That meets a higher standard for our workers and our businesses. Nonetheless, there is a loud debate in washington about american schluetership in the 21st sentcentury. The issue is not simply when we should have started arming the syrian rebels. When you should provide lethal assistance and weapons to ukraine. Its about the nature of u. S. Leadership for the future with this National Security strategy we stake out a much larger role for america in shaking the world while anticipating the challenges to come. Before i go through the elements of this strategy i want to know how our approach may differ from what others may recommend. We believe in Economic Growth but we insist upon americas power, education, healthcare clean energy and basic research we will defend that country but we aim to avoid many thousands of it Ground Forces into combat in hostile lands. We have renewed core alliances while Building Partnerships with emerging powers and neglected regions. We are committed to fighting terrorism and stopping the spread of Nuclear Weapons even as we really the world to meet the threats of tomorrow. Malissueas cyber actors and deadly pan democratics. Climate change and competition until space. We focus every day on the crises in the middle east and ukraine, but we are simultaneously rebalancing to the regions that will do more to determine the course of the 21th sent treat. Subsaharan africa and the americas. With that in mind, let me outline the four ways that we are advancing our core interests. The first element of our strategy is stosecure the sdmrunings, our citizens our allies and partners through a dynamic Global Security posture in which we employ our unique capabilities, diverse coalitions and support local partners. This approach builds on a more secure homeland and a National Defense that is second to none. President obama is committed to maintaining best trained, best equipped and bestled military force the world has ever known while honoring our promises to our service members, veterans and their families we call on congress to work with us to support responsible investment in our National Security including by ending see quick trace. To counter todays threats, the counterterrorism approach that takes account of how the enemy has evolved. As alqaeda core has been decimated, we have seen the diffusion of the threat to alqaeda affiliates isil local malishas and home grown violent extremists this may reduce the risk after spectacular attack like 911 but it raises the probability of the types of attack that we have seen in boston and ottowa sidney and paris. To meet this morphing challenge, we are combining our decisive military capabilities with local partnerships with the financial tools to choke out our Law Enforcement and intelligence agencies. We are strengthening the capacity of weak states to government territory while countering the core rosive ideology of violent extremism. Fighting terrorism into longterm struggle. There will be setbacks. There are no onesizefitsed all solutions. We have to work across multiple lines of efforts in diverse contexts to be defective. To degrade and defeat isil we have assembled a Broad Coalition that is confront the scouraget supporting the moderate Syrian Opposition to encouraging political forms that foster greater inclusion. We have taken out fighters destroyed nearly 200 oil and gas facilities that fund their terror and push them out of territory inclusion areas around baghdad, sinjar and the mossul dam. Last week isil conceded defeat in their month long siege of kobane. When with the world united condemnation of its horrific executions isil should know their barbarism 40fiesed the worlds collective resolve. Our counterterrorism strategy is at work in afghanistan where we have ended our combat mix as planned. We are focused on supporting a stable afghanistan that will not be a safe haven for alqaeda terrorists. Even as we develop the Afghan Security forces we will continue to keep pressure on alqaeda to through a capable counterterrorism mission. American leadership remains essential. Not only to tackling todays threats but it also to addressing the global challenges that will define the nature of security for our children and grandchildren. To work alongside us. American leadership is addressing the danger of nuclear proliferation. No threat poses as great a risk to our security as the potential use of Nuclear Weapons. Thats why we continue to secure Nuclear Material and strengthen International Norms against the utes of all weapons of mass destruction moving us closer to achieving the peace and security of a World WithoutNuclear Weapons. American leadership rallies the world to toughen sanctions against iran through diplomacy and sustained economic pressure we have halted the progress of Irans Nuclear program and we have it back in key respects. Now, we must give diplomacy a chance to finish the job. If diplomacy fails, it will not be for lack of good faith by america or the p 5 plus 1. Then if necessary, you we would be stronger in leading our partners to dial up the pressure and in making sure iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. America leadership is addressing the dangers of pandemic disease. Our agenda to improve Health Security and global Health Security doesnt end with ebola. It strengthens the capacity of states and International Institutions to prevent, detect and respond to future outbreaks before they become deadly epdemmics. Addressing the very real threat of Climate Change. The impacts of Climate Change will only worsen over time. Even longer droughts more severe storms, more forced migration. So we are making smart decisions today that will pay off for generations like our groundbreaking climate commitment with china that will limit both our nations greenhouse gasses and bend down the global emissions curve. American leadership is also addressing the pressing need for enhanced Cyber Security as more comes online leading an International Effort to the define the rules for how states engage with one another in cyberspace while ensuring that the internet remains a powerful tool to drive future advances. The same time committing new resources to bolster the security of the u. S. Critical infrastructure, Government Networks and other systems against cyber threats. Second, we will expand prosperity by using our renewed economic strength, our resurgent economy and improved Energy Security to bolster the Global Financial system, advance tan economic order and reduce inequality and poverty. With the worlds top universities premier Research Facilities and a culture of entrepreneurial entrepreneurship, america has the key that will drive our knowledge economy through the come can century. And with critical investments in technology and innovation we hope we will keep sharpening our technological edge to keep the American Economy at the forefront of innovation. We are opening markets to go american businesses while forming standards for fair wamingz, safe work places and environmental protection. To make sure new trade and growth benefit people around the world may continue to pursue a Sustainable Development agenda grounded in our commitments for extreme poverty. We will work with congress toe pass trade proceedings monthlial authority so we can finalize the Transpacific Partnership thus achieving a Free Trade Agreement with many of the worlds Fastest Growing economies. Making rapid progress on the transatlantic trade and investment partnership, expanding what is already the largest trading relationship in the world. And we are committed to enhancing the african growth and opportunity act to further deeperdeep en our invisitment in that promising region. The major center of Global Growth we ramped up our commitment across the continent including through the president ts Power Africa Initiative to connect millions more people through reliable electricity, through our feed the future program, we are helping farmers plant better crops and raise their encloses while also improving the Food Security of the region. Last august for the first time ever, president obama hosted some 50 African Leaders to chart ways our nations will do more tomorrow and to seize opportunities for u. S. Businesses to invest in africa in the future. Third, at a time when citizens in every region are dmranlding greater freedom and more account apparently accountability from our governments,emanding greater freedom and more account accountability from our governments, combat corruption promote open government and stand with civil society. We do so by living our values at home. By outgrowing the rafrningsdz of capable democratic states and defending universal rights. We will help countries in transition like buncha tunisia and have i lankasri lanka. We will support established democracies that are in danger of backsliding. Empower ngos in places where they are under attack. At the same time president obama has deepened our commitments to promote that basic American Value equality. We believe everyone should be able to speak their minds and practice their faith freely. We believe all girls deserve the very same opportunities as boys. We believe that all human beings are created equal. And are worthy of the same love and respect including our lesbian, gay bisexual and trans gendered brothers and sisters. These beliefs are fundamental to who we are. Advancing equality is both morally right and smart strategy. If we reduce disparity which can lead to instability and violence we increase our shared security. Reams of empirical evidence demonstrate how countries do better across every metric when they tap the talent of all of their people. So William Champion the rights of vulnerable communities, those targeted by abuse or excluded from society and counter escalating cycles of hatred that will can spark violence. Mass killings threaten our common security. Age clean issue orb shared humanity. We confirm government has a responsibility to protect civilians wilt continue to lead global efforts to prevent atrocities and hold accountable those who commit the worst abuses. We are reaching out to populations that america can illafford to neglect. With more than half the world under the age of 30, our strategy invests ins in and em prayers young people through educational ex changes and entrepreneurship. Our Young Leaders initiatives in Southeast Asia identify and mentor the next generation of talent to grasp opportunities. And because we seek to lead by example, well keep work to go make our own laws more inclusive, to sustain our prohibitions against torture, to protect Civil Liberties and privacy and to improve trans parents on issues like electronic surveillance. We have reduced the population at guantanamo by nearly half. And while there are very tough challenges ahead, we mean to keep going until we finish the job. American leadership to uphold the liberal International Order which ishas served us in the world for 70 years by reinforcing the rules of the road and strengthening and diversifying our alliances and partnerships in every region of the world. Russias aggression against ukraine is a heinous and deadly afronts to longstanding International Law and norms in lockstep with our european allies action we have built a coalition of partners around the world to impose steep political and economic costs on russia in contrast to the costfree invasion of georgia and we will continue to turn up the pressure unless russia decisively reverses course. At the same time we are providing vital economic support to help the ukrainian people write a Better Future for their country and strengthening the Enduring Alliance with europe by reassuring our alneys Eastern Europe and energizeing nato to meet threats. As we update our system our strategy is to enhance our focus on regions that will shape the century ahead starting with the asia pacific. Partnership to expand cooperation. We are investing in azian, the east awesian summit and the Pacific Islands forum to strength en their capacity to enforce regional norms, respond to crises like natural disasters and resolve disputes peacefully so the asia pacific remains a region of Dynamic Growth and opportunity. Request china, we are building a constructive relationship that expands collaboration over a wide expect trum of issues from Global Health to nonproliferation. As we confront real differences t cyber enabled espy onionage and the use of coercion to advance territorial claims. President obamas receipt trip to india strengthened another critical relationship that will deliver economic and security benefits from both of our nations and the broader region and will help lift up the lives of more than a billion people. In furtherance of our relationships throughout this vital region i am pleased to announce today we have invited Prime Minister abe of japan and president shiziping for state visits and we look forward to welcoming other asian leaders to the white house this year includingpom President Park of south korea and president wododo of indonesia. At the same time we seep a middle east more secure processing perous and where democracy can take root. Thats the ultimate vision that we are working towards with partners throughout the region. We will continue wutsly strengthen the unique bonds that unite the people of israel and the United States our commit exactly remains enduring and unshakeable. The israelis and palestinians. We will keep investing in the ability of or Gulf Partners line saudi arabia and the United Arab Emirates as we deepen our cooperation on regional challenges. Since libya syria and yemen confront persistent violence and instability, well as we must protect our people to shrink terrorists safe haven and support those working to achieve political and social reform. The chart he knows are many including a generational trans transform transformation, citizens legitimate demands for political and economic reform sectarian, ethnic and tribal tension and irans destabilizing influence. We will keep leading International Efforts to reduce insecurity drawing on all sources of our influence nots just our military and we will work to foster progress that endures. Closer to home latin america and the caribbean has experienced rapid growth with a large and growing middle class, vibe brant democracies and still Untapped Potential t its grappling with challenges like transinational crime and trafficking that have serious complications for our own security. Thafrp in part to our opening with cuba which turns the page on 50 years of fruitless policy. We have new opportunities to strengthen our partnerships with our neighbors. We are investing particularly until Central America to improve governnance and address some of the root causes of mass migrations like we saw last summer. So across a range of issues with an array of partners, the sdmrunings is proudly shouldering the responsibilities of Global Leadership the question is not whether america leads in the world but how. And the answer is we are pursuing an ambitious yet achievable agenda worthy of a great power. The president s budget directly supports his strategy. Our National Security leadership is united around the shared vision and agenda. We are eager to work with congress to restore the vital Bipartisan Center to u. S. Foreign policy. Our unparalleled leadership is grounded in americas enduring strength and guyed by a clear sense of purpose. All levers of our power, diplomacy, broadbased development, economic leverage our technological advances talent and diversity of our people and when needed our military might. We rallied partners to enact Sustainable Solutions when challenges arrive. We try to set the highest standards by our own example. We leave with our eyes fixed firmly on the future alert to opportunities to make the world safer and increasingly just. President obama has two years left in his term. Two years is plenty of time. This National Security strategy is a blueprint for what we intend to get done over the next two years, from degrading isil and opposing russian aggression to leaving behind a world that can more effecti