Foreign policy is the way that nation-states shape and respond to a changing world. It has a long and varied history, evolving along with the development and transformation of the international system and its actors.
The foreign policy of the United States has historically focused on two broad goals: ensuring the safety of its citizens and advancing national interests abroad. To achieve these objectives, American leaders have embraced the principle of peacefully bringing about change in the world through diplomacy and cooperation.
For over a century, our country has been the architect and anchor of the global order that has brought about peace and prosperity to billions. This order includes economic cooperation based on the dollar, security partnerships underwritten by America’s military power, and democracy rooted in a separation of powers and political rights.
This global order is vulnerable to a growing number of threats and challenges that require cooperation among many countries. While the United States remains the dominant actor in the world, it is important to consciously cultivate and sustain an effective foreign policy to bolster alliances, reshape the competition for influence, manage crises and conflicts, and fend off threats and hybrid attacks.