World in turmoil, but not because of Barack Obama, says John Kerry

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry today agreed that "the world is in turmoil" but that is "not the fault of President Barack Obama".

"I agree with the analysis to the degree that it says that the world is in turmoil right now, and the world is, because enormous numbers of forces have been unleashed with globalisation, with the Arab Spring, with radical religious extremism. None of which are the fault of President Obama," Kerry told ABC News.

"There's a nice narrative politically if all you want to do is play politics, but the fact is that the United States of America is more engaged in more places in the world - and frankly, I think to greater effect - than at any time in recent memory," he said.

"I can't think of a time when the United States has been engaged in more places where people are worried not about our staying, but they don't want us to leave and they recognise that American leadership is critical," Kerry said.