Brown pips European rivals with first phone call to President Obama

Gordon Brown pulled off a major political coup last night by becoming the first European leader to speak to Barack Obama since he became President.

Downing Street aides confirmed that the leaders enjoyed a 'friendly and substantive' telephone call yesterday afternoon.

The conversation, which took place while Mr Brown was visiting Glasgow, is understood to have lasted about 15 minutes and covered the economy, the Middle East and other international issues.

Barack Obama

Gordon Brown was the first European leader to speak to Barack Obama since the new President's inauguration

Britain has historically enjoyed what has become known as a ' special relationship' with the United States. But the Prime Minister is keen to start a new chapter with Mr Obama after Tony Blair's controversially close ties with the former president George Bush.

Earlier this week, No 10 played down suggestions that Mr Brown was in an unofficial race with French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela Merkel to be the first to see the new US leader.

Although senior officials dismissed the significance of the phone call, it will be seen as a sign that Britain maintains a strong influence in Washington.

Mr Brown is also likely to be one of the first foreign leaders to host Mr Obama when the new President visits London in April for a summit of the Group of 20 developed and emerging economies to discuss the global economic crisis.

Downing Street last night refused to confirm exactly when the phone call took place, how long it lasted or whether it was initiated by Mr Brown or Mr Obama.

But reporters awaiting Mr Brown's arrival at an event in Glasgow were told it was being delayed while he took a pre-arranged call. Mr Obama's press secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed the President had spoken to Mr Brown, adding that he had not yet spoken to any other European leader.

The call also covered Afghanistan, but the issue of British troop deployments was not raised.

Mr Obama has said he wants to send more forces to Afghanistan as part of what analysts believe could be an 'Iraq-style' military surge. The President has made clear he wants EU countries to follow suit.

Earlier this week, Mr Brown hailed Mr Obama as a man of 'great vision' and said his inauguration was 'a new chapter in both American history and the world's history'.

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