But much is being read into his appointment of Iraq war critics to his Cabinet inner circle.
Dana Allin, senior fellow for Transatlantic affairs at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, told AFP these appointments were arguably more significant than Alexander's speech.
"One line in a speech that no-one can disagree with strikes me as not a huge signal," he said.
Alexander says UK must form new alliances, based on common values
Brown's spokesman immediately rejects UK media claims
LONDON: A close ally of new Prime Minister Gordon Brown has hinted at a change to Britain's relationship with the United States, saying a nation's strength should no longer be measured by military might.
But Brown's spokesman immediately rejected British media claims that International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander's speech was "a series of coded criticisms" of Washington, describing the claims were "nonsense".
And Brown himself said the two countries' relationship "is strong and will become stronger in the years to come"."I will continue to work, as Tony Blair did, very closely with the American administration," he told BBC radio.
Alexander, Brown's former speechwriter, told a Washington think-tank late on Thursday more emphasis should be placed on "soft power" and multi-lateralism in the modern world.
"In the 20th century, a country's might was too often measured in what they could destroy. In the 21st century, strength should be measured on what we can build together," he told the Council on Foreign Relations.
"And so, we must form new alliances, based on common values, ones not just to protect us from the world, but ones which reach out to the world."
He also accepted extremism sometimes had to be confronted by military means but in general stuck to Blair's view that fighting poverty, rebalancing trade and tackling climate change were all interconnected and needed US help.
"We need to demonstrate by our deeds, words and our actions that we are internationalist, not isolationist, multilateralist, not unilateralist, active and not passive, and driven by core values, consistently applied, not special interests," he added.
The speech is the first abroad by one of Brown's senior ministers since he took over on June 27 from Blair, whose support for the United States in Iraq in part hastened his departure from office.
Political commentators have been looking for signs of a shift in Brown's foreign policy and London's dealings with Washington amid concern that Blair was too close to Bush and the United States was the dominant partner.
Brown's spokesman Michael Ellam said: "I thought the interpretation that was put on Douglas Alexander's words was quite extraordinary.
"To interpret this as saying anything at all about our relationship with the US is nonsense."
Brown was to meet Bush in Washington within weeks after talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he added.
For his part Brown told BBC radio Friday: "We will not allow people to separate us from the United States of America in dealing with the common challenges that we face around the world."
Britain and the United States' relationship was based on the same values of "liberty, opportunity, the dignity of the individual", he added.
Brown has accepted mistakes were made in Iraq but not heeded mounting calls for an immediate withdrawal of British troops.
But much is being read into his appointment of Iraq war critics to his Cabinet inner circle.
Dana Allin, senior fellow for Transatlantic affairs at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, told AFP these appointments were arguably more significant than Alexander's speech.
"One line in a speech that no-one can disagree with strikes me as not a huge signal," he said.
