As the world’s strongest military power and largest economy, the United States has outsized influence. Its foreign policy has to balance its own national security and economic interests with democratic values and complex relationships across the globe. It must also keep pace with evolving global challenges and threats, such as climate change, pandemics, terrorism, or the threat of nuclear proliferation.
The goal of foreign policy is to shape and manage a country’s interactions with other countries, using diplomatic, economic, and military tools. Developing and maintaining diplomatic relations, negotiating trade agreements, and offering development assistance are key areas of foreign policy. So are addressing global issues and securing the country’s role in international organisations, such as the UN or the International Monetary Fund. Many countries also have specialised teams that monitor international events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or a country’s deteriorating human rights situation.
A large part of a government’s foreign policy is managing the public’s expectations and priorities. This year’s Datapraxis poll found that a plurality of Britons prioritise promoting UK national interests, followed by addressing immediate humanitarian concerns. A smaller number, however, think that the UK’s top priority should be supporting other nations’ long-term development.