Foreign policy is the set of principles and tools that countries use to navigate complex international relationships and challenges. Countries’ foreign policies are shaped by their national security, economic interests, and democratic values.
In an address to Congress in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson promised to fight “for democracy, for the rights of small nations, and for a concert of free peoples that shall bring peace to all the world, make the world safe for human liberty, and enlarge the area of freedom.”
Countries develop foreign policies by drawing on their historical experiences, strategic considerations, and perceived opportunities. They also consider domestic politics and public opinion. As a result, the United States’ foreign policy is complex.
Foreign policies often involve military interventions, diplomacy, and economic tools. The executive branch has a broad range of constitutional authority to conduct foreign affairs. In addition, Congress often passes laws giving the executive additional authority to act on specific foreign policy issues. Presidents frequently draw on these legal authorities when deciding how to approach a particular issue. For example, President Richard Nixon relied on the statutory authority provided by the Curtiss-Wright Export Corporation and Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company cases to initiate the Vietnam War.
Some scholars argue that efforts to promote democracy and human rights abroad may at times conflict with other strategic U.S. interests. Others say that a long-term commitment to these causes is necessary and may pay dividends. Efforts to foster democracy and human rights can help mitigate a number of challenges, including incremental forms of democratic backsliding, technological developments, and the growing global influence of authoritarian governments.