ABSTRACT
Barack Obama's presidency was marked by the desire to end the US military engagement in Iraq and bring the war in Afghanistan to an amicable outcome. Obama's objective to get out of the land wars in Southwest and Central Asia was also driven by the rise of other key powers in the international system, such as China or Russia, and a diversification of national security challenges in the face of a disintegrating Middle East. When Obama came into office, the effects of the financial crisis of 2007/2008 were in full swing. The dominating challenges in foreign policy during the first Obama administration were rooted in the military commitments in Central Asia as part of the 'Global War on Terrorism' and the strain this put on US troops, the defense budget, and morale. In one of his earliest foreign policy initiatives, President Obama sought to 'reset' relations with Russia to help steer the bilateral relationship into calmer waters.
