London, England - Remember when Americans returned George Bush for a second term in 2004, there was a collective global gasp as the world grappled with the meaning of four more years.
I somehow doubt whomever comes out top on May 6 here will engender such widespread and passionate feeling. But rest assured who wins the election matters beyond the borders of this one-time super power.
What I’ll be doing in the coming weeks is taking a look from the outside, peering in, deciphering what the foreign policy of the next government will mean for it’s friends, allies and enemies around the world.
I’ll be going to Macedonia, the only country during the last U.S. elections to want another four Republican years at the White House. Overwhelmingly in a worldwide poll of Obama’s popularity they said they wanted McCain to win. I can’t help but wonder how they’ll rate Brown and Cameron.
But there is a serious side to all this – the Conservatives' Euro-skeptic policy has left them so isolated from the mainstream political parties of the 27-nation union they are as likely to find common cause with Europe’s right wing fringe than they are with their traditional partners at the center. And if that means you are Pakistan looking for allies to help you win a better trade deal with Europe, then Labour is better set to help you.
Don’t expect Labour or the Conservatives to differ hugely on their close relationship with the U.S. However, in the event of a hung parliament, do expect the Lib-Dems, who voted against the Iraq war of 2003, to drag their feet a little more than their new political partners might like the next time there’s a call to top up troops for a foreign conflict.
While most British voters won’t be going to the polls over foreign policy around the world plenty of people will want to keep up with what changes here may mean for them. I’ll be hoping to add a little perspective and hear your thoughts too.
Posted by:
CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson
Filed under: Foreign Policy
http://ukelection.blogs.cnn.com/
