US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has declared that a "new American moment" has arrived in global politics.
20717374@N06Photo term: british broadcasting corporation
Speaking at a Washington think tank, Mrs Clinton said the model of American leadership "offers our best hope in a dangerous world".
The speech comes amid renewed US efforts to broker Middle East peace.
But the Obama administration has been criticised over a perceived lack of progress on its international goals.
Critics argue that Iran and North Korea maintain nuclear ambitions, the security situation in Afghanistan continues to be perilous and Israeli-Palestinian relations have yet to improve.
But Mrs Clinton said that US had "begun to see the dividends of our strategy."
"We are advancing America's interests and making progress on some of our most pressing challenges," she said.
Mrs Clinton also noted that the 
Photo term: british broadcasting corporation
Video term: middle east peace
"The world is counting on us. When old adversaries need an honest broker or fundamental freedoms need a champion, people turn to us," she said.
But she stressed the importance of international partnerships.
"This is no argument for America to go it alone," Mrs Clinton said.
"The world looks to us because America has the reach and resolve to mobilize the shared effort needed to solve problems on a global scale - in defence of our own interests, but also as a force for progress. In this we have no rival."
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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