U svom inauguralnom govoru, Obama je saopćio "svim drugim narodima i vladama koje danas gledaju, od najvećih prijestolnica do malih sela gdje je rođen moj otac: znajte da je Amerika prijatelj svake nacije i svakog čovjeka, žene i djeteta koje stremi budućnosti mira i dostojanstva…”, uprkos svojim pregovorima u dva tekuća rata i ekonomskim poteškoćama.
In his inaugural address, Obama said “to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity…”, despite its negotiating two ongoing wars and economic travails