TRANSITION | Forming the next government
07 November 2008
Obama Foreign Policy May Be Rooted in Multilateral Diplomacy
Change in policy will not be immediate, political analyst says
Washington – When Barack Obama takes the oath of office January 20, 2009, a new American approach to foreign policy may be in the works. But change will not come immediately, a political analyst says.
For the Obama administration, there is “potential for making real progress” in foreign policy, Stephen Flanagan of the Center for Strategic and International Studies told journalists at the State Department’s Foreign Press Center November 4.
Although “the expectations are enormously high,” Flanagan said, there is a “limit to how quickly things can change, given, already, that the new president is saddled immediately with whatever the state of the global financial crisis is, still two major military operations overseas, [and] a great deal of other priorities at home that are demanding attention.”
Throughout Obama’s campaign, the Illinois senator and his staff stressed his willingness to work with and strengthen relationships with U.S. allies. His campaign repeatedly said Obama would implement a multilateral approach to foreign policy that would restore America’s image to the world. (See “Democrats Stress Barack Obama’s Willingness to Work with Allies.”)
“There will be a different way of dealing with the international community,” Flanagan said, adding that there likely will be “a greater commitment to multilateralism.”
It is an approach that many in the world may welcome, as Flanagan cited several international and domestic polls indicating “a profound sense in the United States right now that our foreign policy is not quite on the right direction.”
Many will be watching around the world to see how the 44th president will work with U.S. allies, interact with international institutions and confront transnational challenges.
OBAMA’S FOREIGN POLICY GOALS
With two ongoing wars, most Americans expect the security situation in Iraq and Afghanistan to be among Obama’s top foreign policy concerns, as well as the financial crisis, which is being felt on a global scale. (See “Work Begins Immediately for Next U.S. President and His Team.”)
Even before assuming office, Obama will be reviewing new proposals on how to manage the war in Iraq and looking toward a “gradual turnover of further responsibility to the Iraqi people,” Flanagan said.
Obama will also be examining the struggle against violent extremism and terrorism on a more global scale, Flanagan said. The focus of this fight likely will be in Afghanistan and Pakistan, he added. The next president may decide that deterring terrorism may need a more multilateral approach, Flanagan said.
Obama may take a multilateral approach to climate change, a topic in which the European community is particularly interested, he said. The next president likely will be looking to revitalize partnerships with European allies, Flanagan said. Obama will also be looking for a “way to work [with] Russia with areas of common interest,” he said.
The Obama administration will inherit many strong relationships with Asian countries, Flanagan said. Obama is likely to pay particular attention to China and India, two major powers that will “play an enormous role in the international economic system,” he said.
The Obama administration is likely to recognize “the growing importance of Africa,” Flanagan said. Flanagan said he expects the United States to play an important role in advancing regional cooperation on both economic and political activities on the continent.
Throughout his campaign, Obama said he would review U.S. trade agreements with Central and South American nations. “Obama has been seen as more critical of some of the existing free trade agreements,” Flanagan said. “I don’t think it’s an anti-free trade kind of posture, but I do think it’s wanting to look more specifically at the way some of those deals were put together.”
Like any president, Obama at some point will face unprecedented challenges. “It’s almost inevitable that there will be some kind of international event” like a terrorist attack or major problem related to the financial crisis, Flanagan said. “There will be some event that will, in all likelihood, test the next president.”
Many presidents have faced major international crises early in their terms. Just nine months into his presidency, President Bush led the country through the September 11, 2001, attacks.
This is why presidents begin setting up their foreign policy teams before they take office. In the coming weeks, President-elect Obama will nominate people to serve in important foreign policy posts, including secretary of state, secretary of defense and national security advisor. These people could play an influential role in shaping the new administration’s foreign policy goals.
A transcript of Flanagan's remarks is available on the State Department Web site.
