US President Barack
Obama will offer his "very candid view as a friend" that the UK is
better off in the EU when he visits next week. During his
UK visit, Obama will speak with youth at a town hall, have lunch with
Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle to celebrate her 90th birthday and
stage a joint conference with David Cameron at 10 Downing Street between
21- 24 April.
The visit will be his last to the UK during his presidency
and he will also visit Saudi Arabia and Germany. He will throw his
weight behind Cameron's efforts to keep Britain in the EU.
Senior US officials said Obama believed it was up to the citizens of
the UK to decide their future, but he would offer his opinion "if
asked". As official campaigning ahead of the EU referendum kicks off,
Obama could come under strong criticism from the Leave camp, who
previously accused him of hypocrisy. Last month London Mayor Boris Johnson said:
"There is no country in the world that defends its own sovereignty with
such hysterical vigilance as the United States of America."
But Obama's deputy National Security Advisor insisted the
president "will offer his view if he is asked". Ben Rhodes added: "He
will make it clear it is a decision for the people of the UK to make,
not ours.
"I am sure he will have plenty of opportunities to be asked
this question. He will be very candid as friend that it is important for
the UK to remain in the EU."
Rhodes added that the White House wants the UK to be
economically strong as part of the EU. He added: "If he is asked his
views as a friend, he will offer it. But he will make it clear that it
is something for the British people to decide."
Obama will also meet with King Salman in Saudi Arabia. He
will also attend a summit with the leaders of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to discuss
combating the Islamic State (Isis).
In Germany, the president has planned talks with Chancellor
Angela Merkel. He will also open the Hannover Messe, one of the world's
largest industrial technology trade fairs with Merkel.
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