Isabella Carter
Barack Obama's foreign policy was characterised by a reliance on diplomacy and negotiation rather than unilateralism or confrontation. Obama's administration inherited two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he was determined to take the United States off a perpetual war footing. Obama's foreign policy successes include the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, and the negotiation of the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia. Obama's diplomatic strategy was criticised by some as leading from behind, and his reluctance to intervene in Syria was seen by some as a failure of his doctrine of humanitarian intervention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Emphasis on diplomacy | Measured diplomacy and progressive multilateralism |
| Engagement with repressive regimes | Willingness to engage with repressive regimes, rather than consign them to an "Axis of Evil" |
| Negotiation and collaboration | Negotiation of the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia |
| Unilateralism | Unilaterally eased sanctions on Cuba |
| Military intervention | Military intervention in Libya |
| Troop surge | Troop surge in Afghanistan |
| Withdrawal from war | Withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from Iraq |
| Drone strikes | Prolific use of drone strikes, particularly in Pakistan |
| Trade negotiations | Ongoing trade negotiations with China |
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What You'll Learn
- Obama's foreign policy was marked by a preference for negotiation and collaboration over unilateralism or confrontation
- Obama withdrew US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, fulfilling a key campaign promise
- Obama's administration made increased use of drone strikes to target terrorist suspects
- Obama's approach to Syria was criticised as weak and inconsistent, particularly regarding his red line on chemical weapons
- Obama took a diplomatic approach to relations with Cuba, easing sanctions and seeking to normalise relations
Obama's foreign policy was marked by a preference for negotiation and collaboration over unilateralism or confrontation
Barack Obama's foreign policy was characterised by a preference for negotiation and collaboration over unilateralism or confrontation. Obama inherited two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, from the Bush administration, and one of his key campaign promises was to withdraw American troops from these conflicts. This he did, overseeing the gradual drawdown of US soldiers in Iraq, with near-total withdrawal achieved by the end of 2011.
Obama's foreign policy was also marked by a willingness to engage with repressive regimes, offering "the choice of an open door", rather than treating them as an "Axis of Evil". This approach was evident in his dealings with Cuba, where he eased sanctions and sought to normalise relations, despite criticism from some members of the US government. Obama's emphasis on diplomacy was also evident in his handling of Syria, where he resisted launching missile strikes, even as the Assad regime crossed his "red line" by using chemical weapons. Instead, Obama accepted a deal brokered by Russia to destroy Syria's chemical weapons.
Another example of Obama's preference for negotiation was the Iran nuclear deal, where he marshalled broad support for sanctions before negotiating a deal that limited the threat posed by Iran's nuclear programme. Obama also negotiated the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia, further demonstrating his commitment to collaboration and diplomacy.
While Obama was not against using force to protect American security, as seen in his prolific use of drone strikes against terrorist suspects and the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, he generally favoured a measured and collaborative approach to foreign policy. This was reflected in his handling of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as his engagement with other nations such as Cuba, Syria, and Iran.
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Obama withdrew US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, fulfilling a key campaign promise
During his presidency, Barack Obama withdrew US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, fulfilling a key campaign promise.
Obama inherited two wars, one in Iraq and the other in Afghanistan, from the Bush administration. During his 2008 election campaign, Obama promised to withdraw American troops from Iraq as soon as possible. In February 2009, he announced a plan to bring troop levels down from 160,000 to 50,000 by August 2010, with the removal of all combat forces. The remaining troops, he added, would be withdrawn by the end of 2011.
The withdrawal proceeded smoothly, building on the gains achieved by Bush's "surge" of 20,000 additional troops in 2007, which helped restore stability to Iraq. By 2012, only 150 American troops remained in Iraq, and in December 2011, Obama declared an end to the war in Iraq, stating that "America's war in Iraq will be over" with the withdrawal of all US troops. This decision was made after tense negotiations with Iraq over keeping US forces in the country, which ultimately failed due to disagreements over immunity for American troops.
In Afghanistan, Obama initially increased the US military presence during his first term. However, during his second term, he reduced the number of troops, withdrawing all but approximately 8,400 soldiers. By 2014, the US had achieved a complete disengagement of its forces from active combat in Afghanistan, with the number of troops declining steadily to about 12,000 in 2015.
Obama's decision to withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan was influenced by his desire to take the United States off a "perpetual war footing" and address the country's war fatigue. By fulfilling his campaign promise, Obama was able to claim victory and shift the focus back to the economy and domestic concerns.
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Obama's administration made increased use of drone strikes to target terrorist suspects
During his presidency, Barack Obama ordered ten times more air strikes than his predecessor, George W. Bush. Obama's administration oversaw 563 strikes, largely conducted by drones, with Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen being the primary targets. The number of strikes in 2009 alone, all of which took place in Pakistan, exceeded the number of strikes during Bush's entire presidency. Drone strikes were also used in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya.
The use of drones was part of Obama's ambition to continue the war against al Qaeda while simultaneously reducing the number of US military ground troops in the Middle East and Asia. Drone strikes offered a more accurate, proportionate, and less risky method of targeting terrorist suspects without endangering American lives. Obama's administration defended the use of drones, claiming that strikes were ""exceptionally surgical and precise" and did not put innocent civilians in danger.
However, the targeted killing program has drawn criticism due to the number of civilian casualties. The Obama administration's method of counting civilian casualties was disputed, as it classified all military-age males in a strike zone as combatants unless posthumous evidence proved otherwise. This resulted in implausibly low official counts of civilian deaths. According to reports, between 384 and 807 civilians were killed in Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen during Obama's two terms, with the number of civilian casualties increasing alongside the rise in strikes.
In 2016, Obama signed an executive order requiring an annual accounting of civilian and enemy casualties in US drone strikes outside of war zones, demonstrating an effort to increase accountability for drone strikes.
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Obama's approach to Syria was criticised as weak and inconsistent, particularly regarding his red line on chemical weapons
Barack Obama's foreign policy approach, known as the Obama Doctrine, relied on negotiation and collaboration rather than confrontation or unilateralism. Obama inherited the War on Terror from the Bush administration, and his use of diplomacy can be seen in his handling of the Iraq War, the Afghanistan War, and the situation in Cuba.
Obama's approach to Syria, however, was criticised as weak and inconsistent, particularly regarding his "red line" comment on chemical weapons. In 2012, Obama stated that the use of chemical weapons by the Assad government would cross a "red line" and would entail U.S. military action. In August 2013, reports emerged of chemical weapons being used in Syria, which the Obama administration blamed on the Syrian government. Despite this, Obama called off planned missile strikes on Syria and instead accepted Russian leader Vladimir Putin's offer to persuade Syria to destroy its chemical weapons. This decision was criticised as it allowed the violation of the "red line" to go unpunished.
Obama's decision not to launch strikes against Syria has been attributed to war fatigue in the country and resistance from both Democrats and Republicans to additional commitments in the Middle East. Polls from this period also suggested that two-thirds of Americans opposed military action in Syria. Furthermore, the "red line" comment was reportedly unscripted and unplanned, and the vagueness of what would constitute a transgression left room for interpretation.
Despite the criticism, Obama argued that intervention was necessary to maintain the credibility of the international community and the United States. Secretary of State John Kerry also warned that extremist groups fighting the Syrian government would become stronger if the U.S. did not carry out a military strike. Following the chemical weapons attack, Obama sought authorisation from Congress to use military force in Syria, but the bill never received a floor vote.
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Obama took a diplomatic approach to relations with Cuba, easing sanctions and seeking to normalise relations
On December 17, 2014, Barack Obama announced that the United States would be taking a new approach to Cuba, ending a decades-old policy that had failed to advance US interests and improve the lives of Cubans. Obama's administration took executive action to ease sanctions and restrictions on travel to Cuba by US citizens, as well as restrictions on the import and export of goods between the two countries. This marked a significant shift in US-Cuba relations, with the objective of helping Cubans achieve a better future and encouraging the development of a partner capable of working with the US to address regional challenges.
Prior to the Obama-era relaxations, the US embargo on Cuba had been in place since 1962, formalised by President John F. Kennedy. The embargo banned all trade and financial transactions with Cuba unless licensed by the US Treasury Department. Over the years, different presidents made changes to the embargo, with President Reagan adding Cuba to the State Sponsor of Terrorism List and President George H.W. Bush signing the Cuban Democracy Act, further restricting Cuba's ability to trade.
Obama's approach to Cuba focused on increasing engagement and cooperation between the two countries. The easing of restrictions on travel and trade was intended to support broad-based economic growth, stability, and enhanced security for US citizens travelling to Cuba. The US also sought to increase people-to-people ties and respect for human rights and democratic values in the region. This included efforts to liberalise Cuba's economic policies, gain access to Cuban markets, and encourage sustainable economic growth.
The results of Obama's diplomatic approach were evident in the increased travel and cultural exchanges between the two countries. In 2015, Sun Country Airlines began operating charter flights between the US and Cuba, and the Minnesota Orchestra performed in Havana, the first US orchestra to do so since 1999. In 2016, an exhibition baseball game was played between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team, with Presidents Obama and Castro in attendance. These exchanges reflected the improved relations and the potential for further cooperation.
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Frequently asked questions
Obama's diplomatic approach was described as measured diplomacy and progressive multilateralism. This included a willingness to engage with repressive regimes and negotiate, rather than resorting to unilateralism or confrontation.
Obama's Middle East diplomacy was characterised by a reluctance to engage in military intervention, particularly in Syria and the Syrian Civil War. Instead, he emphasised negotiation and collaboration, seeking to avoid costly military entanglements. Obama's red line regarding chemical weapons in Syria was crossed, and his decision not to take military action damaged US credibility.
The Obama administration had several notable foreign policy achievements, including:
- The killing of Osama bin Laden, leader of al-Qaeda
- Withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
- Overthrow of Muammar al-Qaddafi in Libya
- Negotiation of the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia
- Improvement of relations with Cuba
