Hillary Clinton says she is intrigued, but unconcerned, by Britain's coalition
By James Robbins
Diplomatic correspondent, BBC News, in Washington
The extraordinary pace of political events in Britain over the past few days forced William Hague to take an unconventional route to Washington for his first overseas trip as foreign secretary. The swearing in of new government ministers at Buckingham Palace early on Thursday evening, and the kissing of hands with the Queen meant Mr Hague needed to fly first to New York, and then catch the train to the nation's capital to see Hillary Clinton on Friday. He attached enormous importance to the talks, as he told me while the train glided down the north-east corridor through Philadelphia and Baltimore. President Obama, he pointed out, had been the first world leader to telephone David Cameron and congratulate him on becoming prime minister. Hillary Clinton had been the first to welcome him as foreign secretary. Coalition 'chemistry' What was this first meeting as direct counterparts like? As William Hague and Hillary Clinton chatted for the cameras before their talks, it was clear she had been following developments in British politics very closely on television. The US secretary of state said she was enthusiastic about the "chemistry" between Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg as coalition partners - a chemistry the new foreign secretary hopes to develop with her. Their discussions ranged widely across the really tough challenges they both face, above all in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and the Middle East. Afterwards, both stressed their unity of approach on the war in Afghanistan and the need for further UN sanctions against Iran. As for Britain's coalition, Hillary Clinton talked about being intrigued by this new incarnation of democracy in Britain. I see nothing at all unusual about this new government and, from our perspective, it is off to a very strong start
Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State
Hague holds talks in DC She rejected any suggestion possible future splits at Westminster could threaten strong partnership with Washington. I asked her if she worried at all that possible fractures in a coalition government could threaten the relationship with Britain, and America's ability to rely on Britain as a partner? "The answer is no. I have absolutely no concerns whatsoever," she said. "We don't formally have a coalition government in the way that you have formed one in the UK now, but we have enough of our own internal differences that we have to sort through. "So I see nothing at all unusual about this new government and, from our perspective, it is off to a very strong start. "And certainly on the foreign policy front, which I follow very closely, obviously, we are extremely pleased. "And this meeting and discussion just confirmed our close partnership and our commitment to working together." 'No differences' William Hague beamed. He talked about continuity and of following similar lines to the last Labour government when tackling the gravest threats. "Everything I've said today about our approach to relations with the United States is an approach shared by the whole cabinet and I'm speaking on behalf of a united government," he said. So the first signs are of the two foreign ministers in early harmony. William Hague insists he would be more relaxed than the previous Labour governments ever were about possible differences with Washington but he is equally eager to point out that no such differences currently exist.
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William Hague and Hillary Clinton meet for the first time since the UK election last week
British Foreign Secretary William Hague travelled to Washington, D.C. on Friday to meet his opposite number, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the first time since the election ten days ago and the formation of a coalition government six days later.

Hague, who was leader of the UK's  between 1997 and 2001, travelled to the United States in his first overseas visit in his capacity as foreign secretary almost as soon as his appointment to the post was confirmed and was keen to point out that US President Barack Obama had been the first foregin leader to telephone David Cameron and congratulate him upon becoming UK Prime Minister and that the promptness of his visit was intended "to show we reciprocate that warmth" shown by the US to the new coalition government.

Clinton told Hague that she was "enthusiastic" about the new coalition government on the UK and the "chemistry" between Cameron and his  deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg. The talks focused on the major foreign policy concerns shared by both countries, such as Afghanistan, Iran and the Middle-East and the pair ended the subsequent press conference by expressing their unity on those issues, particularly on further UN sanctions against Iran and on the ongoing campaign in .

Clinton, who ran against Obama in the Democratic Party's primaries during the 2008 presidential election, was at pains to emphasise that any future disharmony in the  coalition government would not affect US–UK relations, nor the ability of the US to rely on the UK as partner in the future. Comparing the two political systems, Clinton said "We don't formally have a coalition government in the way that you have formed one in the UK now, but we have enough of our own internal differences that we have to sort through."

Hague insisted that he intended to take a more relaxed approach to relations with the US than those of his  predecessors, adding that "everything I've said today about our approach to relations with the United States is an approach shared by the whole cabinet and I'm speaking on behalf of a united government".            

Cameron and Obama are scheduled to meet in person at next month's G20 meeting in Canada.