But he also said he would do whatever he could to make sure the U.S. army's battle effectiveness won't be influenced by the spending cuts.

In a speech at the University of Virginia, Secretary of State John Kerry, who took office on Feb. 1 to succeed Hillary Clinton, also said that the budget impasse was the greatest challenge to U.S. foreign policy.

Though the new treasury secretary has yet to make any public comments on the spending cuts, Lew has said at his Senate Confirmation Hearing in February that the government must leave sufficient room for critical investments in education, research, and infrastructure so as to spur economic growth and boost U.S. competitiveness globally.

Lew also made it clear that the country's top priority now is to strengthen the recovery by fostering private sector job creation and economic growth, complete financial reform, reform the tax system, and expand manufacturing in the United States.

CEMENTING RELATIONS WITH ALLIES

Cementing America's relations and cooperation with its allies around the world while trying to avoid any unilateral actions is clearly one of Obama's foreign policy strategies during his second term, as the president, plagued by a tight budget, is seeking new growth points for the U.S. economy, analysts said.

As Hagel said shortly after being sworn in as the new Pentagon chief, America cannot "dictate to the world" and must work with allies and build relationships with other nations.

【国际英语资讯:News Analysis: Obama seeks greater cooperation with allies in face of budget crisis】相关文章：

★ 双语欣赏：温总理诗作《仰望星空》

★ 这个情人节 送什么给“他”？

★ 美校园枪击案嫌犯的人生轨迹

★ 外国人笔下的“中国人物”

★ 奥运篮球运动员将被“随位安保”

★ 亚洲崛起动摇“美国治下的和平”

★ 苹果应用下载量已达400亿次

★ 在线教学会淘汰“差老师”吗？

★ 今年过节流行送2012诺亚方舟船票

★ 《逃离德黑兰》登顶上周末北美票房榜