ISAS Insights

President Barack Obama‟s address to the Australian parliament followed by his active and energetic participation in East Asia Summit (EAS) and Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) meetings in Bali on 18-19 November, 2011, gives a clear and bold message that the United States (US) is gearing for an assertive management of the unfolding strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific region. In order to prepare ground for such a message, Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, has been describing the Asia-Pacific region as the new „pivot‟ of US global strategy. Obama‟s address in Australia defines this strategy in detail, almost in the form of a doctrine. It is not yet clear how New Delhi would respond to this new Obama doctrine. Dispelling doubts about the US role in Asia, and defining his new strategic doctrine for the region, Obama said in his Australian address2 : As the world‟s fastest-growing region – and home to more than half the global economy – the Asia-Pacific is critical to achieving my highest priority and that is creating jobs and opportunity for the American people. With most of the world‟s nuclear powers and some half of humanity, Asia will largely define whether the century ahead will be marked by conflict or cooperation, needless suffering or human progress. As President, I have, therefore, made a deliberate and strategic decision – as a Pacific nation, the United States will play a larger and long-term role in shaping this region and its future by upholding core principles and in close partnership with allies and friends