LONDON — President Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron showed Friday that the "special relationship" between the two countries means that they can tell each other things you can only say to friends.
After meeting at 10 Downing Street in London Friday, the two leaders gave a joint press conference in which they pledged to remain united on major world problems — while also dabbling in each others' internal politics.
Tops on the agenda: The June 23 referendum on whether Great Britain should remain in the European Union. That question, known as the "Brexit," led Obama to make his strongest argument to date that the world is better off with the United Kingdom leading a united Europe.
"The United Kingdom is at its best when it's helping to lead a strong Europe. It leverages UK power to be part of the European Union," Obama said. "I don’t believe the EU moderates British influence in the world. It magnifies it."
Obama has provoked ire among backers of the campaign to leave the EU for expressing his desire for Britain to remain within the 28-member bloc. The question is so contentious that Obama was asked by a British journalist whether he was meddling. "Let me be clear, ultimately this is something that the British voters have to decide for themselves," Obama said. "But as part of our special relationship, part of being friends is to be honest and to let you know what I think. And speaking honestly, the outcome of that decision is a matter of deep interest to the United States because it affects our prospects as well."
London Mayor Boris Johnson, who is campaigning for Brexit, attacked Obama's comments.
"As much as I admire the United States, and as much as I respect the president, I believe he must admit that his country would not dream of embroiling itself in anything of the kind," he said, writing in The Sun, a tabloid newspaper. Johnson was referring to Britain's membership of the EU. He called Obama "part Kenyan" and suggested his African heritage was responsible for his "ancestral dislike of the British empire."
Obama was later forced to defend North Carolina and Mississippi against a recent travel advisory from the British Foreign Office warning British subjects about their recently passed laws restricting gay rights. Cameron, a member of the British Conservative Party, said laws throughout the world should aim to "end discrimination, rather than embed it or enhance it."
Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill coined the term "special relationship" to describe U.S.-U.K. cooperation after World War II, and it's been a sacrosanct tenet of each nation's foreign policy ever since. Cameron described it Friday as "not merely an enduring expression of friendship, it was a way of working together." He called the two nations "kindred spirits who share the same values and so often the same approaches to the many issues we face."
Indeed, Obama and Cameron said they discussed a common approach to a wide range of international issues: Russia's incursion into Ukraine, battling the Ebola and Zika viruses, the war with the Islamic State and the migration crisis facing Europe.
"We consider it a major national security issue that you have uncontrolled migration into Europe — not because these folks are coming to the United States, but because if it destabilizes Europe, our largest trading bloc, trading partner, it’s going to be bad for our economy," Obama said. "If you start seeing divisions in Europe, that weakens NATO. That will have an impact on our collective security."
Obama arrived in London from Saudi Arabia late Thursday as part of a six-day tour of three nations. He and First Lady Michelle Obama had a private lunch with Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip at Windsor Castle on Friday, before flying by helicopter to central London to meet with Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street. The Obamas will dine with Prince William, Duchess Kate and Prince Harry at Kensington Palace on Friday evening.
The meeting with the queen came the day after her 90th birthday. Obama called the longest-reigning British monarch "truly one of my favorite people" and presented her with the gift of a photo album.
"If we are fortunate enough to reach 90, may we be as vibrant as she is," Obama said.
Obama is scheduled to hold a town hall with London youth on Saturday before heading to Germany the following day.
Gregory Korte reported from Washington.
