London in Obama Fever

Barack Obama arrived in London for his first European trip as the President of the United States. His schedule is full: Private face to face meetings with the heads of Russia, China and India, a private audience with the Queen and dinner prepared by star chef Jamie Oliver.

London – The G-20 summit starts on Wednesday evening, but the star has already arrived. At 7:45 PM local time, Air Force One landed on Tuesday at the Stansted airport in London. U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle were greeted on the landing field by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and his wife. Riding in the presidential helicopter, “Marine One”, which was especially transported from Washington, the couple then departed to the US ambassador’s residence in London’s Regent Park area.

Last year, Obama’s predecessor George W. Bush landed at Heathrow. The security measures for his two jumbo jets and accompanying Boeing airplane caused chaos to such a degree that airport management and commercial airlines made sure that Obama would land instead at Stansted, which is generally the airport for low cost airlines and right outside the city of London.

A visit from the most powerful man in the world has even generated excitement amongst even the generally reserved Brits. The Observer proudly stated that “… for the next few days, London, not Washington, will be the beating heart of American foreign policy.” The White House delegation is 500 people strong to enable the President to handle any world crises, to ignite a nuclear missile – or even to survive an assassination attempt.

“Rarely since the days of the Roman emperors has a foreign leader arrived on British soil surrounded by such a fearsome entourage” commented the “Daily Mail”. In total, the White House sent 35 airplanes to London and the three-ton armored Cadillac with a nickname says it all – “the Beast”.

The contingent alone includes 200 security personnel, who are supposedly easily recognizable by their “Ray-Ban sunglasses”, according to the British press. On top of that are a dozen advisors, chefs, doctors, nurses and Obama’s personal secretary Reggie Love. The 27-year old African American, who is like the little brother that Obama never had, watches over Obama’s BlackBerry and keeps the President’s nicotine chewing gum handy.

Obama gets to know Hu, Medvedev and Singh

The program can be summed up by the headline: Obama meets the world. The US President is taking advantage of this opportunity to get to know the most important world leaders when they are assembled in one place. After a meeting with host Gordon Brown, Obama will meet with the presidents of Russia and China. In the tête-à-têtes with Dmitri Medvedev and Hu Jintao there will be much to discuss, because the relationships with these countries have been frosty at best.

With his wife Michelle, Obama will then head to a half hour private audience with Queen Elizabeth II for a “formal informal meeting” before the rest of the G-20 heads of state arrive in the early evening for a gala reception at Buckingham Palace. Afterwards they will head to dinner at Gordon Brown’s house at 10 Downing Street, where star chef Jamie Oliver will prepare dinner.

Thursday, the actual day of the summit, will start with a working breakfast at the ExCel conference center at the Docklands. By midday, they will be working on the closing declaration, in which the G-20 will lay out their common plan for fighting a worldwide recession. Along the way, Obama will be holding bilateral meetings with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

This appearance in London is being described on the island as the new US-President’s first major diplomatic test. After spending most of the start of his administration focusing on the domestic economy, Obama has emerged on the world stage of diplomacy, said BBC-correspondent Justin Webb.

The American residence at Regent Park is blocked off during Obama’s stay; heavy black steel barriers are intended to deter potential assassins. Obama is even spared other undesired guests. The “Times” recalled a boys’ night out in a pub in Wokingham in 1997, when he was unpleasantly surprised by a stripper. This time, the “Times” hopes that he will have a more pleasant stay in England.