Obama, Turnbull, and America’s Increasing Engagement in Asia in 2016

Michael Fuchs writes that while Prime Minister Turnbull's visit may seem relatively routine, it's merely the tip of the iceberg of a concreted American strategy to continue supporting peace and prosperity in Asia.

Today marks the first visit to Washington by Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s new Prime Minister, since taking office in September. Australia is one of America’s closest allies in Asia, and a central part of the administration’s rebalance strategy. For example, President Obama gave two of his major speeches on Asia in Australia, and Australia is a member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Turnbull’s visit is significant for the pressing global and regional issues the two leaders likely discussed. But the meeting is also an illustration of the intense engagement with allies and key partners in Asia by the Obama administration in the first month of 2016 — a reflection of the progress the administration has made in bolstering these partnerships and the increasing importance of them for tackling today’s headline-grabbing events.

The above excerpt was originally published in The Huffington Post. Click here to view the full article.

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