Foreign policy is the set of decisions a nation makes about how it will interact with other nations and international organizations. The goal of foreign policy is to promote the nation’s interests and values around the world. The field of foreign policy includes diplomacy, defense and national security, trade and economic relations, and international cooperation and development.
The United States has a complex and challenging role to play in the world. It faces multiple challenges and threats—from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to the war in Gaza, terrorist activity from Iran and North Korea, climate change, food insecurity, population migration and the spread of infectious diseases—that could potentially trigger localized or global conflict requiring United States intervention. Diplomacy tends to be the first step for the U.S. government when confronting these situations, with the goal of finding a peaceful resolution or at least limiting the scope of the problem.
Besides promoting America’s values, the nation also seeks access to resources and markets across the globe. This can include natural resources such as oil, as well as economic ones like investment capital and markets for American products like Swiss chocolate and Australian wine.
Creating an international order in which more people are free and prosperous is profoundly in America’s interest, but it requires cooperation with others. Taking unilateral action can help ensure that other nations will cooperate with Washington, but it cannot solve all the world’s problems. The era of global politics demands that American leaders lead and listen, give and take, in partnership with others.
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