Tony Blair's "Special Relationship" with Vladimir Putin: A Dance of Diplomacy and Distortion

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, known for his tight control over government information, has been criticized for his handling of key policy decisions. One such instance is his handling of Vladimir Putin's recent visit to London, where Putin received a warm welcome from Blair, including a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II. This gesture has been seen as an attempt by Blair to broker a relationship between Putin, who needs Western financial support, and US President Bill Clinton, who is seeking a foreign policy legacy. However, analysts warn that Blair's relationship with Putin may be more complex, with the Russian leader using the visit to extract concessions from the UK, particularly on the issue of the US withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

Key Takeaways:

• Blair's control over government information has been criticized, with some seeing him as a "control freak".
• Blair's decision to develop a close relationship with Putin has been seen as an attempt to broker a relationship between Putin and Clinton, with the goal of securing concessions for Russia.
• Putin's visit to London has been seen as a attempt to extract concessions from the UK, particularly on the issue of the US withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
• Blair has been accused of prioritizing British strategic interests over US interests, with some suggesting that he is more concerned with maintaining the UK's nuclear arsenal than with protecting US cities from missile threats.
• The visit has been compared to Mikhail Gorbachev's meeting with Margaret Thatcher, where Thatcher was briefed by her trusted KGB station chief, Oleg Gordievsky, who was spying on Gorbachev for MI6.

Statistics:

• Putin's visit to London was the first official visit by a Russian leader to the UK since 1979 (Source: Washington Post, November 8, 2000).
• The ATB treaty was signed in 1972 and expired in 2003 (Source: US Department of State).
• The ABM treaty prohibits the development of missile defense systems that could intercept ballistic missiles (Source: US Department of State).
• Putin's Parliament ratified START II in 2000, reducing the number of long-range nuclear missiles held by Russia and the US (Source: BBC News, November 28, 2000).

Sources:

• Jim Hoagland, The Washington Post, November 9, 2000.
• The Daily Telegraph, November 8, 2000.
• BBC News, November 28, 2000.
• The Guardian, November 9, 2000.
• The Moscow Times, November 8, 2000.