Foreign policy is the set of strategies, goals and instruments a country uses to promote its security and economic interests around the globe. It is a complex undertaking that involves multiple branches of government and influences domestic politics, interest groups and public opinion. It is a major focus of research by think tanks, such as the Council on Foreign Relations in the United States and Chatham House in the United Kingdom.
The indisputable first objective of American foreign policy must be to safeguard and enhance America’s liberty, security and prosperity. That requires promoting an international order that extends the zone of peace and prosperity created in Europe after World War II to every region of the world. It also means bringing the have-nots of the world into the fold of democratic capitalism so that they can enjoy some of the fruits of their own hard work, and so that our investments in foreign aid will pay off.
Yet the sustainable use of America’s unquestioned military and economic power depends on how well it is employed, not just in terms of advancing our own national interest, but in ways that will also win friends and allies. When employed with a sense of moral purpose, American power can create the rtp live foundation for new institutions and regimes that limit our recourse to force and preserve our national security. When it is not, it can breed resentment in our closest allies and even among the people of our own country.