A country’s foreign policy is the set of strategies it uses to manage relationships with other nations and to advance its own interests, values or goals. It is an ever-changing practice influenced by domestic considerations, the policies and behavior of other states, and global events.
Countries have many tools to use in pursuing their foreign policy, including diplomatic initiatives, military alliances, economic sanctions, public diplomacy and international trade agreements. However, the most common method used is military intervention to protect its citizens and secure its national interests. This is often referred to as “hard” foreign policy.
The goal of all foreign policy is to influence other countries in order to promote or protect a government’s interests, but different leaders approach this task with different strategies. Generally, three broad questions guide the conduct of foreign policy:
The United States is the only country with both a major economy and the most powerful military on the planet, giving it outsized influence in global affairs. However, recent polling shows that millennials in the United States are less interested than other generations in having their government address international issues. Young people need to hear in clear and accessible terms why addressing global issues is important for America and for the world, including how it benefits the country economically, provides opportunities to stand up for human rights, prevents power vacuums that would require a costly and difficult response down the road, and more.