The final presidential debate of this election season took place between President Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.

The debate focused specifically on foreign policy and got under way with the topic of the crisis in Libya.

“With the Arab Spring came a great deal of hope,” Romney said. “But instead we’ve seen a number of disturbing events. … We need a comprehensive strategy to help combat this.”

Obama took a different approach, outlining a policy of progress he said has developed under his presidency.

“Gov. Romney, I’m glad you recognize al-Qaida a threat, because a couple of months ago you said the greatest geopolitical threat was Russia,” Obama said. “You say you’re not interested in duplicating what happened in Iraq but two weeks ago you said we should have more troops in Iraq. … What we need to do in respect to the Middle East is strong, steady leadership.”

CBS Evening News anchor and debate moderator Bob Schieffer later turned the tide of the debate to Syria.

“What we’ve done is organize the international community saying Assad has to go,” Obama said. “We are making sure we are organizing the moderate forces there. … I am confident Assad’s days are numbered.”

Romney drew himself closer to Obama’s policies rather than distancing himself.

“Seeing a replacement government in Syria is critical for us,” Romney said. “The right course for us is working with our partners. … We need to have a very effective leadership effort there.”

Romney reiterated he wished not to get the United States involved militarily but also wanted strong leadership in order to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Schieffer asked both candidates about the role America should play in the world.

“America must be strong, America must lead,” Romney said. “I will not cut our military budget.

Obama stood by his record on foreign policy.

“America remains the one indispensable nation,” Obama said. “Because we ended the war in Iraq … it allowed to refocus on alliances and relationships that have been neglected for more than a decade. … In Israel where we have had unprecedented cooperation.”

Schieffer asked Romney about how he expected to increase defense spending without increasing the deficit.

“We take program after program that we don’t need and get rid of them,” Romney said. “States like Arizona have taken these Medicare programs and shown they can run them effectively.”

Obama sought to lay out the numbers.

“The math doesn’t work but [Romney] says he’s going to do it,” Obama said. “We spend more money on our military than the next 10 countries combined. … When it comes to our military, we can’t think about budgets — we need to think about capabilities.”

Eventually, the tide turned to the issue over Iran’s nuclear program and its potential impact on Israel, a strong American ally.

“If Israel is attacked, America will stand with Israel,” Obama said. “As long as I am president of the United States, I will not let Iran get a nuclear weapon.”

Obama touted the tough sanctions he has put on Iran during his presidency, but Romney saw the effects of the sanctions differently.

“Our mission is to dissuade Iran from developing [into] a nuclear Iran,” Romney said. “I would tighten those sanctions … although I think they should have been put in earlier.”

Toward the end of the debate, the moderator asked the candidates about America’s longest war: Afghanistan.

“We are going to be finished by 2014,” Romney said. “We’ve seen progress, the surge has been successful. … And we are going to be able to make that transition.”

Obama  talked about his record on foreign policy pertaining to Afghanistan and highlighted his plan of bringing the troops home by 2014.

“We are in a position where we have met many of the objectives that got us there in the first place,” Obama said. “There’s no reason Americans should die when the Afghans are capable of taking on our role. … After a decade of war, it is time to do some nation building at home.”

Next, Schieffer asked candidates about the greatest future threat to U.S. national security.

“With respect to China, it is … an adversary and a potential partner in the international community if it’s playing by the same rules,” Obama said.

Romney responded with talking about a stronger America than what he sees Obama has done.

“The greatest threat the world faces is a nuclear Iran,” Romney said. “Moving onto China, they don’t want a war. … If I’m president, America will be very strong.”

The candidates sparred over who could be tougher on China in regards to currency manipulation.

With the closing statements, Obama went first.

“In the last four years

we have made real progress in digging our way out of failed policies,” Obama said. “I’ve got a different vision for America. I want to build on our strengths.

“I will work every single day to make sure America remains the greatest nation on earth.”

Romney ended by saying, “I want to make sure we get this economy going. … The president’s path will lead to declining take-home pay. 

“I’ll get people back to work with 12 million new jobs.”