Central bank officials from around the world believe they may have found a new ally in Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh, providing a rare point of alignment in an otherwise difficult relationship with Washington. Over three days at the European Central Bank's annual gathering in Sintra, Portugal, the new Fed chair held a series of private meetings with counterparts from Europe and beyond, including a lengthy lunch with ECB President Christine Lagarde. Officials interpreted Warsh's outreach as a sign the Fed would stay engaged on the global stage, easing fears of a retreat from international forums. Warsh's preference for simpler messaging and scepticism towards forward guidance appeared to dovetail with a broader 'back to basics' theme running through the conference, and he used the gathering to underscore the Fed's independence.