Brown ally sparks foreign policy speculation with US speech

Jul 13, 2007, 11:27 GMT

London - A close ally of Britain's new Prime Minister Gordon Brown has advocated the use of 'soft power' in global conflict resolution, sparking speculation Friday of a shift in foreign policy in the post-Blair era.

Douglas Alexander, Britain's International Development Secretary, told an audience at the Council of Foreign Relations in Washington that a country's strength should no longer be measured by its 'destructive power.'

Alexander called for the virtues of 'soft power' to be recognized, suggesting that development and diplomacy should accompany, if not replace, a purely military approach.

'We must form new alliances, based on common values, ones not just to protect us from the world but ones which reach out to the world,' Alexander said.

In what was seen as 'coded criticism' of US foreign policy, he added: 'We need to demonstrate by our deeds, words and our actions that we are internationalists, not isolationists, multilateralists, not unilateralists...driven by core values, consistently applied, not special interests.'

Brown, who came to power at the end of June, has said little in public about his foreign policy aims. He is due to visit Washington 'in the next few weeks,' but is kicking off his 'introductory tours' with trips to Berlin and Paris next week.

But Brown, speaking in London in an interview Friday, said good relations with the US and Europe would continue to be the cornerstones of British foreign policy.

'Our relationship with America is strong and will become stronger in the years to come,' said Brown.

'Together, I believe we can achieve a more peaceful future and a more prosperous one,' added Brown.