The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, last night praised US President Mr George W Bush for his willingness to seek "new and imaginative solutions" to the threat of missile attack by "rogue states".
Following talks with Mr Bush at his country residence at Chequers, Mr Blair said he was right to raise an issue which was of "fundamental importance" to the whole world.
Although Mr Blair stopped short of backing Mr Bush's controversial missile defence plan, the warmth of his comments pleased the President who in turn praised Mr Blair for his readiness to "think anew".
At a joint news conference in the officers' mess at the nearby RAF Halton airbase in Buckinghamshire, Mr Blair expressed appreciation for the way Mr Bush had sought to involve the US's European allies in dialogue about his plans.
"I think President Bush is right to raise the issue of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and say that needs new and imaginative solutions, because it is a huge threat facing the whole of the world."
Mr Bush had earlier rejected charges that he had charted an isolationist foreign policy course but stood by his rejection of the Kyoto global warming treaty and plans to deploy a missile shield.
"We're not retreating within our borders," Mr Bush told reporters in London.
The issues threatened to cast a shadow over Mr Bush's first G8 summit, which opens today in Genoa.
Referring to his planned bilateral meetings with leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, and his second face-to-face meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Mr Bush said: "We're willing to listen but I will still continue to stand for what I think is right for our country and the world."
Mr Bush's comments came after the Senate Democratic majority leader, Mr Tom Daschle, told the newspaper USA Today: "I think we are isolating ourselves, and in so isolating ourselves I think we're minimising ourselves."
The President bristled in response to Mr Daschle's charges that policies such as the pursuit of a missile defence in violation of the 1972 ABM treaty with Moscow had damaged relations with allies and diminished the standing of the US abroad.
"I happen to believe that missile defence is important to keep the world more peaceful, and I believe we need to work together to reduce greenhouse gases, but I refuse to accept a treaty that will harm our country's economy," he countered.
Mr Bush provoked international outrage in March when he declared that the 1997 Kyoto agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions was "fatally flawed".
"I think the people of America appreciate the foreign policy positions we've taken," Mr Bush said as he toured the British Museum before a visit to Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace and his meeting with Mr Blair.
"I'll represent the American interests," added Mr Bush.