Obama Pivots to Asia,...again

Once again, the Obama Administration is supposedly pivoting its focus to Asia.  Clearly, the US government does not need to have a strong presence in Asia and the Obama Administration’s efforts over the last few years are helping us renew our relationships in Asia while more can be done.  Unfortunately, the reason the Obama Administration has to continually pivot back to policy focuses like Asia is that we live in a world where pressing global issues demand the action of global powers, thus the focus of the Obama Administration and the next Presidency will always be on the most pressing issue of the day. 

Right now, the issue of the day is regrettably Ukraine, thus the President’s efforts in Asia will quickly be crowded out by news of the Russian-provoked international conflict.  Although the efforts of the Obama Administration in Asia may well be considered a major part of the Obama Administration’s legacy, but long-term issues like the strengthening of our alliances and economic partnerships will always take a backseat to unfolding crises in our very dynamic, interconnected world, especially given the need to focus on so many critical global issues.