Throughout President Barack Obama’s recent trip to Europe and the Middle East, he managed to walk on diplomatic eggshells fairly well, impressing allies with suave leadership and cultural sensitivity. This was his first opportunity in office to meet with numerous world leaders to discuss the major issues of today and work for solutions, and all appreciated his desire for collaboration.  Indeed, the much-repeated mantra was “global problems require global solutions.”

Obama’s voyage brought him to many stops: the G20 summit in London; the NATO assembly and meetings in Strasbourg (France), Kehl and Baden-Baden (Germany); the EU-US summit in Prague (Czech Republic); and meetings with the leaders of Turkey and Iraq. Along the way, Obama was tested on many topics, from finance and nuclear weapons to the military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Despite protests by a minority, Obama was greeted everywhere he went by enthusiastic supporters. The image of German, French and Czech citizens of all ages waving American flags was certainly striking after eight years of growing anti-Americanism around the world. This energy spilled over even into the foreign press corps, which gave him standing ovations twice during his trip – a rare occurrence. According to a piece by Edward Luce in the Financial Times, an Asian journalist was “startled” that Obama “actually answered the questions he was asked.” Apparently honesty and politics do not often mix. Who knew?

So how did President Obama fare with the world’s leaders, and what could come of these meetings, both in the short-term and long-term? A look at these interactions follows, on a country-by-country basis with the main players (those with whom he met individually or by whom he was hosted). This first part covers his meetings that took place in Europe, with G20 leaders. The next piece will focus on his relations so far with the Muslim world, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iraq, as well as a consideration of a possible Iranian rapprochement. 

UNITED KINGDOM (UK)

After visiting Washington, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown welcomed the U.S. President to London on April 1^st on his first overseas trip in office. Before the G20 talks got underway, they talked at Brown’s Downing Street residence about a number of different issues ranging from the financial crisis to Iran.

At a joint press conference, they spoke about fixing the global financial system, emphasizing fiscal stimulus but also regulation. These two issues were at the heart of a conflict before the G20 summit, putting some fiscal stimulus supporters (US and UK) against those pushing for tighter regulation (France and Germany). The final communiqué found a middle road, as members agreed to allocate over $1 trillion to developing countries by way of the World Bank and the IMF, with the US consenting to boost international financial oversight (especially on hedge funds, ratings agencies and tax havens).

According to the Wall Street Journal, Brown was in good spirits after the G20 deal, praising “a new progressive era of international cooperation.” Joy Johnson, a former direct or of communications for Brown’s Labor Party, said that he “wants his legacy to be capitalism with a conscience”; still, rising unemployment and a recession could force Brown to put himself up for re-election in mid-2010.

In terms of security issues, Brown stated his intentions to send hundreds of more British soldiers to Afghanistan to reinforce efforts there as the Obama administration plans a new strategy of increasing troops and reconstruction efforts (Belgium and Spain reportedly will as well).  The US-UK relationship appears set to endure the years ahead, based on a similar culture and a solid history of collaboration.

FRANCE 

Both Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have demonstrated signs of friendship, a mutual respect, and a willingness to work together.  During their joint press conference in Strasbourg on the eve of a NATO conference, Sarkozy expressed his gratitude for a US president who finally understands that “the world does not boil down to simply American frontiers and borders.”

As The Economist reported, senior French officials are “solicited on dealings with Iran and Syria” and are happy with the pragmatic Obama approach, calling it the “end of ideological foreign policy.” Even several Obama aides, including General Jim Jones, the national security adviser (who lived in France), are French speakers.  This is much appreciated in a country that takes its heritage very seriously. Likewise, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde studied abroad in Maryland, interned at the US Capitol and worked for years as a corporate lawyer and partner in Chicago at Baker & Mckenzie. She will be one of the keynote speakers at an April 27th Global Financial Forum held by the Foreign Policy Asscociation in New York on the topic of The Financial Crisis: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead.”  

Despite all this, there remain some elements of discord. Prior to the G20, Sarkozy criticized the “Anglo-Saxon” (US and UK) spending plans, threatening to walk out early if regulation was not treated. France then refused to send more troops to Afghanistan at the NATO conference, an action in line with French public opinion. Obama’s support of Turkish membership in the EU is another delicate point, as Sarkozy is opposed to this, like most French people and several European heads of state. He displayed irritation at Obama’s backing, saying that Turkey’s entry “is up to [EU] member countries to decide.”

But the overall feeling between the two leaders was positive. Following European praise for the closure of Guantánamo, Sarkozy committed to having a prisoner of Algerian descent sent to France. Obama reminded everyone that France was “our oldest ally, our first ally” and praised Sarkozy’s “remarkable leadership.”  Despite refusing to send more troops to Afghanistan, Sarkozy said that France would contribute to law enforcement, economic aid and training the Afghan military. 

According to Sarkozy’s office, Obama is slated to visit Normandy on June 6th to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day.  The White House has not yet confirmed this. The two look determined to keep relations healthy. Next on the list: a new US Ambassador to Paris, currently an empty post.

GERMANY

During exchanges with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Kehl and Baden-Baden, President Obama was welcomed “with full military honors”, according to Spiegel International. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung and other leading politicians joined in the ceremony.

After the US agreed to more financial regulation and oversight at the G20, the much-hyped (and perhaps exaggerated) tension between Obama and Merkel regarding responses to the crisis was relieved. Still, the summit finished without any commitments by Germany to the additional fiscal spending that Obama would like to see.

Speaking about US-European relations, Obama acknowledged American “arrogance” towards Europe in the past, but also criticized those in Europe who blamed America for everything wrong in the world.  Although some conservatives were outraged at this criticism of the US, it was a rather honest analysis of the situation, giving a balanced view of both sides. Despite a lack of details at her press conference with Obama, Merkel said that Germany intends to bear its share of the responsibility in Afghanistan.

Nile Gardiner, director of the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom at the Heritage Foundation, told the Washington Post that it was a “major change” that “the new administration seems to value its ties to continental Europe as much as its traditional relationship with the United Kingdom.” President Obama called Germany “an outstanding ally”, and their partnership as “one of America’s most valued.”  As in Paris, naming a new US Ambassador to Berlin could help strengthen it even more. 

CZECH REPUBLIC 

A couple weeks prior to Obama’s visit, the Czech government – currently holding the presidency of Europe – collapsed and Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek called Obama’s fiscal spending “a way to hell”.  This tension largely dissipated, however, after Obama’s speech to 20,000 Czechs in front of Prague Castle, during which he spoke of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, “the revered father of the first Czechoslovak state” who had spent time in Obama’s native Chicago. He also paid tribute to the Velvet Revolution of 1989 – which helped end the USSR – calling it a moment of pride and Sametova revoluce in Czech.

The biggest moment was Obama’s landmark appeal for a world “without nuclear weapons”, calling for a new arms-control agreement to stop proliferation, a threat which “could lead to the extermination of any city on the planet.” Obama related this to the threat of a nuclear Iran, saying that it was important for the U.S. (the only nuclear power to use the bomb) to set an example and that if Iran were to stop enriching uranium, there would be no need for the controversial missile shield in the Czech Republic.  According to the White House Press Office, Obama spoke with Topolanek and Klaus about missile defense, the NATO summit, climate change, and Afghanistan.

RUSSIA

President Obama spoke with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of the G20 summit about reaching a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Moscow by the end of the year as well as closer Russian-NATO relations. As reported in the Financial Times, Medvedev invited Obama to visit Moscow in July, when the weather will reflect a “new warmth in US-Russian relations”. The Russian leader declared that he was “far more optimistic about the successful development of our relations and would like to thank President Obama for this opportunity.” It remains to be seen if Moscow is serious about repairing relations after eight years of relative bellicosity and also what role Prime Minister (and former President) Vladimir Putin will play in this expected rapprochement.

BRAZIL 

Obama exclaimed “I love this guy!” and “That’s my man, right here” after meeting Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the G20 summit. According to The Earth Times, Lula returned Obama’s enthusiasm, saying that “he is a fan of Obama”, who is “the first US president who has our face”, commenting on Obama’s darker features that could help him pass for a Brazilian.

On a more serious note, Lula was “widely seen as the leading main voice of emerging countries” even though he himself rejected this role, saying that “every one of us is worth what they represent.” Lula praised Obama as “calm and humble”, saying that he presents “an opportunity for Latin America to build a relationship with the United States that it did not have before.” The two leaders will have a chance to build on this encounter, their second after Lula’s March visit to Washington, at the Summit of the Americas from April 17-20 in Trinidad and Tobago.

CHINA

Along with the Beijng Olympics and the first G20 summit in Washington last fall, this meeting symbolized the dramatic importance of China in the international system. As the Economist reported, the Chinese press was quick to interpret the G20 official picture – with Chinese President Hu Jintao front and center next to the host Brown, just like in November with Bush – as an indication of China’s importance.

Indeed, during the deliberations, the Giant Panda was not afraid to throw its weight around. A case in point: it got France to recognize Tibet as “inseparable” from a united China after anti-Olympic protests and Sarkozy’s meeting with the Dalai Lama soured their relations last year. President Obama even mediated between Hu and Sarkozy on a disagreement about listing tax havens.

China had previously bragged of its “superior system advantage” in responding to the financial crisis, and Hu spoke proudly of “currency swaps totaling 650 billion yuan ($95 billion)” with several countries that could help to enhance trade “in the Chinese currency.” Holding about $2 trillion in foreign currency reserves, much of it in US dollars, also gives China a lot of influence, and Hu hopes that his pledge of $40 billion to the IMF will help it when voting rights are reevaluated in 2011.

Often called the G-2 because of the vast importance of the US-China relationship, the summit was described in Chinese magazine Outlook Weekly with a picture of only Obama and Hu.  These two met separately during the event, speaking about the global economy, North Korea and also announcing a Sino-American “strategic and economic dialogue” beginning in Washington, DC, this summer.

SOUTH KOREA

President Obama also met with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at the G20 summit on April 2^nd, where they conferred about several subjects, including a possible North Korean long-range missile launch which took place a couple days later (although it failed). VOA News, a South Korean news outlet, stated that the US, South Korea and Japan “see the launch as a cover to test a long-range ballistic missile.”  Obama praised their meeting, saying that they had “a great range of issues to discuss – on defense, on peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.” One official present at the meeting said there was “a striking similarity of views” between the two leaders.

Obama reassured Lee of US support, stressing that North Korea would not divide Washington from Seoul. Although action might be pursued through the UN, hope is that there will be another round of “six-party” talks between China, South Korea, Japan, Russia, North Korea and the United States.  However, with North Korea’s recent announcement that they would boycott talks over its nuclear program in protest of the UN’s criticism of their rocket launch, this is looking discouraging.

INDIA

After the G20 meeting, President Obama met with Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who, according to the Financial Times, asked for Obama’s autograph for his daughter. BBC News reported that the talks focused on Obama’s “new Afghan strategy” and ideas for “curbing terrorism in the South Asia region.” The two leaders touched on Pakistan and greater Indian involvement in Afghanistan. Before the meeting, Singh said, “the world community has to come to grips with” the fact that Pakistan is “the epicenter of terrorism in the world today.”

Dr. Singh also expressed his support of more fiscal stimulus to fight against the recession, an opinion on par with Obama policies. He also said at while China has one-party rule and growth, India would have more “durable” growth due to its respect for the rule of law and democracy, helping to promote “capitalism with a human face.”

Dr. Singh praised Indian-American relations, saying the two shared “the same dreams and the same vision”, and Obama commended Singh for his wisdom that helped an “unleashing powerful new economic forces.”  Calling India a “global partner”, the President said that together they could together help meet global challenges, according to BBC News. This meeting came after the US Congress voted in October in favor of a civilian nuclear agreement with India, a deal which the BBC said “enabled US companies to sell nuclear reactors, fuel and technology to India” and “marked a major shift in US foreign policy” after years of “mutual distrust.” 

Obama displayed an honest and open demeanor that gave America a new face – something that was much appreciated by those he encountered. Strobe Talbott, a former deputy secretary of state, told the Financial Times of Obama’s respect of a multi-polar world where the US can still be “influential by virtue of its ability to persuade.” Indeed, it this recognition of “the difference between being a leader and a being a boss” that has helped him earn such a high level of respect abroad.

The next G20 meeting will take place in New York City in late September. It remains to be seen whether or not the G20 will implement the new IMF aid it has pledged in London, but for now it seems like President Obama gave a rather impressive performance, bringing American leadership back to the fore.

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