Barack Obama called for the creation of a $5bn fund to back counter-terrorism efforts and unveiled more backing for moderate Syrian rebels as he laid out a vision that rests on the prudent use of military power.
Addressing the graduating class at the West Point military academy, the US president said “America must always lead on the world stage” but said it would only use its military might when “core interests” were under threat. “Just because we have the best hammer does not mean that every problem is a nail,” he said.
Emphasising what has become one of the defining themes of his foreign policy outlook, he said he was focused on avoiding “costly mistakes”.