UK ‘junior partner’ in relationship with US: David Cameron

Ahead of his first trip to the United States, British prime minister David Cameron has admitted that the UK is the “junior partner” in the “relationship” with the US.

Cameron insisted that he wants the two countries to remain key allies, and said that it was vital that the UK exerted as much influence as possible.

“I think it’s a special relationship, but we should always be conscious of the fact that we’re the junior partner in this relationship and America is a Pacific power as well as an Atlantic power,” The Sun quoted Cameron, as saying.
 
“I think that we should deal with things as they are, rather than trying to be too needy,” he added.

He also slammed former British prime minister Tony Blair for getting too chummy with former US President George W. Bush.

“Blair was too much the new friend telling you everything you want to hear, rather than the best friend telling you what you need to hear,” he said.

Cameron flies to US on Monday, and will have his first White House meeting with US President Barack Obama on Tuesday.

The talks will take place against a backdrop of tensions over issues like the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi.