimately this is going to be a slow, steady process in which we are able to wear down the regime forces." He stressed the shared values of the US and UK - about the rights of the individual, regardless of race, and the rule of law.
The situation in Libya was one of a number of issues discussed during 90 minutes of talks on Wednesday, including developments across the Middle East, in Syria and Yemen, the fight against terrorism and the global economy. The speech was largely heard in silence, but there was some laughter at Mr Obama's jokes.
And he got a round of applause as he struck a more personal note, saying that the example of the US and UK had shown "that it's possible for the sons and daughters of former colonies to sit here as members of this great Parliament, and for the grandson of a Kenyan who served as a cook in the British Army to stand before you as president of the United States".
It took him more than 10 minutes to leave Westminster Hall as he stopped to shake hands with the ranks of politicians and other prominent figures who had lined the building to hear his speech.
Earlier questions about the strategy in Libya featured heavily during a press conference at Lancaster House.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said there was no future for that country - which has seen two months of intense fighting between pro and anti-government forces - with Col Gaddafi in power, and said he and President Obama "agree we should be turning up the heat in Libya".
But while Mr Obama said there would be "no let-up in the pressure" on Libyan leader Col Gaddafi, he warned: "Ultimately this is going to be a slow, steady process in which we are able to wear down the regime forces."
On a personal note, Mr Cameron said he had come to know the president well over the past year and had come to "value his leadership and courage".On a personal note, Mr Cameron said he had come to know the president well over the past year and had come to "value his leadership and courage".
He described UK-US relations as "a living, working partnership" which were "essential to our security and to our prosperity".
But he refused to be drawn on comparisons between the two men's relationship and that between President George W Bush and Tony Blair, saying each personal relationship between world leaders was different.

Winfield House

Winfield House

The presidential couple arrived 12 hours earlier than planned and spent their first night in the UK at the home of the US ambassador, Winfield House, where they met the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.The presidential couple arrived 12 hours earlier than planned and spent their first night in the UK at the home of the US ambassador, Winfield House, where they met the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

Downing Street

Downing Street

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama met the Prime Minister and his wife, Samantha Cameron, at 10 Downing Street, where they later hosted a barbecue for British and American military families.President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama met the Prime Minister and his wife, Samantha Cameron, at 10 Downing Street, where they later hosted a barbecue for British and American military families.
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Buckingham Palace

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Buckingham Palace

The President and First Lady briefly met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge before a ceremonial welcome in the Buckingham Palace gardens, where the president reviewed the guard of honour with the Duke of Edinburgh.The President and First Lady briefly met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge before a ceremonial welcome in the Buckingham Palace gardens, where the president reviewed the guard of honour with the Duke of Edinburgh.
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Westminster Abbey

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Westminster Abbey

The public got their first glimpse of the Obamas when they visited Westminster Abbey, where the president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.The public got their first glimpse of the Obamas when they visited Westminster Abbey, where the president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

Globe Academy

Globe Academy

President Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron made a suprise visit to the Globe Academy in Lambeth, south London, where they teamed up for a game of table tennis against schoolboys.President Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron made a suprise visit to the Globe Academy in Lambeth, south London, where they teamed up for a game of table tennis against schoolboys.
Are you in the UK or the US? What do you think of the "special relationship"? What can these talks achieve? You can send us your comments using the form below.Are you in the UK or the US? What do you think of the "special relationship"? What can these talks achieve? You can send us your comments using the form below.