Britain's new Prime Minister Gordon Brown will downplay any suggestion of strained US-British relations in his upcoming meeting with President George W Bush. Despite recent speeches by his ministers fueling speculation of a shift in foreign policy, Brown insists that the UK's bond with the US remains strong. While Brown and Bush will emphasize their countries' special relationship at Camp David, it is unlikely that Brown will develop the same close rapport with Bush as his predecessor, Tony Blair. According to Strathclyde University politics professor John Curtice, the focus will be on maintaining a professional working relationship rather than building personal chemistry. According to Brown's spokesman, the issues to be discussed will include global trade liberalization talks, climate change, as well as Darfur, Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Russia, and Iran. Brown has stated that Britain will fulfill its United Nations' obligations in Iraq and will not immediately withdraw British troops, despite some pressure from the ruling Labour Party. The head of the British military suggested that Britain may be able to hand over control of Basra to Iraqi forces by the end of the year. Regarding Iran, Brown mentioned the possibility of military action but believed that sanctions could still persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear program. The strong personal bond between Bush and Blair was solidified in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and their decision to go to war in Iraq. The ongoing violence in Iraq was a major factor in Blair's resignation as prime minister, as it caused backlash from voters and his own party. This led to his early departure and handover of power to finance minister Brown. Brown, who has been seen as distancing himself from Blair's close relationship with Bush, has managed to boost the ruling party's popularity and is now leading in opinion polls. Despite raising eyebrows by meeting with European leaders before meeting with Bush, Brown has shown skepticism towards the European Union in the past. Discussion about a change in British foreign policy started when Brown appointed David Miliband as foreign secretary, who was reportedly doubtful about the Iraq war. Brown also appointed Mark Malloch Brown, a former UN deputy secretary general who has criticized Britain and the United States over the war, to a junior position. Malloch Brown recently stated that Brown and Bush are unlikely to have the same close relationship as Blair and Bush did, and another minister emphasized the importance of alliances over military strength in a speech to a Washington audience.