The personal diplomacy of Blair and Clinton 's successor , US president George W. Bush in 2001 , further served to highlight the Special Relationship . Despite their political differences on non-strategic matters , their shared beliefs and responses to the international situation formed a commonality of purpose following the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington , D.C. Blair , like Bush , was convinced of the importance of moving against the perceived threat to world peace and international order , famously pledging to stand " shoulder to shoulder " with Bush : Blair flew to Washington immediately after 9/11 to affirm British solidarity with the United States . In a speech to the United States Congress , nine days after the attacks , Bush declared " America has no truer friend than Great Britain . " Blair , one of the few world leaders to attend a presidential speech to Congress as a special guest of the First Lady , received two standing ovations from members of Congress . Blair 's presence at the presidential speech remains the only time in U.S. political history that a foreign leader was in attendance at an emergency joint session of the U.S. Congress , a testimony to the strength of the U.S. – U.K. alliance under the two leaders . Following that speech , Blair embarked on two months of diplomacy , rallying international support for military action . The BBC calculated that , in total , the prime minister held 54 meetings with world leaders and travelled more than
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Special Relationship