By Harry Kazianis
As the drums of war beat over the crisis in Syria many pundits have argued that President Obama lacks strategic vision in managing foreign affairs. Others believe that America today seems more interested in avoiding foreign policy challenges than solving them. When it comes to a global grand strategy – some sort of all-encompassing vision that guides Washington’s focus across all important domains (economic, strategic, defense, cultural etc.) – one would be hard pressed to find such a document. America seems adrift, simply reacting to the crisis of the moment instead of offering leadership in many areas and regions that are in its obvious national interest.
However, in the Asia-Pacific and wider Indo-Pacific region, one could make a compelling argument there is a strategy – one that has been embraced over several years and is clearly in Washington’s long-term strategic interest. Going by many names (Pivot, Rebalance, Pacific Dream) America is clearly making a play to engage this vital region across all domains. Since making its debut in the pages of Foreign Policy by then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (and arguably sooner [PDF]), America’s shift to the Asia-Pacific seems part of a wider play to reorient Washington’s strategic gaze to the planet’s most economically dynamic but also increasingly geo-strategically challenging setting.
Read the full story at The Diplomat