A country’s foreign policy is the set of strategies it employs to advance its goals and interests in international affairs. It is a complex interplay of diplomacy, negotiation, and strategic decision-making. It has evolved and shifted with the emergence of different cultures, religions, empires, and states in history.
Foreign policy covers a broad range of topics: establishing diplomatic relations with countries and organizations; promoting economic relations through trade agreements, export promotion, or development aid; addressing security concerns by developing military alliances or conducting peacekeeping operations; and tackling global issues such as climate change or pandemics through cooperation and multilateralism. Foreign policy also includes the policies and laws that manage these activities.
The public has strong views on foreign policy, and their opinions seem to have more weight than ever before. That could be because the toolkit of foreign policy has broadened to include trade, currency, migration, and technology – all areas that feature prominently in domestic political debates. It might also be because of a rising sense of disenchantment with governments, following their performance in crises like the eurozone meltdown and the covid-19 pandemic.
Amid all the partisan noise, it’s worth remembering that there are common goals that all Americans share with people in other nations. We need to support the diplomats and government officials at home and abroad who make these goals a reality. They are the bedrock of our national security. And that’s what this video is about.