Foreign policy is the set of political, economic, and military arrangements that a country makes to achieve its domestic and international goals. It includes developing diplomatic relations with other countries through embassies and consulates, negotiating trade agreements, and cooperating with international organizations to tackle global issues such as disease control and climate change.
In a world in which tiny groups can inflict grievous harm, a strong U.S. foreign policy aims to promote the values that support a liberal world order and protect American interests. This involves engaging with adversaries to deter aggression, promote human rights, and encourage democracy—while recognizing that the United States’ strength is not in its numbers but rather in its capacity for smart, flexible diplomacy.
In an era of global politics, America cannot afford to go it alone. Achieving a global strategy requires maintaining America’s military edge and ensuring that the economy remains resilient. It also calls for transforming America’s unquestioned power into influence by leading and listening, giving as well as taking. This is no easy task. The wise application of American primacy advances not only American interests and values but those of most democratic nations. Indeed, it was America’s military might that evicted Iraqi troops from Kuwait, persuaded Haiti’s military junta to relinquish power, ended Serbian atrocities in Kosovo, and broke al-Qaida’s grip on Afghanistan. Yet the misuse of this power can breed resentment and breed mistrust, as seen in the rise of anti-Americanism in Europe and a growing sense in Asia that Washington only cares about itself.