Global focus

"I think the number one threat that we have right now is Al-Qaeda," claims Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff. "[Al-Qaeda] still has as its principal goal to attack Western interests, kill as many Westerners, Americans in particular, as they can."

This assessment is despite a series of air strikes since 2004 that have killed dozens of suspected militants, including Al-Qaeda personnel. Adm Mullen said: "They still are robust from a leadership standpoint. They are decentralised and affiliated with other terrorist organisations in places like Yemen and Somalia and Northern Africa."

Beyond the specific threat of Al-Qaeda, the traditional security issues of the Middle East and nuclear weapons is also a concern. Iran's nuclear programme is fuelling tension between Tehran and Washington, but Adm Mullen does not believe conflict is inevitable. "President Obama's administration are reaching out to Iran in a dialogue which has not taken place for almost 30 years in a way that offers some potential to resolve some of these challenges," he said.