Eleanor Finch
Barack Obama's presidency from 2009 to 2017 was marked by a shift in foreign policy, with a focus on diplomacy and negotiation rather than confrontation. Obama inherited the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and various aspects of the War on Terror from the Bush administration, and one of his campaign promises was to withdraw American troops from Iraq and increase the military commitment in Afghanistan. Obama's foreign policy decisions were influenced by his diverse upbringing in Africa, Indonesia, and the United States, which shaped his worldview and approach to international relations. He challenged conventional thinking and long-held taboos by engaging in diplomacy with nations that were hostile to US interests, such as Iran and North Korea. Obama's emphasis on measured diplomacy and progressive multilateralism aimed to improve America's global reputation and address international issues through collaboration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Focus on diplomacy | Obama chose diplomacy first, challenging long-held taboos surrounding how to deal with nations hostile to U.S. interests. |
| Negotiation and collaboration | Obama relied on negotiation and collaboration rather than confrontation or unilateralism. |
| Foreign policy | Obama pursued a "pivot" to East Asia, focusing U.S. diplomacy and trade in the region. |
| Military strategy | Obama increased the use of drone strikes and special forces deployments, while withdrawing troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| Economic policy | Obama inherited an economy in crisis and extended the Bush tax cuts. |
| Social policy | Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, expanded the Children's Health Insurance Program, and supported the UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity. |
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What You'll Learn
Obama's emphasis on diplomacy and multilateralism
Barack Obama's presidency from 2009 to 2017 was marked by a focus on diplomacy and multilateralism in his foreign policy approach. Obama, with his diverse personal background, brought a unique worldview to the White House, challenging traditional ways of dealing with nations hostile to US interests. He emphasised negotiation and collaboration over unilateralism and confrontation.
Obama inherited ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from the Bush administration, along with aspects of the War on Terror. True to his campaign promises, he gradually withdrew US troops from Iraq, with near-total withdrawal achieved by the end of 2011. In Afghanistan, Obama initially increased the US military presence but later reduced the number of soldiers, demonstrating a reluctance to engage in prolonged foreign conflicts.
Obama's emphasis on diplomacy was evident in his handling of the Iranian Green Movement. While he faced criticism for not providing direct support, he prioritised respecting Iranian sovereignty and avoiding US interference. He also successfully negotiated a nuclear deal with Iran, limiting the threat they posed without resorting to military action. This approach reflected Obama's willingness to engage with repressive regimes through diplomacy, offering "the choice of an open door."
Obama's presidency saw a shift in focus towards East Asia, with an emphasis on diplomacy and trade in the region. He navigated tensions with China while fostering cooperation on issues like climate change. Obama strengthened military ties with Vietnam, Australia, and the Philippines, contributed to improved relations between South Korea and Japan, and encouraged democratic elections in Myanmar.
Additionally, Obama took a measured approach to the Syrian civil war, resisting direct military intervention despite the humanitarian crisis. He argued that American intervention would escalate the conflict and preferred to address it through diplomacy, engaging with Russia and Iran. Obama's strategy, however, faced criticism for its perceived inaction and damage to US credibility.
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The Iran nuclear deal
The JCPOA represented a critical shift towards diplomacy and negotiation, which were hallmarks of Obama's foreign policy approach. The agreement was the culmination of months of negotiations and an interim agreement signed in November 2013. Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program by eliminating its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, significantly reducing its low-enriched uranium, and downsizing its gas centrifuges. These restrictions were to be in place for specified periods, such as 13 years for the elimination of medium-enriched uranium and 10 years for limiting uranium enrichment facilities.
The Obama administration's pursuit of the Iran nuclear deal was driven by a desire to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to stabilize the Middle East region. The agreement was seen as a way to avoid potential military conflict and improve relations with Iran. However, the deal faced criticism from some who argued that it did not go far enough to restrict Iran's nuclear capabilities or address other concerns, such as Iran's support for proxy groups in the region.
Despite the initial success of the JCPOA, the agreement faced challenges when the United States, under the Trump administration, withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran. This move strained relations between the two countries and led to Iran reducing its compliance with the deal's limitations. The breakdown of the agreement highlighted the complexities of international diplomacy and the challenges of maintaining stability in the region.
In 2025, efforts to revive the nuclear deal were underway, with Iran and the US engaging in indirect talks in Oman. The negotiations were complicated by a deep mistrust between the two countries, with Iran accusing the US of bad faith and broken promises under the original deal. Despite these challenges, the potential for a renewed agreement underscored the ongoing pursuit of diplomacy and the desire to find a peaceful resolution to the issue of Iran's nuclear program.
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The withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
Barack Obama's foreign policy approach, often referred to as the "Obama Doctrine", was characterised by a preference for negotiation and collaboration over unilateralism and confrontation. This was reflected in his handling of the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, a war he inherited from the Bush administration.
Obama had been an early opponent of the Iraq War and during his 2008 election campaign, he promised to withdraw American troops as soon as possible. In February 2009, he announced a plan to reduce troop levels from 160,000 to 50,000 by August 2010, with the removal of all combat forces. The remaining troops would be withdrawn by the end of 2011. This timeline was largely adhered to, with the number of troops in Iraq reduced to 146,000 by the end of 2008, and the near-total withdrawal of US soldiers from Iraq achieved by December 2011.
However, it is important to note that the withdrawal process was not without its complexities and challenges. The US-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement, signed in 2008, set a deadline of June 30, 2009, for the withdrawal of American forces from Iraqi cities, with a complete withdrawal from Iraqi territory by December 31, 2011. This agreement was celebrated by President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as a sign of security gains in Iraq. Nevertheless, public opinion in the United States remained divided, with some calling for an immediate withdrawal while others argued for a more gradual approach.
In 2014, the United States re-intervened in Iraq as part of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, at the request of the Iraqi government, due to the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). This led to a continued US military presence in the country, with approximately 2,500 American troops still serving in Iraq as of 2023. However, formal talks to wind down the US presence in Iraq have been ongoing, and in 2024, the US announced an agreement with the Iraqi government to conclude its military mission in the country by the following year. This agreement involves a two-phase transition, with coalition forces leaving some longstanding bases and the eventual departure of American forces from key locations such as the Ain al-Asad airbase and Baghdad International Airport.
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The use of drone strikes
During his presidency, Barack Obama embraced the US drone programme, overseeing more strikes in his first year than his predecessor, George W. Bush, did during his entire presidency. Obama's drone strikes largely targeted Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen, with nearly 400 strikes in Pakistan and Yemen since 2008. Drone strikes were also used in Afghanistan, where the number of US air attacks increased after Obama withdrew most of his troops at the end of 2014.
Obama's first drone strike was on January 23, 2009, just three days into his presidency, with two strikes in Waziristan, Pakistan, that killed up to 20 civilians. Drone strikes were a cornerstone of Obama's counterterrorism strategy, and he is often referred to as the "drone president." The strikes were justified as a means to target and kill terror suspects while minimizing the risk to American lives. Obama claimed that drone strikes were “exceptionally surgical and precise” and that they did not put "innocent men, women, and children in danger."
However, the targeted killing program has drawn criticism and sparked debates about its legality and ethical implications. There have been concerns about civilian casualties, with reports of hundreds of civilians killed in the strikes. The Bureau, for example, recorded between 380 and 801 civilian deaths, while the US estimated a much lower number, between 64 and 116. The drone strikes also reportedly targeted rescuers, funerals, and, in some cases, US citizens.
Obama did take steps to increase transparency around the drone strike program and reduce civilian casualties. In 2013, he appointed John Brennan as the CIA Director and announced a new policy requiring near-certainty that civilians would not be harmed in drone strikes. The number of drone strikes decreased after this policy change. Obama also acknowledged the existence of the targeted killing program, which his predecessor had not done, and released reports on the number of strikes and civilian casualties.
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The Arab Spring protests
In 2010, a series of protests across North Africa and the Middle East, known as the Arab Spring, broke out. The Arab Spring protests presented the United States with a dilemma: how to balance its moral obligations and ideals without undermining its strategic interests and those of its close allies.
In June 2009, President Obama delivered a speech at Cairo University, promising a "new beginning" between the United States and Muslims around the world. He acknowledged the tension between the two groups following the 9/11 attacks, the US-led invasion of Iraq, the "war on terror", and the impasse on the Palestinian issue. Obama's speech sought to move beyond these issues and extend an olive branch to the Muslim world. He expressed his belief in the universal rights of all people, including the right to speak freely, to have a say in how they are governed, and to live as they choose.
Eighteen months later, the Arab Spring uprisings tested this new beginning. The Obama administration struggled to respond to the crisis, highlighting the difficulty of combining American interests and values in a rapidly changing Middle East. In Libya, Obama was reluctant to get directly involved in another war in a Muslim country, instead providing air power and intelligence while leaving it to NATO's European powers and their Arab allies to help overthrow Muammar Gaddafi. In Syria, Obama demanded Bashar al-Assad's departure but resisted arming the opposition or imposing a no-fly zone, expressing concern about the rise of jihadi-type groups in the region.
Obama characterized the Arab revolts as a fight for "self-determination" and supported the right of the protesters to demand freedom and democracy. He saw the Arab Spring as an opportunity for a "new chapter" in US relations with the Middle East, calling for an end to support for Arab autocrats and a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Obama's efforts to engage with Iran, however, were largely unsuccessful, leading to increased sanctions and tensions over its nuclear program.
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Frequently asked questions
The Obama Doctrine is a term used to describe the principles of US foreign policy under the Obama administration (2009-2017). Obama relied on negotiation and collaboration rather than confrontation.
Obama chose diplomacy first, challenging long-held taboos surrounding how to deal with nations hostile to US interests. He pursued a pivot to East Asia, focusing US diplomacy and trade in the region.
Obama was not willing to prevent humanitarian tragedies by expending American lives and military power unless he saw a direct security threat to the United States. He was extremely reluctant to get sucked into another messy Middle East conflict.
Obama resisted military intervention in Syria, even as it killed or displaced half the country's population. He argued that any American intervention would only escalate the conflict and that Syria's supporters, Russia and Iran, had more at stake and would be prepared to fight harder.
Obama improved the perception of the US in the world. He also increased the use of drone strikes and special forces in a secret war against suspected terrorists.
