Foreign policy shapes a nation’s role in the world, balancing national security, economic interests, and democratic values while navigating complex international relationships and challenges. It involves military intervention, diplomacy and an array of economic tools to accomplish its objectives, and it is influenced by multiple factors, including domestic politics, public opinion and interest groups.
The United States, which has the most advanced and powerful military in the world, has tended to avoid using force whenever possible, except to end wars or to punish rogue governments for wrongdoing. As a result, the country has built a global diplomatic network that is based on building trade and security relations with nations and regions around the globe.
This broader network includes regional agreements such as those with Canada and Mexico, ties to countries in Asia such as Japan, South Korea and Australia, and the Open Door Policy with China. It also includes global efforts to combat climate change, global food insecurity and population migration, which often require cooperation among many nations.
The UK must be pragmatic about its resources and limits but should not retreat from international affairs, which are critical to its interests and values and to its future prosperity. Its next government will face numerous challenges, from the rise of protectionist forces in both major US political parties to a growing lack of interest by the current administration in fostering democracy and human rights abroad. Freedom House research shows that repression abroad can have a direct effect on the lives of people at home, including those in democracies.
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