US defence boss seeks to put diplomacy ahead of military might

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks during the Munich Security Conference at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich February 1, 2014. REUTERS/Brendan Smialowski

MUNICH (Reuters) - The top U.S. defence official on Saturday underscored the Obama administration's intention to shift the focus of its foreign policy away from military might toward diplomacy.

Speaking at the Munich security conference, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he and Secretary of State John Kerry "have both worked to restore balance to the relationship between American defence and diplomacy".