But what about President Bush's relationship with Brown?

In an interview with The Times's Tom Baldwin and three other international newspapers, President Bush was asked about US-UK relations.

Mr Bush said that the relationship with Britain was “never as special” as during times of war, citing the alliance between Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as “the current relationship — the more modern relationship — between Tony Blair and myself”.

He also heaped praise on President Sarkozy for sending more troops to Afghanistan - but said nothing about Brown and Britain's commitments. Is this a problem or a blessing?