Chemistry in Summit Diplomacy

“It’s interesting that chemistry between heads of government plays an important role in diplomacy,” a diplomacy expert in Washington recently said in a private setting.

While presenting examples of stained ties due to different chemistry between state heads, he said that the influence of intimacy between national leaders on diplomatic relations, where only national interests matter and there is neither permanent enemies nor friends, is the subject of study.

U.S. presidents, including George W. Bush, have put special emphasis on a sense of kinship with their counterparts in summit diplomacy. They have offered national leaders to meet at a private residence or retreat as a sign of special intimacy.

The main place where they have lavished foreign leaders with personal attention is Camp David in the state of Maryland, the presidential mountain retreat. Along with this presidential retreat, President Bush would invite some of heads of state to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, to show his special friendship.

Camp David is located 110 kilometers northwest of the White House, a 30-minute-flying distance by helicopter. Nestled on the wooded hillside of Mt. Catoctin, part of Appalachian Mountains, it provides a cool environment even in summer. With tight security provided by the Navy and Marines, it consists of a swimming pool, a putting green, a golf training center, a tennis court and several outbuildings for state guests.

Opened in 1938 as a camp for federal government employees and their families, it was converted to summer retreat for the president in 1942 when then President Franklin D. Roosevelt started using it as a weekend retreat in summer.

It is at Camp David that President Roosevelt drew up a Europe raid plan together with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and it is where former President Dwight D. Eisenhower and former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev discussed the Bay of Pigs invasion. The Camp David Agreements between Israel and Egypt was also reached here.

President Bush invited to Camp David former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe in June 2001 and in April 2007, respectively. However, he held a summit talk with incumbent Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at the White House. The talk between the two was reported to having gone on in a cold atmosphere.

No Korean presidents have been invited to Camp David or Crawford ranch until now. In early 2005, the U.S. conveyed its willingness to invite then President Roh Moo-hyun to Bush’s Texas ranch for summit talks scheduled for summer, in a bid to express its gratitude to Korea for sending troops to Iraq and to strengthen bilateral ties. But Cheong Wa Dae officials refused the proposal and the summit talk was eventually held in July that year.

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