By White House | on 25 March 2017
- President Obama on 8 Years of American Leadership in the World
- Historic Diplomacy and Collective Action
- Hola, Cuba!
- President Obama Delivers a Statement on the Paris Agreement on October 5, 2016
- International efforts to end the Ebola epidemic in West Africa
- Establishment of the Global Health Security Agenda
- President Obama Speaks at a Town Hall With Young Leaders of the Americas in Jamaica
- National Security and American Values
- President Obama on the U.S. Strategy to Defeat ISIL
- The Asia Rebalance and 21st Century Opportunity
- Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
- President Obama Visits Hiroshima
- Advancing the Rebalance to Asia and the Pacific
- National and Economic Security in Cyberspace
- Development Based on Real Outcomes and Real Lives
- GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT 2016
- White House Summit on Global Development
- Partnering with Africa on Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation
- Power Africa Initiative to double access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Let Girls Learn Initiative
- Strength and Resilience at Home
- National Preparedness System
American Leadership in the World
When President Obama took office in 2009, America was engaged in two costly wars, faced a global economic crisis, and had a diminished standing with our allies and around the world. The President has refocused and reaffirmed American leadership in the world, recognizing that American strength derives not only from our military power but also our economic vitality, the depth and breadth of our global partnerships, and our values. In doing so, the President has remained relentless in taking action against terrorist networks, while also focusing on key emerging regions and policies that will shape the 21st century.
Historic Diplomacy and Collective Action
Secured a landmark multilateral deal to roll back the Iranian nuclear program and verify that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon
Nuclear physicists, military officials, non-proliferation experts, and more than 100 countries across the globe have all voiced their support for the Iran nuclear deal because it is the best solution available to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon without taking military action. Learn mroe about the Iran Nuclear Deal.
Built a historic opening to Cuba, ending a failed policy of over 50 years by re-establishing diplomatic relations and facilitating greater travel, commerce, and people-to-people ties
On December 17, 2014, President Obama announced that he was rejecting the failed, Cold War-era policy era of the past to chart a new course in Cuba. View a timeline of our new course in Cuba.
Watch: West Wing Week 3/25/16 or, “¡Hola, Cuba!”
Led global effort to achieve the Paris Agreement among 196 countries to take real action on climate change that calls for strong transparency, ensuring countries adhere to ambitious emissions reduction goals and setting the world on a course to cut carbon pollution and other greenhouse gases
President Obama Delivers a Statement on the Paris Agreement on October 5, 2016
Learn more about President Obama's historic commitment to protecting the environment and reversing climate change.
Secured bilateral agreements with China, India, Brazil, South Africa, and Mexico to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change
Read the joint announcement between the United States and China to work together toward the common good.
Ensured the United States remained the world’s largest donor in humanitarian aid for refugees and displaced persons around the world, safely increased refugees accepted in the United States, and spurred global action with international and private sector partners in response to the worst refugee crisis since World War II
September 28, 2016: Presidential Determination – Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2017
September 20, 2016: Fact Sheet on the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees
June 30, 2016: Fact Sheet: White House Launches a Call to Action for Private Sector Engagement on the Global Refugee Crisis
Led international efforts to end the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and established the Global Health Security Agenda to shore up public health systems both at home and abroad
Secured the New START agreement, made substantial reductions in the U.S. nuclear stockpile, and reduced the role of nuclear weapons in our security strategy
March 26, 2010: Key Facts about the New START Treaty
Led global efforts to secure nuclear materials to prevent them from falling into the hands of terrorists through four Nuclear Security Summits
Read President Obama’s op-ed: How we can make our vision of a world without nuclear weapons a reality
Through Operation Atlantic Resolve and the European Reassurance Initiative, took lasting steps to assure our allies and bolster NATO collective defense
Worked with European and other international partners toward a diplomatic solution for the crisis in Ukraine, enforced sanctions to increase pressure on Russia to cease its efforts to undermine Ukraine’s security and stability, and helped Ukraine implement its reform agenda
December 9, 2015: Read Remarks by Vice President Joe Biden to The Ukrainian Rada
Watch on YouTube: 36 Hours in Ukraine with Vice President Biden
Advanced a broader Latin America strategy through Central American development and security and the 100,000 Strong educational program
President Obama Speaks at a Town Hall With Young Leaders of the Americas in Jamaica
Supported security and diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in Colombia, ending Latin America’s longest running conflict
Strengthened cooperation with the United States' closest neighbors – Mexico and Canada – to secure our borders and grow the regional economy
November 7, 2016: Partnering with Mexico to Combat Crime and Secure Our Borders
September 29, 2016: Partnership with Canada – Beyond the Border
Watch on YouTube: President Obama participates in a Trilateral Press Conference
Provided the single largest military assistance package in U.S. history to Israel with a 10-year agreement affirming the unbreakable bonds between our countries.
September 14, 2016: Statement by the President on the Memorandum of Understanding Reached with Israel
September 14, 2016: Fact Sheet; Memorandum of Understanding Reached with Israel
Strengthened global institutions by mobilizing the United Nations with multiple Head-of-State summits, promoting the G-20 as the premier international economic forum, joining the UN Human Rights Council, and making the World Bank and International Monetary Fund more representative
National Security and American Values
Built a network of sustainable counterterrorism partnerships from South Asia to the Sahel
Responsibly ended the U.S. combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing home over 90 percent of the nearly 180,000 American troops deployed to those countries when President Obama took office
Dismantled al Qaeda’s leadership, including the operation that killed Osama bin Laden
Established a comprehensive, government-wide strategy and is leading a 68-member Coalition to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL
President Obama on the U.S. Strategy to Defeat ISIL
Read more about the U.S. strategy to defeat ISIL and combat the terrorist threat.
Prosecuted suspected terrorists effectively in U.S. courts – like Faisal Shahzad, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, and others
Banned the use of torture, which has since been codified by law
January 22, 2009: Executive Order 13491 -- Ensuring Lawful Interrogations
Established clear guidelines, oversight, and accountability for counterterrorism operations — including with unmanned drones — and increased transparency regarding U.S. use of military force against terrorist targets
Reformed how the United States conducts intelligence collection to strengthen oversight, enhance privacy protections, protect civil liberties, and ensure national security professionals have the tools needed to keep Americans safe
Engaged in sustained diplomacy to safely lower the population of Guantanamo from 242 detainees in 2008 to under 60 in 2016, despite Congressional efforts to block the costly facility’s responsible closure
Improved the organization of federal efforts to bring home Americans held hostage overseas and provide support to their families
Combated the rise of radicalization by empowering community-led efforts and sustained engagement between credible, moderate voices and those most susceptible to hateful rhetoric on the platforms where violent extremist ideology is spread
Promoted diversity and inclusion as an indispensable asset and strategic imperative in the United States’ national security workforce of more than three million dedicated military and civilian personnel
The Asia Rebalance and 21st Century Opportunity
Negotiated and concluded the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a 12-country agreement representing nearly 40 percent of global economic output, to increase American trade with the fastest growing region in the world, based on an open, transparent, and level playing field
November 16, 2015: Fact Sheet: Advancing the Rebalance to Asia and the Pacific
Learn more about the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Expanded areas of cooperation with China while candidly addressing differences on human rights, cybersecurity, and the South China Sea
July 27, 2016: Why I’m Here: The Importance of the U.S.-China Relationship by Ambassador Susan Rice
Modernized alliances with Japan and South Korea
President Obama Visits Hiroshima
October 16, 2015: Joint Fact Sheet: The United States-Republic of Korea Alliance: Shared Values, New Frontiers
Concluded new defense agreements with Australia and the Philippines that allow for the forward deployment of U.S. military assets for security cooperation and rapid response throughout the Asia-Pacific region
January 19, 2016: FACT SHEET: United States – Australia Cooperation: Deepening Our Strategic Partnership
Watch: President Obama Addresses the University of Queensland
Deepened relations with key emerging partners like Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, and Malaysia
FACT SHEET: Advancing the Rebalance to Asia and the Pacific
Watch: President Obama reflects on His Historic Visit in Laos
Forged a 21st century partnership with India that includes closer cooperation on development and trade; defense and security; and clean energy and combating climate change
June 7, 2016: Joint Statement: The United States and India: Enduring Global Partners in the 21st Century
Watch: On Board with Kal Penn: Travels with President Obama in India
Strengthened the Asia-Pacific region’s institutional architecture through direct presidential engagements in multilateral fora like ASEAN, EAS, and APEC to reinforce their important role in establishing a rules-based order with common norms and principles
September 8, 2016: Fact Sheet: FACT SHEET: U.S.-ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos
Supported Burma’s historic transition to democracy by establishing a U.S. ambassador in Rangoon, increasing assistance, closely monitoring the first successful elections resulting in a peaceful transfer of power in Burma’s history, and lifting sanctions to bring Burma into the global economy
September 15, 2016: Watch: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi reflects on her first visit to the U.S. as an elected leader of Burma
National and Economic Security in Cyberspace
Built a national strategy to raise the level of our cybersecurity; deter, disrupt, and interfere with malicious cyber activity aimed at the United States or our allies; and respond effectively to and recover from cyber incidents, the capstone of which is the Cybersecurity National Action Plan (CNAP)
Instituted a cybersecurity framework to raise the level of cybersecurity in our public, private, and consumer sectors to empower Americans to take better control of their digital security
February 12, 2014: Launch of the Cybersecurity Framework
Directed the creation of a nonpartisan Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity, including experts from the public and private sectors and academia, who assessed the state of cybersecurity in the United States and recommended bold, actionable steps to bolster our security in today's digital world
December 2, 2016: Statement by the President on the Report of the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity
Directed the Federal Government to take new actions in responding to and recovering from cyber incidents
Established the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center (CTIIC) to integrate all U.S. intelligence and analysis of malicious cyber threats to the nation
Authorized the imposition of economic sanctions on any malicious cyber actors seeking to harm critical infrastructure, damage computer systems, or steal trade secrets and sensitive information
April 1, 2015: FACT SHEET: Executive Order Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities
Development Based on Real Outcomes and Real Lives
Launched initiatives to build ties with young leaders of tomorrow in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe
Young African Leaders Initiative
Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative
Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative
Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative
GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT 2016
Watch: President Obama participates in the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit with Mark Zuckerberg and entrepreneurs
Learn more about the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit
Committed the United States to the Sustainable Development Goals, including halving the number of people living in poverty by 2030
Watch: President Obama delivers remarks at White House Development Day
Learn more about the White House Summit on Global Development
Led the campaign that mobilized $22 billion in food security and agriculture assistance through programs like the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition and Feed the Future
July 28, 2015: Fact Sheet: Partnering with Africa on Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation
Maintained the largest investment by any nation to put an AIDS-free generation within our reach
September 26, 2015: Chart of the Week: How President Obama Plans to Put an AIDS-Free Generation Within Our Reach
Launched the Power Africa Initiative to double access to electricity in Sub-Saharan Africa
July 25, 2015: Fact Sheet: Power Africa
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