Blair: Honest broker?

Tony Blair has defended his relations with Washington, claiming that "democracy is the meeting point for Europe and America".

In a speech to a City audience the prime minister mounted a stout defence of Anglo-American relations.

His comments follow mounting criticism of his close relationship with George W Bush.

Addressing the Lord Mayor's banquet at the Mansion House the prime minister insisted Britain and Europe had a duty to join with the US in combating terror.

"If America were to pull up the drawbridge, retreat from its obligations and alliances abroad, the terrorists would attack the rest of us," he said.

"They are not interested in America as America. They are interested in America as the most powerful actor in pursuit of beliefs they fear as much as we value them."

United

And he insisted that Britain and the US were as one on the need to attack terror networks.

"We are not fighting with America in Iraq because we are their allies," said Blair.

"We are their allies because we believe that their fight against terrorism is our fight too; because if they fail, we fail; because their way of life and ours is lit by the same light of freedom, the same love of democracy, the same fellowship of reason."

But he held out an olive branch to those who have criticised the Bush administration.

"I'm not saying America does not make mistakes; does not in its insularity of thinking sometimes seem obstinate to the concerns of the rest of the world. But I know one thing. If we were under direct threat, America would be our ally," he added.

Strains

Blair conceded that the Iraq war had resulted in new strains between Europe and the US.

"Iraq has dramatically surfaced differences between Europe and America and Britain's role in both alliances. The relationship is under question as never before. So now is the time to defend it," he said.

Despite his stout defence, Blair also signalled "the US had to play its part in developing a bilateral approach to foreign policy".

"What is entirely sensible, however, is for Europe to say terrorism won't be beaten by toughness alone," said the prime minister.

"Here there is an opportunity for Europe. American policy is evolving. Increasingly both Europe and America are coming to realise that lasting security against fanatics and
terrorists cannot be provided by conventional military force; but requires a commitment to democracy, freedom and justice.

"The only stable Afghanistan will be a democratic Afghanistan. Ultimately, it is democracy in Iraq that will defeat the insurgents, which is why they are so desperate to stop it.

"The only viable Palestinian state will not just be based on territory, but on democratic values.

"Likewise, the best help we can give Africa is not just through aid, vital though that is, and on opening up trade, but through supporting countries in their desperate and fraught attempts to build the institutions of good governance."

Powell resignation

The comments came on the day it was announced US secretary of state Colin Powell had resigned.

Powell has been seen as one of the leading multilateralists in the Bush administration, and his departure could be seen as a blow to UK-led attempts to heal transatlantic divisions.

In his address Blair said the US had a responsibility to work multilaterally to solve key problems around the world.

"Multilateralism that works should be its aim. I have no sympathy for unilateralism for its own sake," he added.

Blair went on to say that Europe should not play down the significance of the war on terror.

"Neither Europe nor the US should be arrogant about the other. It is not a sensible or intelligent response for us in Europe to ridicule America's arguments and parody their political leadership," he said.