The main priority of the US in foreign policy remains the security of the American people, including that of men and women in uniform White House press secretary Jim Carney told Marija Schranz in reply to a twitter question.

Ms Schranz, who uses the twitter handle @zyng, took up Mr Carney's invitation to the public to post questions and asked what was the most important role for the US in foreign policy.

In his reply Mr Carney said that President Obama has made great strides in pursuing the security of American people and Americans abroad.

"Our number threat remains Al Qaida and the President's number one priority has been to disrupt, dismantle and ultimately defeat Al Qaeda." He's achieved great progress, he said.

Mr Carney also said that secondarily, US leadership around the world both on national security issues and global economic and development issues was vital.

With rising economies like China and Brazil, US leadership was more essential than ever to improving a lot of people around the world and to making sure that American interests were protected, he said.