Sen. Barack Obama claimed victory in the Democratic presidential primary following the final state contests in South Dakota and Montana. His opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton, did not immediately concede, but Obama surpassed the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination (WashPost). In speeches Tuesday night, Obama and the presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain clashed over Iraq (Politico) as well as the extent of McCain’s support for Bush administration foreign policy.

Press coverage from around the world struck an inquisitive tone about the two candidates. The Middle East Times profiles their policies toward Arab states, while the Korea Times looks at their respective statements about South and North Korea. Al-Jazeera says Obama is generally the “favorite global candidate.” The German broadcaster Deutsche-Welle discusses the two candidates’ political prospects with a former U.S. ambassador and pronounces that foreign issues may have helped sway the Democratic primary.

Writing in Slate, CFR’s Stephen Sestanovich says Obama and McCain have begun to engage in the “first real foreign-policy debate” of the long campaign but says both are burdened by the Bush administration’s legacy.

For more information about the two candidates and their foreign policy views, here is a selection of CFR.org background material:

Candidate bios and position trackers: McCain / Obama

Foreign Affairs articles by the candidates, describing their foreign policy goals: McCain / Obama

Backgrounders detailing the candidates’ advisory teams: McCain / Obama