A government’s foreign policy is how it tries to influence other nations. Generally speaking, there are three broad categories of tools that policymakers can use to achieve their goals: diplomacy, trade, and military alliances. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the right tool for the right situation is a vital skill.
With the world’s largest military and economy, the United States has unique leverage in global affairs. This gives Washington outsized influence, but it also carries the burden of responsibility for decisions that can have far-reaching consequences thousands of miles away.
As a result, the nation’s political and military leaders need to balance competing demands. They must ensure that America’s national security is maintained, while advancing democratic principles abroad. They must protect our economic interests, including ensuring access to global markets and the U.S. dollar, while promoting economic development and international cooperation. They must pursue a sustainable approach to environmental protection and energy policy, while addressing the escalating risks of climate change.
At the same time, they must avoid inflaming the resentment that sometimes rises against American power and influence. Often this is fueled by a sense that the United States is morally, socially, and culturally retrograde. This perception has fueled growing anti-Americanism among some of our closest allies, and it has raised concerns about the potential for conflict in Europe’s neighborhood. This is why engagement – rather than unilateral action or retrenchment – should be the dominant feature of future U.S. policy.