LONDON, (AFP) -President George W. Bush arrives in London Wednesday with the firm message that the United States is not prepared to budge on its controversial positions on missile defense and the environment.
Speaking on the eve of his arrival in Europe ahead of a G8 summit in Genoa, Italy, Bush said that the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty which Washington signed with Moscow was outdated in the post-Cold War era.
"The Europeans heard me once and they'll hear me again say that the Cold War is over," Bush said in a BBC interview.
"That Russia is not our enemy and that we should not adhere to a treaty which prevents the United States and other freedom-loving people from developing defenses."
Bush, who is making his first presidential visit to Britain, said the "true threats" were "the ability of some rogue leaders to say to the United States and to Europe, to Russia, to Israel: 'Don't you dare move.' We must have a response to them."
The US President was equally strident on the subject of the environment.
Bush told the BBC that he was not concerned his controversial views would tarnish relations with other global leaders.
The question of the missile defense shield has galvanised China and Russia to sign an historic friendship treaty.
Bush said that he understood Moscow and Beijing's "resolute opposition" to his defense plans. Russian President Vladimir Putin will be one of the participants in the Genoa Group of Eight Summit which begins Friday.
PHOTO CAPTION:
President George W. Bush speaks in front of a picture while addressing a gathering at the World Bank Building in Washington, July 17, 2001. Bush said he would not back down over his plans for a national missile defense system or his opposition to the Kyoto global warming pact. (Larry Downing/Reuters)