Yet it remains unclear exactly how a revamped foreign policy will take shape. Officials say Obama will continue to take a proactive approach to light-footprint counterterrorism operations the U.S. can undertake on its own, including drone strikes in places like Pakistan and Yemen. But he’s also expected to emphasize his desire to have some measure of international consensus when large-scale military options are on the table.
Obama’s critics argue that his approach is too cautious and leaves the U.S. beholden to allies who are sometimes less willing to engage. The debate over launching a military strike on Syria last year shifted in part because British Parliament voted down the use of force, leaving the U.S. with few partners backing an attack. Rather than press forward, Obama decided to seek congressional approval, then signed on to a Russian effort to strip Syria of its chemical weapons stockpiles.
The president’s opponents contend that Obama’s Syria indecision not only emboldened Russia as it annexed Crimea and eyes more Ukrainian territory, but also China in its land and sea disputes with numerous Asian nations.