Foreign Policy of America: An outline of the main developments in US foreign policy from the American Revolution to the present is provided by US foreign policy. Developing into an “Empire of Liberty,” advancing democracy, spreading throughout the continent, endorsing liberal internationalism, opposing both World Wars and the Cold War, combating international terrorism, advancing Third World development, and constructing a robust global economy with low tariffs are the main themes.
We will talk about American foreign policy, its history, its objectives, and much more in this article below!
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Foreign Policy of America?
The goal of American foreign policy is to maintain national security and prosperity. This entails maintaining a robust armed forces, maintaining diplomatic ties with other nations, and ensuring that the world economy is beneficial to everybody. Additionally, the US works to disseminate democratic and equitable ideals around the globe.
Foreign Policy of America: Overview
Here’s a table outlining the foreign policy of America:
|
Policy Area |
Overview |
|---|---|
|
National Security |
Prioritise preventing terrorism, maintaining army readiness, and maintaining global security |
|
Diplomacy |
Take part in diplomatic initiatives to strengthen alliances and resolve disputes |
|
Trade |
Seek sincere and mutually beneficial alternative arrangements to market revenue growth |
|
Human Rights |
Promote democracy and human rights worldwide |
|
Climate Change |
Strive for international collaboration to resolve climate exchange concerns |
|
Immigration |
In immigration policy, strike a balance between humanitarian goals and protective concerns |
|
Multilateralism |
Engage in and lend support to international organisations and accords |
US Foreign Policy Goals
The US foreign policy goals can be broadly classified into four main categories:
- Protecting the United States and its Citizens: Any foreign policy should prioritise this, and it may be achieved through a variety of means, including military force, diplomacy, and information collection. The United States aims to neutralise and eliminate risks to national security posed by terrorist groups as well as nation-states.
- Promoting Prosperity: The United States is among the nations that profit from a robust global economy. It encourages free trade, open markets, and foreign investment through the employment of foreign policy instruments. This entails negotiating trade deals, lending backing to initiatives for economic growth, and striving to maintain the stability of the world financial system.
- Advancing Democracy and Human Rights: The United States considers itself to be a worldwide champion of human rights and democracy. It advances these beliefs through public advocacy, foreign places useful resources, and diplomacy. The United States upholds democratic moves and establishments, defends human rights, and advances the rule of regulation.
- Maintaining a Stable Global Order: The maintenance of a solid and non-violent worldwide order is very crucial to America. It accomplishes this using tackling worldwide problems inclusive of pandemics, nuclear proliferation, and climate change in collaboration with allies and companions. Additionally, the US is a prime participant in international establishments like NATO and the United Nations.
These objectives can be pursued concurrently and are occasionally related. For instance, advancing human rights and democracy may also serve to further US security objectives. But there may also be conflicts between these objectives. For instance, to accomplish other foreign policy goals, the United States may need to collaborate with nations that do not uphold its democratic norms.
US Foreign Policy: History
Due to the two world wars, U.S. foreign policy changed from neutrality and non-interventionism throughout most of the 19th and 20th centuries to greater participation in European and global issues. The United States kept a non-interventionist, neutral posture when World War 1 broke out in Europe in 1914 until German submarines sunk American cargo ships in April 1917, killing Americans. President Woodrow Wilson participated in the Versailles Peace Treaty as the war came to a close in November 1918 and proposed the creation of the League of Nations as a means of averting future conflicts. The United States resumed its previous isolationist foreign policy since the U.S. Senate did not want the nation to join such an international league.
The US once more declared its neutrality after the Second World War broke out in 1939. Even though the United States was sent guns and other supplies as help, it wasn’t until Japan attacked Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, that the country formally entered the war. Following the belief of the struggle in 1945, the United States persisted in being lively in European politics by way of assisting the reconstruction of Europe with low-hobby loans and other financial resources, a programme popularly called the Marshall Plan. The United States’ new interventionist foreign policy approach protected the Marshall Plan.
As communism quickly multiplied at some stage in Eastern Europe, helping war-torn countries rebuild their financial system and sell capitalism and democracy became a pinnacle precedence for US overseas coverage. The European countries that benefited from the Marshall Plan were additionally referred to as purchaser states, denoting their reliance on the US Navy, politics, and financial system.
The Marshall Plan was a component of the United States’ new interventionist foreign policy approach. As communism swiftly spread over Eastern Europe, US foreign policy prioritised aiding war-torn countries in reconstructing their economies and advancing capitalism and democracy. To emphasise their dependence on US politics, the military, and economics, the European countries that benefitted from the Marshall Plan were also referred to as client states.
Foreign Policy of the US: After the Spanish-American War
The United States became a major global force after the Spanish-American War. The Hawaiian Islands were individually annexed, while Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines were made into American possessions as a result. A few years later, President Theodore Roosevelt became involved in Central and South American affairs. He helped Panama gain independence from Columbia in 1903, which paved the way for the Panama Canal’s development. As the European powers established their spheres of influence in China, the US demanded the implementation of the Open Door policy, which would grant all countries equal access to the country’s markets.
Foreign Policy of the US: After WW2
The end of World War II and the emergence of communism as a new worldwide threat profoundly altered US foreign policy. The following are some notable characteristics:
- Containment: This ended up becoming the mainstay of American foreign policy. The goal was to prevent communism from spreading outside the nations already influenced by the Soviet Union. This took several forms, such as the Truman Doctrine, which gave Greece and Turkey support in their efforts to quell communist uprisings.
- Building Alliances: The US established alliances like SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation) in Asia and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) in Europe to oppose the Soviet Union. Member states of these alliances are obligated to protect one another from attacks.
- Promoting Democracy and Stability: The US felt that the growth of democracy would undermine communist ideology and that it was a champion of democracy. It supported the governments and economies of allied nations by giving them financial and military assistance.
- Reconstruction and International Institutions: With initiatives like the Marshall Plan, the United States took the lead in helping to reconstruct Japan and Europe after the war. Furthermore, it contributed to the founding of international organisations that support cooperation and stability in the global economy, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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Nuclear Deterrence: The Cold War era was brought about by the US and the Soviet Union developing atomic weapons. The goal of the US doctrine known as Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) was to prevent Soviet invasion by guaranteeing a devastating nuclear retaliation in the event of an assault.
This time frame, which approximately corresponded to the conclusion of World War II and the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, saw fierce rivalry between the US and the USSR. The goals of US foreign policy were to uphold a stable international order, advance American ideals, and restrain communism.
Foreign Policy of the US: During the Cold War
The goal of American diplomacy during the Cold War was to stop communism from spreading and to lessen its influence where it already existed. Politicians in the United States had the view that advancing democracy would increase everyone’s liberty. However, there was a challenge facing the democratic United States. Millions of its residents were subjected to racial discrimination and segregation, therefore it couldn’t be argued that democracy was the ideal type of governance.
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What was American Foreign Policy in Response to 9/11?
After 9/11, US foreign policy saw a dramatic change that was characterised by several important factors:
- War on Terror: Declaring a “War on Terror,” the Bush administration sought to destroy terrorist networks and stop such assaults. This featured military incursions into Afghanistan, the home base of al-Qaeda, and subsequently Iraq, which was suspected of having WMDs but was eventually found not to have them.
- Increased Security Measures: To centralise security and intelligence operations, the Department of Homeland Security was established on a national level. Surveillance programmes were extended and airport security got stricter.
- International Cooperation: At first, there was a great feeling of unity among nations. To invade Afghanistan, the US collaborated with partners in NATO. But the invasion of Iraq soured relations with friends who doubted the rationale.
- Preemptive Action: The Bush Doctrine, which is still up for dispute, affirmed the authority to launch preventative attacks against possible threats.
This foreign policy’s long-term repercussions are complicated and up for discussion. While some contend that it increased security, others draw attention to the human cost of war and the degradation of civil freedoms.
Foreign Policy of America-FAQs
What is the US foreign policy?
Encouraging liberty and democracy while safeguarding human rights globally is fundamental to American foreign policy. The principles upon which the United States was created centuries ago are reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as other international and regional agreements.
When did US foreign policy change?
The primary trend in U.S. foreign policy history since the American Revolution has been the country’s transition from non-interventionism before and during World War I to its emergence as a global power and hegemon during that conflict as well as the Cold War in the 20th century.
What was the foreign policy of the United States in the 19th century?
Isolationism, the goal of which was to keep America out of other countries’ problems, dominated American foreign policy throughout the nineteenth century.
Who makes American foreign policy?
The President of the United States sets U.S. foreign policy in accordance with the Constitution. The President’s principal advisor on foreign policy is the Secretary of State, who is chosen by the President with the Senate’s advice and approval.
What is the foreign policy of a country?
The collection of tactics and measures a state uses in its dealings with other governments, unions, and international organisations is referred to as its foreign policy, often called its external policy. It covers a broad spectrum of goals, such as economic gains, humanitarian aid, and defence and security.