Terror attacks and cyber security are issues that are set to be dominating discussions among world leaders. Terrorist attacks are now regularly reported in different parts of the world. The recent attacks in France targeted the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo as well as kosher supermarket, a Jewish store. The attacks reflected the growing antisemitism in Europe on one hand which might escalate anti-Muslim sentiments on the other hand.
Cyber attacks are also increasing where British and Americans organizations were victims of hackers that compromised their networks.
The Washington Post recently reported that hackers claiming allegiance to the Islamist State took control of the social media accounts of the U.S. military`s Central Command.
The same thing was also revealed in Britain where a report by intelligence experts from GCHQ warned that UK computer networks companies are exceedingly coming under attack by hackers, criminal gangs, commercial rivals and foreign intelligence services. The report suggested that more than 80% of large UK companies experienced some form of security breach in 2014. The attacks are also reported to be costing between £600,000 to £1.5 million to resolve.
It is in this situation that David Cameron will on Thursday visit Barack Obama in Washington.
The UK Prime Minister also goes to Washington after taking part in Paris rally for unity where he joined more than 40 leaders from around the world in an act of solidarity with the victims of the terror attacks in France. The two leaders were last week united in their condemnation of the terror attacks in Paris that have left 17 people dead.
David Cameron and his host are expected to have a working dinner at the While House on Thursday, January 15 and a meeting in the Oval Office on Friday, January 16 according to the White House Press secretary.
Downing Street said that the two-day visit will focus on counter-terrorism, cyber security, and global economic outlook.
Mr. Cameron and Obama will also discuss about the threat from Islamic in Iraq and the Levant in Syria (ISIL) among other topics that concern the two countries.
The U.S. president Barack Obama has also the same concerns as his British guest. The New York Times reported that President Obama on Tuesday called on Congress to pass broad legislation to bolster cyber security across the United States government and private sector. His call came after the hacking of Sony in December whereby the U.S. government accused North Korea of being behind the attack.
Mr. Obama was quoted by the New York Times as saying that the attacks show how much work U.S authorities need to do, both in public and private sectors to strengthen cyber security and make sure that families' bank account and public infrastructure are safe.
During his two-day visit in Washington, the UK Prime Minister is expected to propose the American President deep collaboration on the above-mentioned security concerns between UK and US. They are also expected to discuss counter-terrorism as terror attacks seem to be targeting their common interests.
David Cameron and Barack Obama last met during the G20 summit that took place in November in Australia where much of the summit focused on Russia President Vladimir Putin' s position on the crisis in Ukraine.
The UK and U.S relations encompass many complex relations ranging from two early wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, NATO partnership as well as competition for world markets.
