WASHINGTON, Oct 4: President Barack Obama canceled plans to attend summits in Indonesia and Brunei today, bowing to the reality that the political impasse over the US government shutdown requires him to remain in Washington.
The decision means Obama will no longer depart tomorrow for what had originally been a four-nation, week-long Asia trip. He had canceled visits to Malaysia and the Philippines earlier this week because of his budget struggle with Republicans in Congress.
The move to cancel the remaining stops in Indonesia and Brunei, where two summits critical to US interests in Asia are being held, was made on the third day of the US government shutdown and was a sign that it could linger for days, as Obama and Republicans battle over funding.
‘The president made this decision based on the difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of a shutdown, and his determination to continue pressing his case that Republicans should immediately allow a vote to reopen the government,’ the White House said.
It could have been damaging for Obama in terms of appearance to leave the United States and to be seen rubbing shoulders with foreign leaders abroad at a time of budget crisis in Washington.
The stalemate has idled hundreds of thousands of federal government workers and comes two weeks before Washington faces an even more crucial deadline – raising the US debt limit so the United States can pay its bills. A bitter debate rages over that issue as well.
(agencies)
&&&&
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel