Foreign policy reflects the general objectives of a country’s engagement in its relationships with other countries. It balances a nation’s economic interests and democratic values while navigating complex international relationships and challenges. Foreign policy is shaped by geographic considerations, the policies and actions of other countries, and internal factors like public opinion and interest groups. It can take the form of war, diplomacy, or international trade, and it may be hard or soft.
The hard approach focuses on the use of military and economic force to achieve one’s goals and interests and coerce or convince other countries to cooperate and compromise. This is the strategy that characterized much of imperial Europe from the 15th through the mid-18th centuries. The United States used a different strategy in the 19th century, supporting independence movements and establishing US spheres of influence throughout Latin America and Asia. This ushered in a new era of American global power, which was further enhanced by the acquisition of Guam, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico.
The soft approach has a central role in the United States’ current foreign policy, focusing on mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries as a means of advancing our national interests. The State Department fosters this mutual understanding through a broad range of public diplomacy programs that include information outreach to international audiences via our embassies and consulates, as well as through online content in English and six other languages, and expert visits abroad.