Areas of conflict

Issues of dispute between Britain (and Europe) and the US.

International criminal court
The court, which came into being yesterday, is intended to act as a deterrent to tyrants who embark on widescale human rights abuses. The court has been ratified by Britain but the US is opposed, claiming it cannot support any court that might prosecute its armed forces

Afghanistan
The US has been accused of allowing al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden to flee from Tora Bora because it was afraid of putting its troops on the ground. There is also strain over policy towards Afghanistan. While George Bush shows little interest in nation-building, Tony Blair argues that a strong, democratic country is needed to prevent a vacuums where terrorism will flourish

Guantanamo Bay
The US says al-Qaida prisoners at its camp in Cuba should not be covered by the Geneva convention. Europeans are concerned about their legal rights

Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The US is seen as leaning towards Israel and Europe towards the Palestinians. Mr Blair was mainly in the US camp until last week when he diverged from Mr Bush's statement that Washington would no longer do any business with the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat

Iraq
Britain and Europe still favour the containment of Saddam Hussein. The US, by contrast, has regime change as a policy objective

Iran
Britain since 1997 has adopted a policy of "constructive" engagement, in contrast with the US, which places Iran high on its list of countries that form the "axis of evil"

Defence
Europe is sceptical about the US missile defence project. Washington says Europe is not spending enough on defence

Galileo satellite system
The US says Europe's rival to its GPS (global positioning system) network is a potential threat to its security interests

Steel tariffs
Europe says the US action to slap tariffs on steel imports is protectionist and goes against free trade. Europe is planning a raft of retaliatory counter-tariffs