Population: 13.5 million
Unadjusted GDP per capita: £444
Primary industry: Oil
Primary export partners: USA

The former Marxist regime in Luanda had the backing of Cuba and the Soviet Union during
the Cold War.

Now Angola has forged close economic ties with America; US companies dominate the exploration of the country’s huge off-shore oil fields.

President Bush had planned to visit the former Portuguese colony this year, but his tour had to be postponed because of the deepening emergency over Iraq.

Angola is expected to support America in any UN Security Council vote.

MEXICO

Population: 99.4 million
Unadjusted GDP per capita: £3,920
Primary industry: Manufactured goods
Primary export partners: USA

President Fox is one of President Bush’s closest friends on the world stage, going back to the time when Mr Bush was Governor of Texas. Mr Bush paid his first state visit as President to Mexico, rather than Canada, as is traditional. But the fellow ranchers are at odds over Iraq.
During negotiations for last November’s UN resolution, Mexico worked closely with France to demand compromise by the United States. The US has stalled on plans to legalise the millions of undocumented Mexicans on its territory. Señor Fox, facing elections in July, may calculate that Mr Bush is not ready to deliver much for his vote.

PAKISTAN

Population: 141.5 million
Unadjusted GDP per capita: £266
Primary industry: Textiles
Primary export partners: USA

President Musharraf, the pro-Western general who took power in a coup, is deeply in hock to the Americans over Afghanistan. He faces an angry Muslim fundamentalist lobby that would loathe to see him back a war against Muslim Iraq.

Even US officials are conceding that of the six “swing” votes, Pakistan is the least likely to toe the US line. But Pakistan is a major recipient of US aid and, with recent revelations suggesting that it helped North Korea to learn how to enrich uranium for nuclear bombs, it risks finding itself added as an associate member of the “axis of evil” if it goes too far astray.

CHILE

Population: 15.4 million
Unadjusted GDP per capita: £2,600
Primary industry: Agriculture and copper
Primary export partners: USA

President Lagos of Chile, who has spoken by phone to President Bush and Tony Blair, has complained that people suggest he is a pushover. “I think it is a lack of respect towards all parties involved,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to talk of pressure because there isn’t any, but we all know of the consequences involved in taking one attitude or another.”

The President is a socialist, but right-wing parties also oppose war. Chile has been co-ordinating closely with Mexico and Canada, which is promoting a compromise approach that would not force Chile to choose sides.

CAMEROON

Population: 15.2 million
Unadjusted GDP per capita: £357
Primary industry: Oil
Primary export partners: Italy and France

Although this former French colony applied, and was admitted, to the Commonwealth, its relations with Britain have been strained in the past over human rights issues.

But Cameroon has divided loyalties. While it has maintained close economic and political ties to France, its main trading partner, President Biya is wary of alienating America. His country is part of the growing African oil cartel and stands to benefit from oil sales to the US. Ultimately, though, it is widely expected to side with Paris in any vote at the UN Security Council.