Foreign policy involves formulating and executing the government’s goals, interests, and values in the world beyond America’s borders. It includes diplomatic relations with other countries, economic issues like trade, foreign aid, and monetary policy, security and defense policies such as military alliances, arms control, and peacekeeping operations, and global issues such as climate change, terrorism, and human rights violations.
While American policy makers have varied on their priorities, there is a strong bipartisan consensus in favor of supporting democratic and right-respecting political systems worldwide and on limiting the growing power and influence of Russia and China. In addition, there is a broad agreement that the United States should not engage in military conflicts without clear strategic objectives and the explicit approval of Congress and the public.
Diplomacy —negotiating agreements, making official statements and declarations, and seeking peaceful resolution of conflicts —has been a central feature of U.S. policy since the 18th century. Diplomacy is often seen as the softer complement to militarism, and it is not uncommon for great military leaders, such as George Marshall or Dwight Eisenhower, to have served as diplomats.
However, a large segment of the American public has become increasingly skeptical that the country can have a significant impact on world events through diplomatic or economic means alone. In fact, many young Americans think the United States should prioritize addressing problems at home over pursuing its foreign policy goals. This is reflected in recent Center research that finds that Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 rate improving education, strengthening the economy, and addressing racial inequality as higher priorities than combating terrorism, for example.
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