The Hill
Cantor fears Obama's ‘pivot’ to Asia sends the wrong signal
By Ian Swanson
05/11/14

The Obama administration’s pivot to Asia is sending the wrong signal to U.S. allies in other parts of the world, according to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.).

Cantor, fresh from his first trip to the region, argues there’s nothing wrong with having a focus on China and Asia, since development there will be critical to future U.S. prosperity.

But he argues the White House’s talk of a pivot or rebalance to Asia suggests other regions are less important. He said the policy signal has implications everywhere, from the Middle East to Europe, where Russian President Vladimir Putin is moving aggressively.

“I don’t necessarily like the choice of the word pivot or balance because I don’t think it speaks to our commitment to other allies and regions,” Cantor said in an interview.

He suggested the use of the term could be perceived as American disinterest about other regions, and embolden rivals like Putin — though he said he would not say the emphasis on Asia is the cause of the problems in Ukraine.

“I’m worried about the message that Mr. Putin takes from this,” he said...

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