Foreign policy is the broad umbrella that covers everything from promoting democracy abroad to overseeing international security and development. It’s also a key part of any economic agenda, as America’s global engagement and influence are fundamental to the nation’s prosperity.
Getting it right, however, requires a balance of strategies. One is to sustain the bases of American power — both economically and militarily — so that a commitment to democracy and free markets triumphs on a global scale. This requires maintaining a military edge, both technologically and in terms of overall capacity to bring force to bear at a moment of our choosing. It also means keeping a global eye on the challenges of our time, from the rise of China to the defiance of international norms by Iran and other authoritarian regimes.
Diplomacy, too, is essential. It can be a tool of persuasion and a vehicle for fostering trust, but it can also serve as a means to defuse conflict and to set the stage for negotiation. Indeed, many of history’s greatest military minds have served as diplomats as well, including Generals George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower.
And finally, it’s vital to transform unquestioned American power into influence. Otherwise, a growing perception that Washington cares only about its own self-interest can breed resentment among allies and fuel new efforts to constrain U.S. power, such as those seen in Europe, where elites have begun to view America as morally and culturally retrograde in its embrace of the death penalty and predatory capitalism.
