Barack Obama has taken the US political scene by storm. He now has an opportunity to convince some of America’s leading allies that he is the right man to succeed President George W. Bush. In the next 10 days, the Democratic presidential candidate is expected to embark on a visit to Europe that will see him visiting the UK, France and Germany. In each of those nation’s capitals, he will receive the warmest of receptions. After the often traumatic relationship be-tween Europe and the US that dominated the Bush years, Mr Obama looks like a man who, as president, would engage far more closely with Washington’s European partners. That is certain to make him a most welcome guest.

Mr Obama’s trip provides an opportunity both for the 47-year-old senator and for his hosts. For Mr Obama, the visit – which is also likely to see him travel to the middle east – offers the chance to entrench his national security credentials and respond to John McCain’s argument that he would be a soft touch as president. For the three European leaders whom he will meet – Gordon Brown, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel – it will be a valuable opportunity to get the measure of the man, and gauge the extent to which he might reshape America’s place in the world.