The US-UK “special relationship”

When a cross party foreign relations committee recently urged the British Government to adopt a more hard-headed approach towards the US and avoid the phrase “special relationship” there was a palpable sense of relief amongst those who had felt for some time that the phrase was best avoided.

Unsurprisingly, as the British Prime Minister visits the United States this week, the term remains as popular as ever. It seems the Americans are just too polite, or possibly too astute, to suggest it be consigned to history. Instead, just like with previous high profile UK-US meetings, the term is being rolled out to make yet another appearance and will most likely be used just enough times to avoid mass hysteria in the British media.

The Prime Minister’s first official visit to Washington comes at a time of widespread concern within UK media and foreign policy circles that Obama’s ethnic origin and upbringing may have defined a world view that is very different from his predecessors. To be more precise, policymakers are concerned that Obama is less interested in the special relationship because he is not of European origin.

To many observers such conclusions serve only to highlight the unhealthy obsession with the special relationship and the emotional nature of Britain’s friendship with the US. Whilst it may be true the US-UK relationship seems less warm under Obama, it's probably due to his government's focus on new priorities including the establishment of a new multi-polar world that includes the likes of China, Russia, India and Brazil. The alliances of the past will no longer suffice, even for the Americans, and it is therefore only natural that British/ European security is currently less of a priority for them.

Similarly, even though the US will continue to be the UK’s most significant bilateral ally for the foreseeable future, it is also apparent that the relationship will be less important in a world increasingly dominated by the multilateral process. In this new world order Britain will be expected to forge a common European security and energy policy and to establish strong relationships with emerging world powers such as India and Brazil and midsized powers such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Britain should remain confident that it will continue as a privileged US ally, not least because the Americans wish to maintain their status as both an Atlantic as well as Pacific power. This requires the Americans to remain fully engaged with Europe and its big countries. Therefore the US cannot ignore Britain’s status as Europe’s largest military power and still one of the world’s largest economies - expected to remain that way even in 2050 - when it will also be the largest economic power in Europe. Britain also continues to be a leading investor in the US (BP is a case in point) and maintains close cultural and military ties that bind the two together.

It’s therefore rather surprising to see articles appear in respected British publications suggesting the UK has little to offer the United States. Even the Prime Minister’s suggestion that Britain is America's “junior partner”, whilst probably nothing more than a self-deprecating remark in the best British tradition, only serves to support this line of thinking.

In a world where geopolitical power is set to become increasingly diffuse, Britain must gradually reduce its dependence on the special relationship and learn to foster new friendships and alliances in order to maintain its privileged status in world affairs.

Mr. Zulfi Caar Hydari is a British financier based in Dubai. He is Co-Founder and CEO of HBG Holdings and Co-Chairman of British Conservatives Abroad for Dubai and Northern Emirates. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own.

Twitter: www.twitter.com/zak_hydari

Conservatives Abroad Annual Conference

Conservatives Abroad Poland will host the Conservatives Abroad Annual Conference starting Friday 15th October in Krakow Poland.

The Executive Committee of Conservatives Abroad Dubai and Northern Emirates agreed that David Haigh will represent Dubai at the conference this year.

Marek Matraszek is Branch Chairman of Conservatives Abroad Poland.

Queen Elizabeth to visit UAE and Oman

You've probably heard the announcement that Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will pay State Visits to the UAE and Oman this Autumn.

This will be the second visit by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to both Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The previous visit took place in 1979. This year’s visit to Oman will mark the occasion of the 40th year of the reign of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

What you may not know is that The Queen surprisingly cancelled a previously planned visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in March 2009 because of an overburdened work schedule which included a state visit to Britain by the President of Mexico and the gathering of G20 leaders in London around the same time.

It was unusual as it was the first time in recent memory that a state visit was cancelled for reasons other than war or terrorism.

The BBC and Dubai fall out over cash

Dubai is a place where the Britishness of a colonial yesteryear has been well preserved, from red-faced drunks to the well-trimmed lawns and bungalows of the British Embassy compound. So there has been a Lilliburlero feel to the tea-time conversation in Expatland over the last few days. Two topics dominate. One is the recently announced visit this autumn of the Queen, which attracted more positive interest than, I suspect, it would in Leeds or Bristol. The other is the disappearance from the air-waves of the BBC World Service.

To read full article click here: The BBC and Dubai fall out over cash

source: Daily Telegraph

London Luxury: West End Targets High End

London's West End is polishing up its image in a bid to topple Paris, Milan, New York and Tokyo as the top destination for luxury shopping.

A new campaign called London Luxury has been launched by New West End Company, which clusters together 300 luxury retailers into a new district on Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street.

High-end retailers including Burberry, Cartier and Louis Vuitton will work alongside top five-star hotels, such as The Ritz and The Langham, to enhance the shopping experience of the 200 million visitors each year.

A recent study of key affluent international and domestic markets showed that the most rapidly growing markets of overseas shoppers in the West End were from Brazil (up 70%), followed by Australia (up 40%) and China (up 36%).

The Middle East was identified as the most important market as visitors spend an average of £1,334 while shopping around town.

The other important markets were China and Russia, which spend an average of £879 and £789 respectively.

Mideast investors consider BP move

Middle East investors are thought to be mulling over a possible investment in stricken oil giant BP, it was reported on Sunday.

As problems continue to hit the company amid the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, informed sources said proposals from the region had already been made to BP advisers in London, UAE daily The National reported.

“BP knows there is potential support from the Middle East,” a source told the paper, adding that Middle East investors would also consider buying key assets from BP.

The company's balance sheet has been badly damaged by the cost of cleaning up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico with estimates putting the clean-up cost as high as $60bn.

UAE, Saudi buyers target London's elite homes

Wealthy UAE investors are among the biggest buyers of luxury properties in London, especially in the poshest areas of Belgravia, Hyde Park and Knightsbridge, a new report has revealed.

In a new study of the English capital's real estate market, consultants Knight Frank said UAE investors were sixth in a list of international buyers.

The report said overseas buyers now accounted for more than 50 percent of all prime London residential purchases, with that figure rising to 68 percent in the homes valued at more than GBP5m.

Establishing a distinctive foreign policy

In a keynote speech at the Foreign Office in London, William Hague has outlined Coalition plans for a "clear, focused and effective" foreign policy.

He criticised the previous Labour Government for neglecting to lift its eyes to the wider strategic needs of this county and failing to secure our influence in a rapidly changing world.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Secretary set out five key areas for pursuing a distinctive British foreign policy:

1. Establishing a National Security Council and launching a Strategic Defence & Security Review
2. Bringing together all of the Departments of Government in the pursuit of national objectives
3. Using our national strengths and advantages to build strong bilateral relationships for the UK. They include our world-class education system, the standing of our Armed Forces and quality of our Intelligence Services and GCHQ, which are unique and of inestimable value
4. Encouraging the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to be more ambitious in articulating and leading Britain's efforts overseas
5. Giving due weight to Britain's membership of the European Union and other multilateral institutions, including NATO, the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

Concluding the speech, William said: "We are now raising our sights for the longer term, looking at the promotion of British interests in the widest sense."

And he added, "Although the next twenty years is likely to be a time of increased danger in foreign affairs, it is also a time of extraordinary opportunity for a country that sets out to make the most of its still great advantages."