President George W. Bush says he is ready for anti-war protests when he visits London next week.
Thousands are expected to demonstrate against Mr Bush, who will stay at Buckingham Palace, visit Prime Minister Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency and talk with relatives of British soldiers killed in Iraq.
"I can understand people not liking war, if that's what they are there to protest," Mr Bush said in an interview conducted in Washington. "I fully understand not everybody is going to agree with the decisions I've made."
Mr Blair's public ratings have plunged over war in Iraq, which most Britons opposed. Mounting guerrilla resistance seven months after the fall of president Saddam Hussein has raised fears of more British casualties beyond the 20 already killed in combat.
Mr Bush said he would take the opportunity to explain his Iraq policy, which he said aimed to keep America secure and create around the world "free societies . . . which do not breed terror".
A poll of British voters this week showed 60 per cent disapproved of Mr Bush's handling of Iraq, while only 40 percent thought Mr Blair's close ties with Bush were good for Britain.
Mr Bush went out of his way to compliment his closest international ally and denied he slavishly followed Washington.
"He's plenty independent. If he thought the policy . . . was wrong, he'd tell me," Mr Bush said. "He's a smart, capable, trustworthy friend and we've got a lot to talk about."