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Obama urges UK to stay in European Union Obama urges UK to stay in European Union
(about 3 hours later)
The UK must stay in the European Union to continue to have influence on the world stage, US President Barack Obama has told the BBC.The UK must stay in the European Union to continue to have influence on the world stage, US President Barack Obama has told the BBC.
He said the UK's EU membership "gives us much greater confidence about the strength of the transatlantic union".He said the UK's EU membership "gives us much greater confidence about the strength of the transatlantic union".
Speaking to the BBC's North America editor Jon Sopel, he said the EU "made the world safer and more prosperous".Speaking to the BBC's North America editor Jon Sopel, he said the EU "made the world safer and more prosperous".
David Cameron has said a referendum on whether or not to remain a member of the EU will be held by the end of 2017.David Cameron has said a referendum on whether or not to remain a member of the EU will be held by the end of 2017.
That referendum will follow a renegotiation of the existing terms of British membership.That referendum will follow a renegotiation of the existing terms of British membership.
'Outstanding partner''Outstanding partner'
The prime minister has said he will campaign for Britain to remain in the EU if he gets the reforms he wants.The prime minister has said he will campaign for Britain to remain in the EU if he gets the reforms he wants.
Mr Obama said the UK was America's "best partner" because of its willingness to project power beyond its "immediate self-interests to make this a more orderly, safer world".Mr Obama said the UK was America's "best partner" because of its willingness to project power beyond its "immediate self-interests to make this a more orderly, safer world".
He also described the UK's prime minister as an "outstanding partner" and congratulated his government for meeting the Nato target of spending 2% of the country's national income - GDP - on defence. But a Conservative backbencher, Tom Pursglove, said the issue of EU membership was "a matter for the British people".
"It isn't for anybody else to tell the British people what they are going to do," he said.
Mr Obama described the UK's prime minister as an "outstanding partner" and congratulated his government for meeting the Nato target of spending 2% of the country's national income - GDP - on defence.
Earlier this year the head of the US Army, Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno, said he was "very concerned" about the impact of spending cuts on the UK's armed forces.Earlier this year the head of the US Army, Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno, said he was "very concerned" about the impact of spending cuts on the UK's armed forces.
At the time the Ministry of Defence said the government was committed to Nato's target.At the time the Ministry of Defence said the government was committed to Nato's target.
Earlier this month Chancellor George Osborne pledged to meet the target up to 2020 in his Budget.Earlier this month Chancellor George Osborne pledged to meet the target up to 2020 in his Budget.
In his BBC interview, Mr Obama denied putting pressure on Mr Cameron to meet that target but said there had been an "honest conversation" between the two leaders.In his BBC interview, Mr Obama denied putting pressure on Mr Cameron to meet that target but said there had been an "honest conversation" between the two leaders.
The US President, who has 18 months left in power, also admitted that the failure to pass "common sense gun safety laws" in the US was his biggest frustration.The US President, who has 18 months left in power, also admitted that the failure to pass "common sense gun safety laws" in the US was his biggest frustration.
He was speaking to the BBC at the White House before departing for Kenya, where he begins a short tour of Africa on Friday.He was speaking to the BBC at the White House before departing for Kenya, where he begins a short tour of Africa on Friday.