Bush defiant ahead of UK visit

President Bush faces tough talking in Europe

President George W Bush arrives in Britain on Wednesday hours after reaffirming plans to press ahead with his controversial defence and environmental policies.

He told the BBC the United States Government remained determined to develop a missile defence shield, and to oppose the Kyoto treaty on global warming.

We've got a strong personal relationship that is most helpful to making sure our countries continue the tie that binds

President Bush

During his trip, his first state visit to the UK since taking office, Mr Bush will hold talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair, and meet the Queen at a state dinner at Buckingham palace.

Mr Bush will then fly to Genoa for the Group of Eight summit of leading world powers, where discussions are likely to be dominated by the thorny issues of global warming and missile defence.

On the eve of his UK visit, the president also called on the IRA and other paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland to decommission their weapons, and offered to play a greater mediatory role.

Earlier this week, Mr Bush said the visit would "confirm and renew" the strong relationship between Britain and America.

Bush itinerary

Thursday 1200GMT Lunch at Buckingham Palace

1520GMT Meets PM Blair at his country residence

1720GMT Joint news conference at RAF Halton

Friday 0720GMT Departs for Italy

He said his "strong personal relationship" with Mr Blair was "most helpful to making sure our countries continue the tie that binds".

On Kyoto, Mr Bush has simply dismissed the existing protocol as not a proper way to proceed.

"I've got an obligation to the working people of America", he told the BBC, "to pursue a policy that protects the environment but also promotes economic growth."

In defending his ambitious plan for a missile defence shield, the president was animated and adamant.

He told the BBC: "It's about time a leader stepped forward and made it clear that Russia is not the enemy, and therefore we shouldn't have a treaty that was written to clarify that status... it's a new day."

Last weekend saw the first successful test of the interception system

Despite such words, the planned shield, which would break the terms of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, is viewed with scepticism among Nato allies and deep suspicion by Moscow and Beijing.

The BBC's Stephen Sackur, who interviewed the president, says it seems no amount of global opposition or scepticism is going to stop Mr Bush making a fundamental change to the strategic balance.

However, our correspondent says even before his departure, it is clear this trip is going to be another round of difficult transatlantic diplomacy.

Elsewhere Mr Bush told The World Bank in a speech that it should give more grants and fewer loans to the poorest nations.

The proposals will form part of the US position at the forthcoming G8 Summit of world leaders in Genoa which begins on Thursday.

He has called on the bank to "dramatically increase" the proportion of aid given as grants rather than loans in order to help lift the burden of debt on poor countries.