Five weeks since taking office, President Barack Obama’s policies towards rising powers remain somewhat unclear. The new face of the United States can be seen in Obama’s campaign promises, his rhetoric and initial actions, the makeup of his foreign policy and national security teams, his Cabinet members’ confirmation hearings, Vice President Biden’s speech in Munich and Secretary of State Clinton’s recent trip to Asia (and the list continues). A fresh take on international relations is clear.
But the focus is on fixing the economy and the economic crisis will continue to dominate headlines and influence US objectives.
On Tuesday, Obama delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress and only uttered the name of one of the so-called BRICs – Brazil, Russia, India and China – once (China in the 22nd minute). He used the words “economy” or “economic” 30 times.
How will the emergence of new world powers influence US diplomacy? What will change? What will remain the same? Experts are still debating how Obama will spend his political capital to achieve the country’s foreign policy goals.
This blog will continue to wait for signs as to how the US will respond to a changing global balance of power.
For more, see FPA’s blog on the US Role in the World.
Photo from Doug Mills/The New York Times.
