Foreign Policy

“For America, the choice is clear: We choose hope over fear. We see the future not as something out of our control, but as something we can shape for the better through concerted and collective effort. We reject fatalism or cynicism when it comes to human affairs. We choose to work for the world as it should be, as our children deserve it to be.”

Spotlight

Ebola: How We're Responding

Ebola continues to be a public health and national security priority, and President Obama and his administration continue to take aggressive measures to respond. Get the facts about Ebola, and learn more about how we're responding.

"We Will Degrade and Ultimately Destroy ISIL"

The President's goal is clear: to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy so that it’s no longer a threat to Iraq, the region, the United States, and our partners. Learn more about our ISIL response here.

The Americas

“But even more than interests, we’re bound by shared values. In each other’s journey we see reflections of our own. Colonists who broke free from empires. Pioneers who opened new frontiers. Citizens who have struggled to expand our nations’ promise to all people -- men and women, white, black and brown. We’re people of faith who must remember that all of us -- especially the most fortunate among us -- must do our part, especially for the least among us. We’re citizens who know that ensuring that democracies deliver for our people must be the work of all. This is our common history. This is our common heritage. We are all Americans.”

Highlights

Charting a New Course on Cuba

President Obama is taking action to cut loose the anchor of failed policies of the past, and to chart a new course in U.S. relations with Cuba.

President Obama in Mexico and Costa Rica

President Obama reinforces the deep cultural, familial, and economic ties that so many Americans share with Mexico and Central America.

Vice President Biden Visits Brazil

Vice President Biden delivers a speech in Rio de Janeiro about the promise of a strong U.S.-Brazil partnership.

Latest News

From the Blog

July 01, 2015
President Obama Announces that the U.S. Will Reopen Our Embassy in Cuba
June 17, 2015
Promoting Security and Transparency in Central America: High Level Security Dialogue With the Northern Triangle
April 13, 2015
The Seventh Summit of the Americas: The President's Trip and a Historic Meeting

Videos

June 29, 2016
President Obama Addresses Parliament
June 29, 2016
President Obama Participates in a Trilateral Press Conference
June 29, 2016
President Obama and President Nieto

East Asia Pacific

“Here, we see the future. 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: 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.”

Highlights

President Obama's 2014 Trip to China, Burma, and Australia

Deeply committed to his Asia rebalancing strategy, President Obama travels Asia for the second time in 2014 to meet with leaders in China, Burma, and Australia.

First Lady Michelle Obama's 2014 Asia Trip

Learn about the First Lady's trip to China from March 19-26, 2014. She visits Beijing, Xi’an, and Chengdu, inviting students and classrooms across the U.S. to follow her trip.

President Obama's Spring 2014 Asia Trip

The President’s visit to Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines focused on our major priorities in the region.

Vice President Biden's 2013 Asia Trip

Learn about the Vice President's six-day trip to Japan, China and the Republic of Korea where the Vice President meets with key leaders to discuss a full range of bilateral, regional and global issues.

President Obama’s trip to Thailand, Burma and Cambodia

Since taking office President Obama has focused on the importance of Asia Pacific to the future of the United States, both economically and in terms of our political and security objectives in the world.

President Obama Meets with President Xi Jinping of China

President Obama and President Xi Jinping visit the Sunnylands estate in California.

Latest News

From the Blog

April 28, 2015
Welcome to the U.S.: The Prime Minister of Japan’s State Visit
December 13, 2013
West Wing Week 12/13/13 or, "Madiba, Farewell"
July 25, 2013
President Obama Meets with President Truong Tan Sang of Vietnam

Videos

September 06, 2016
White House Press Briefing
September 06, 2016
President Obama and President Park
May 27, 2016
President Obama Participates in a Wreath Laying Ceremony

Europe and Eurasia

“The buildings that are now living monuments to European unity were not drawn from simple blueprints. They were born out of the blood of the first half of the 20th century and the resolve of the second. Men and women had to have the imagination to see a better future, and the courage to reach for it. Europeans and Americans had to have the sense of common purpose to join one another, and the patience and the persistence to see a long twilight struggle through.”

Highlights

President Obama’s 2014 Trip to Estonia and the United Kingdom

President Obama travels to Estonia to meet with leaders of the Baltic States and to Wales to attend the NATO Summit.

President Obama’s 2014 Trip to Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and the Holy See

President Obama travels to the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, the Holy See, and Saudi Arabia from March 24 to March 29 to mobilize the international community

President Obama’s 2013 G-20 Trip

At his 7th G-20, the President consults leaders of the world’s largest economies on growth, job creation & financial stability.

President Obama’s trip to Northern Ireland

President Obama attends the G-8 Summit in Lough Erne, and speaks to the citizens of Belfast.

President Obama Speaks to the People of Berlin

President Obama discusses the deep and enduring bonds between the United States and Germany, and the values we share.

Vice President Biden at the Munich Security Conference

The Vice President highlights our strong cooperation with European allies and highlighted our many joint accomplishments over the last four years.

Latest News

From the Blog

April 17, 2015
President Obama Welcomes Italian Prime Minister Renzi to the White House
January 14, 2015
Chief of Staff Denis McDonough Underscores America’s Solidarity with France, and with Jewish Communities Across the World
January 07, 2015
President Obama Responds to the Attack in France

Videos

April 25, 2016
President Obama Delivers Remarks at Hannover Messe Building 35
April 25, 2016
President Obama Speaks at the Hannover Messe Trade Fair
April 24, 2016
President Obama Speaks at the Hannover Messe Trade Fair

Middle East and North Africa

“Two years ago in Cairo, I began to broaden our engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. I believed then -– and I believe now -– that we have a stake not just in the stability of nations, but in the self-determination of individuals. The status quo is not sustainable. Societies held together by fear and repression may offer the illusion of stability for a time, but they are built upon fault lines that will eventually tear asunder. So we face a historic opportunity. We have the chance to show that America values the dignity of the street vendor in Tunisia more than the raw power of the dictator. There must be no doubt that the United States of America welcomes change that advances self-determination and opportunity. Yes, there will be perils that accompany this moment of promise. But after decades of accepting the world as it is in the region, we have a chance to pursue the world as it should be.”

Highlights

The 2014 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit

In August, President Obama will welcome leaders from across the African continent to Washington, D.C. for a three-day U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, to foster stronger ties between the United States and Africa.

President Obama’s 2014 Trip to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Belgium.

President Obama travels to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and the Holy See from March 24 to March 29 to mobilize the international community.

P5+1 Negotiations with Iran

President Obama has been clear that achieving a peaceful resolution that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is in America’s national security interest.

Response to Syria

Learn about President Obama's response to the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons in Syria.

President Obama’s trip to the Middle East

In the first foreign trip of his second term in office, President Obama visited Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan.

Middle East Peace negotiators come to Washington

At the invitation of Secretary of State John Kerry, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators traveled to Washington to formally resume direct final status negotiations.

End of the Iraq War

The end of our mission in Iraq marks the fulfillment of a promise Barack Obama made to the American people even before he became President.