What was general macarthur’s main motivation as he led forces in the southwest pacific between 1942 and 1944?

His desire to keep his promise to return to the Philippines, is the right answer.

Explanation:

General MacArthur was a general from America.During the Second World War, he led the Southwest Pacific forces in Australia.In the year 1942, he flew to Australia with his family and made a promise- "I came through and I shall return". These words were his desire to keep to return to the Philippines.He kept his words and returned back to the Philippines after defeating the Japanese in New Guinea.