LONDON (AFP) — Britain hailed incoming US president Barack Obama as a "true friend" Wednesday, as London eyes opening a new chapter in its "special relationship" with Washington after recent cool ties.
More specifically analysts say the new US leader could help Prime Minister Brown's foreign policy aims, notably switching focus from Iraq to Afghanistan, where Britain faces mounting casualties as a frontline ally of the US.
"Britain is potentially a winner because (Obama) has made it very clear... that he regards Afghanistan as a priority," said Robin Shepherd of the Chatham House think-tank.
"That suggests he would want western allies to stump up more troops... Britain has been arguing for this for a long time now," he said.
Britain has some 7,800 British troops on the frontline in southern Afghanistan. The danger they face was underlined as another British soldier died Tuesday, bringing the total to 122 since the 2001 invasion of the country.
On Iraq, Brown -- who has sought to distance himself from the administration of US President George W. Bush since succeeding Tony Blair last year -- underlined Wednesday Britain's plan to further reduce its role.
Asked about Obama's campaign pledge to withdraw US troops from Iraq over 16 months, Brown noted that British troops have already withdrawn from combat to an "overwatch" role in southern Iraq, where over 4,000 are still stationed.
"We will have a further fundamental change of mission next year," he told lawmakers.
Britain has long prided itself on its close relationship with America, but ties were tested by the deeply unpopular US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 in which Blair was Bush's staunchest political and military ally.
Brown, whose Labour Party has traditionally had closer ties with US Democrats than Bush's Republican party, hailed Obama's stated desire to coordinate even more closely over dealing with the global financial crisis.
"I know Barack Obama and we share many values. We both have determination to show that government can act to help people fairly through these difficult times facing the global economy," said Brown.
"I have talked to Senator Obama on many occasions and I know that he is a true friend of Britain," he added.
As well as Iraq and Afghanistan, Brown hopes the new US administration will be more open to action on cutting greenhouse gases, and welcomed Obama's stance stated aim of closing the notorious Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba.
Richard Whitman of Chatham House said the relationship between Brown and Obama will be "fascinating."
"Blair struck up a relationship with Bush on the basis not of any kind of political affinity, but really a personal understanding of the objectives of the two politicians," he told AFP.
"Brown hasn't been able to sustain the relationship that way. and the clincher if you like for the Obama-Brown relationship is going to be how far Brown's interest in ideas... is also intriguing to Obama, who's clearly looking for ideas to bring about change in the US.
"It could be quite a new role if you like in this relationship," he told AFP.
Brown's fulsome praise for the incoming US leader comes as he seeks to revive his flagging political fortunes in preparation for British elections which must be held in 2010 at the latest.
David Cameron, the leader of the main opposition Conservatives, teased Brown Wednesday over his recent barb that the current global crisis was not time for a political "novice" like himself.
"I read this morning that the prime minister has sent a message to the (US) president-elect," a one-term senator, Cameron taunted.
"Presumably it wasn't, 'This is not time for a novice'."
"What I said was that serious times needed serious people," retorted Brown.
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