WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has postponed his visits to the Philippines and Malaysia as his government has been forced to face a partial shutdown.
Obama has called Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Philippine President Benigno Aquino to tell them that he will be unable to visit, however he told the leaders that he is committed to visiting their countries later in his term.
It is also in doubt that the US President will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bali and the East Asia summit in Brunei.
According to the White House, the shutdown has made it impossible to send logistics teams to Manila and Kuala Lumpur ahead of the president’s massive traveling entourage.
The National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said that the White House will evaluate whether Obama travels to the APEC forum in Bali and on to Brunei depending on how events develop throughout the course of the week.
