Britain’s possible next leader says US stance over Falklands Islands was disappointing

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UK’s Cameron: US disappointing over Falklands

LONDON — Britain’s opposition chief — and possible next leader — said Wednesday the failure of the United States to back London in a dispute with Argentina was disappointing, as he promised a more candid relationship with Washington if he wins office.

In an interview with The Economist newspaper, Conservative Party leader David Cameron — whose party leads in opinion polls ahead of an election expected in May — hinted that he’d take a tougher stance with allies including President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Cameron said he was disappointed that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attempted recently to facilitate talks between London and Buenos Aires over the status of the contested Falkland Islands.

Argentina and Britain went to war in 1982 over the islands — which are claimed by Buenos Aires, but have been occupied by Britons since the early 1800s. The two countries recently have been caught in a new spat over the exploitation of vast energy reserves beneath waters in the South Atlantic.

“I think it was disappointing, frankly, but I’ve always said the special relationship should be a frank and a candid one, and I think you should frankly and candidly say we’re disappointed,” Cameron told the newspaper.

Clinton offered to help Argentina and Britain resolve their dispute and said the United States was willing to be a go-between, a move which angered some in the U.K.

Cameron suggested that, under his rule, Britain may seek a more modest international role — saying the U.K. could no longer act as the “equal partner” of the U.S.

“We are the junior partner in that relationship, and I think part of getting the relationship right is understanding how best to play the role of the junior partner,” Cameron was quoted as saying.

He insisted that ties to the U.S. will remain Britain’s most important relationship, but claimed “we don’t overstate it and don’t ever think that it’s a sort of equal partnership because it isn’t.”

Cameron has twice held talks with Obama and could potentially take a place on the world stage at a G-20 summit scheduled for Canada in June, if his party wins the looming election.

He has said Afghanistan will be his chief foreign policy priority and pledged to set up a dedicated war cabinet, but indicated that he’s been unimpressed with Karzai.

“I think at his best he can do good things, but we have to be very clear about the need to cut out corruption,” Cameron told the newspaper.