Brown's first PM trip to the US
Updated on 30 July 2007
Gordon Brown is walking a careful line on his first prime ministerial trip to America.
Gordon Brown has said in public that the special relationship with America is the most important bi-lateral relationship Britain enjoys.
And yet, when Gordon Brown arrived in Camp David - everyone was studying the body language of between him and George Bush, examining every comment and nuance for evidence that the special relationship between the two countries is about to go cold.
There was certainly none of the informal 'blokieness' that characterised Tony Blair's visits here. Instead, both men looked as awkward as a shy couple on a first date.
Both men are making the effort to appear united at this meeting. But then the agenda is focused on agree they can easily agree on: a UN resolution on Darfur and a peacekeeping force.
For the cameras - the President appeared to be enjoying himself. even if Gordon Brown looked uncomfortable as he was whizzed around in a golf cart next by the leader of the United States.
"He just has to bide his time until he forges a new relationship with a new president."- Jeffrey Stinson, Correspondent, USA today
A trip on that golf buggy is traditional for visiting Prime Ministers of course. During Tony Blair's time, aides were told to abandon suits and ties for chinos and jumpers. But unlike Tony Blair's four day stay, Gordon Brown will only be at Camp David for about 24 hours. In that time they'll talk about an international trade deals, stopping the genocide in Sudan, climate change and Iran.
Before his arrival - there were reports the Prime Minister's foreign policy advisor had been sounding out the Americans on a possible UK withdrawal in Iraq. But so far Mr Brown hasn't even mentioned the war.
"He knows that this is president is going to be out of office in 18 months, so he just has to bide his time until he forges a new relationship with a new president.
"Support for the war in the Unites States has slid tremendously, a poll that we had earlier this month indicates that 62 per cent of Americans think it is a mistake to have gone in." - Jeffrey Stinson, Correspondent, USA today
The son of a manse and Texan cowboy are not a natural mix, so perhaps Gordon Brown will be more comfortable with the Democrats he's due to meet this evening.
