The Financial Times
"Little surprise, then, that the Brics are getting into the habit of talking among themselves."
Given the mood of the American public, I see little chance of a more forceful and competent president being able to reverse America's abdication.
"When Barack Obama took office, he pledged a new overture to the world’s emerging powers. Today each of the Brics – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – is at loggerheads with America, or worse. Last month four of the five abstained in a UN vote condemning the fifth’s annexation of Crimea. Next month India is likely to elect as its new leader Narendra Modi, who says he has “no interest in visiting America other than to attend the UN in New York”. As the world’s largest democracy, and America’s most natural ally among the emerging powers, India’s is a troubling weathervane. How on earth did Mr Obama lose the Brics?"
...
"Second, the US public is tiring of its country’s global responsibilities. Mr. Obama’s real pivot is not to Asia but to America. In this he is only taking his cue from domestic sentiment. Yet his pivot to home is not going too well either. As Lawrence Summers, the former US Treasury secretary, recently observed, the US has two parties, one of which, the Democrats, refuses to endorse any kind of trade deal; the other of which, the Republicans, appears to detest all international institutions. Neither of the two parties listens to what Mr. Obama wants. If you believe the television ratings, the US public long ago tuned out from what he says. "Little surprise, then, that the Brics are getting into the habit of talking among themselves."
Given the mood of the American public, I see little chance of a more forceful and competent president being able to reverse America's abdication.
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