In a globalized world, America’s foreign policy matters to billions of people. It shapes their security, prosperity, and well-being in ways that affect Americans’ daily lives at home. Its challenges include humanitarian crises exacerbated by climate change; adversaries seeking to expand their influence and exert power; and autocrats that threaten democracy from within. The United States has the military and economic might to solve these problems, but it must employ its resources wisely and in cooperation with others.
Since World War II, American leaders have built the institutions that shape global politics: security alliances underwritten by U.S. military power; trade conducted in dollars; and a model of democratic governance that has been adopted by the majority of the world’s countries. These structures preserve and extend American primacy, but they also imbed its values in institutions that will endure for decades, regardless of the vicissitudes of American power.
The United States has many tools at its disposal, but the most important one is its diplomatic network. Diplomacy promotes mutual understanding between Americans and the citizens of other countries, which is essential for a peaceful and prosperous global order. It is also crucial for advancing U.S. interests and promoting the legitimacy of democracy around the world.
Ultimately, the sustainability of American power depends on whether other nations believe it is employed in their interests as much as its own. Cooperation can extend the life of this powerful force, ensuring that its principles and values continue to guide world events long after it has left office. It can also lessen the chances that other powers develop cultural and political tactics that over time sap the effectiveness of hard power.