When Obama visits Burma Monday, he will become the first U.S. president to do so. (Creative Commons)

When Obama visits Burma Monday, he will become the first U.S. president to do so, according to Reuters.

The trip is meant to show a shift in U.S. focus eastwards.

Some human rights groups, however, object to the visit to Burma, claiming Obama is endorsing the quasi-civilian government before democratic reforms are complete. Obama, however, has denied this and told Reuters there was still much to do.

"I don't think anybody is under the illusion that Burma's arrived, that they're where they need to be," he said.

"On the other hand, if we waited to engage until they had achieved a perfect democracy, my suspicion is we'd be waiting an awful long time," he added. "One of the goals of this trip is to highlight the progress that has been made and give voice to the much greater progress that needs to be made in the future."

Reach Senior News Editor Hannah Madans here.