PRESIDENT Barack Obama's State of the Union address to Congress last week was an upbeat report on a resurgent US economy and a welcome reaffirmation on the war against terrorism.
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His speech, to define the final two years of his presidency (the Constitution prevents him contesting a third term) was one of hope and resolve.
He flagged warmer relations with Cuba to end more than 50 years of hostility, and diplomatic gestures towards Iran over its nuclear program.
This president has no intention of sitting out his final term.
President Obama is the fourth US president to visit Australia since 1992. America has been a good friend and ally since the Curtin government shifted our focus from mother England to America and the Pacific during World War II.
We've been there for our colonial cousins through Vietnam and the war on terror. Uncle Sam has been a powerful ally through good and bad times under the ANZUS treaty, and would understand the need for Australia to broaden its sphere of influence and engagement.
We are now developing closer political and trade ties with China and South Korea, as we have with post war Japan and Indonesia. Even the US recognises the value of engagement with Asia.
Australia is a respected regional player and while not a military super power, our posture as a good neighbour in testing times, such as our role in the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, has served us well.
Weighing the balance between ties with traditional friends, and new friends like China, is merely part of the process.
The point is, Australia is an honest player and broker. We are a wealthy, benevolent nation, always ready to help our neighbours and this can only enhance our close ties with traditional friends like the US and Japan, and relatively new friends like Indonesia and China.
