Political analysts all over the world have been trying to formulate major guidelines of the US foreign policy for the next four years following Barack Obama’s victory in the November 6 presidential elections. On the whole, Obama is deemed more beneficial for the world community than Romney. The choice of the American people in favor of Democratic candidate Barack Obama suggests a move in the direction of a new world order – the so-called World of Big Zero – in which not a single country is strong enough to gain supremacy and in which every nation is strong enough to stop others from having their own way. According to western journalists, Obama is likely to refrain from resorting to tough methods and using force in restoring a unipolar world. The successor to the outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to play a significant role in the US foreign policy over the next four years. The most likely candidates for secretary of state are Democratic Senator John Kerry and US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice. John Kerry ran for president from the Democratic Party in the 2004 elections but lost to George W. Bush. After the US invasion of Iraq, liberal-minded Kerry lashed at George W. Bush saying that the US president’s addresses to the nation ought to contain at least some truth. Susan Rice has a somewhat controversial reputation. While insisting on international intervention in Libya, she accused Muammar Gaddafi of distributing Viagra pills among his soldiers so that they would find it easier to rape women. Mrs. Rice’s stance is deemed too aggressive for the contemporary world that needs subtle diplomacy. Russia sees no particular difference between Kerry and Rice. For Moscow, one thing of importance is that unlike Romney, Obama does not consider Russia a geopolitical foe. Obama is bound to face a tough agenda regarding a further ‘reset’ in relations with Russia. The reset policy is currently in impasse over the US plans to build a European missile defense system. Czech journalist Jan Petranek comments: "Obama is fully aware that he can’t spoil relations with Russia, the second largest nuclear power. He will have to come to agreement with Russia on coordinated efforts in ensuring global security. It was during Obama’s presidency that the US gave up plans to deploy anti-missiles in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic. The US plans to deploy a radar system in the Czech Republic triggered mass protests among the Czechs. At present, the US plans to deploy anti-missile and sea-based radar systems in Europe as the first phase of its global missile defense project. Hopefully, Washington will take into account Russia’s interests, particularly its opposition to having these missiles deployed in close proximity to its borders. Rather than pursing the ‘reset', Russia and the US will have to start a new chapter in bilateral relations." On the whole, the main direction of the US foreign policy for the next four years is quite clear. Regardless of who is president, the Democrats and Republicans are equally obsessed with the idea of securing the US supreme positions worldwide. Obama’s re-election will benefit US-Russia ties – foreign office Barack Obama’s re-election will benefit the US-Russia relations, Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Thursday. The sitting US president has won the recent race for the White House, leading the polls with 303 electoral votes. His Republican challenger Mitt Romney has offered his congratulations to Barack Obama and conceded his defeat. Mr. Lukashevich pointed out President Obama has put a lot of effort into improving relations between the two nations and vowed that Russia was equally ready to cooperate with America, especially on global security. Lebanese minister skeptical about Obama's Mideast policy There is only one thing about Barack Obama’s victory in the US presidential election that makes it significant for Arab nations, namely what kind of policy the United States will pursue in the Middle East, Lebanese Minister of Transport and Public Works Ghazi Aridi told the Voice of Russia. Obama’s first four-year term saw no progress towards ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, “what’s more, we witnessed the on-going Israeli occupation of West Bank and East Jerusalem,” he said. He is skeptical about any changes in Obama’s Middle East course. SANA chief comments on US Mideast policy Re-elected US President Barack Obama is able to influence his allies in NATO and settle the Syrian crisis, the director of the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) Ahmad Dawa told the VoR. The same holds true for the Gulf countries, he said, adding that political course in these countries depends on that of the U.S. Mr. Dawa stressed that stability in the Middle East serves the U.S. interests. “If Washington wants to impose democracy in any country, this should happen peacefully”, Mr. Dawa said. Voice of Russia, RIA, Source: Voice of Russia
