Malcolm Rivera
Diplomacy is a key tool in the United States' foreign policy arsenal. The country's diplomatic efforts are led by the Department of State, which has been responsible for American diplomacy since 1789. The Department of State manages America's relationships with foreign governments, international organisations, and the people of other countries. The State Department's diplomats represent the interests of the United States in a diverse range of multinational discussions and negotiations, covering issues such as trade, climate change, human rights, and war and peace. Diplomacy is a means of protecting the United States and its citizens, promoting American businesses, and rallying allies. The United States also uses diplomacy to welcome foreign citizens and immigrants, who contribute greatly to the country, while also ensuring that visas are not approved for those who might cause harm.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Protecting America and its citizens | The U.S. Department of State manages America's relationships with foreign governments, international organizations, and the people of other countries |
| Promoting American businesses | The U.S. is the largest international aid donor in absolute dollar terms |
| Rallying allies | The U.S. has been increasing its activities in Africa to fight terrorism and support democracy |
| Negotiating and securing interests | The U.S. has been upgrading infrastructure, boosting research, bolstering key industries, and leading the global energy transition |
| Communicating with foreign publics | The U.S. engages international audiences on issues of foreign policy, society, and values to create an environment receptive to U.S. national interests |
| Providing aid | The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) manages most bilateral economic assistance, while the Treasury Department handles most multilateral aid |
| Encouraging agreement | Rewards such as arms sales, economic aid, and promises of new trade are used to encourage agreement |
| Deterring aggression | The U.S. has passed laws to limit the ability of the president to use the military without Congressional authorization |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Department of State manages relationships with foreign governments, international organisations, and other countries' citizens
- The US uses diplomacy to protect its citizens, promote American businesses, and negotiate and secure its interests
- Diplomacy is used to prevent local conflicts from becoming wider wars that may harm US interests
- The US uses public diplomacy to share its foundational values and achievements with foreign governments and citizens
- Treaties are a formal, written agreement between countries, international organisations, or sovereign states
The US Department of State manages relationships with foreign governments, international organisations, and other countries' citizens
The US Department of State is responsible for managing America's relationships with foreign governments, international organisations, and the citizens of other countries. This involves carrying out the President's foreign policy and helping to build a more free, prosperous, and secure world. The Department of State is a vital part of the US Government, representing the United States overseas and conveying US policies to foreign governments and international organisations through American embassies and consulates in foreign countries and diplomatic missions.
The Department of State has four main foreign policy goals:
- Support US diplomats, officials, and personnel: The Department of State provides support and backup to US diplomats, government officials, and other personnel serving at home and abroad. This includes providing logistical support, foreign policy guidance, and ensuring their safety and security.
- Protecting America: The Department of State uses diplomacy to protect the United States and its citizens from international threats, such as international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and environmental degradation. This involves international cooperation, policy oversight, and guidance to counter these threats.
- Promoting Mutual Understanding: The State Department engages with international audiences on issues of foreign policy, society, and values to foster a sense of common interests and values with other countries. They use public diplomacy programs and cutting-edge technologies to communicate with foreign opinion-makers and create an environment receptive to US national interests.
- Regional Stability: The Department of State uses diplomacy to prevent local conflicts from escalating into wider wars that may harm US interests. They work with other countries and international organisations to promote stability, economic prosperity, and democracy in regions like the Middle East, the Western Hemisphere, and Africa.
To achieve these goals, the Department of State employs Civil Service (CS) employees and Foreign Service members. CS employees handle a range of tasks, from issuing passports to consulting with Congress on foreign policy. Foreign Service members, on the other hand, can be sent to any diplomatic mission worldwide to represent America and respond to the needs of American citizens in other countries. They build relationships with foreign governments, international organisations, and citizens of other countries, fostering mutual understanding and pursuing America's diplomatic mission.
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The US uses diplomacy to protect its citizens, promote American businesses, and negotiate and secure its interests
Diplomacy is one of the best ways to protect the United States and its citizens. The US Department of State has been the principal agency in charge of American diplomacy since 1789. It is responsible for managing America's relationships with foreign governments, international organisations, and the people of other countries. The State Department carefully reviews over 8 million visa applications per year to ensure that no visas are approved for foreign citizens who might harm the country.
The US also uses diplomacy to promote American businesses and its interests abroad. Through diplomatic negotiations, the US creates new markets for American workers and businesses, resulting in more affordable goods for American consumers and more reliable food and energy supplies. Diplomacy also helps to strengthen the health system, which can help to arrest and roll back deadly diseases before they spread to the United States.
Diplomacy is also used to negotiate and secure America's interests. The US State Department conveys US policies to foreign governments and international organisations through American embassies and consulates in foreign countries and diplomatic missions. The State Department also negotiates and concludes agreements and treaties on issues such as trade, nuclear weapons, and cyber warfare.
The US has a long history of using diplomacy to achieve its foreign policy goals. During the American Civil War, diplomacy focused on preventing European involvement in the war. In the 20th century, under Theodore Roosevelt, the United States adopted the Roosevelt Corollary, indicating its willingness to use military strength to end conflicts. Today, the US continues to use diplomacy to shape and sustain a peaceful, prosperous, just, and democratic world, fostering conditions for stability and progress for the benefit of its citizens and people everywhere.
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Diplomacy is used to prevent local conflicts from becoming wider wars that may harm US interests
The US Department of State employs diplomacy in all regions of the world to prevent local conflicts from escalating into wider wars that may harm US interests. This involves working with other countries in international organisations to promote stability and economic prosperity. For example, the US State Department works with Middle Eastern countries to support the development of democracy in Iraq and to help Israel, Egypt, and the Palestinians find a way to live peacefully together. Similarly, in the Western Hemisphere, the US collaborates with other countries to combat terrorism and illegal drug trafficking while promoting democratic institutions.
US diplomacy also focuses on supporting countries transitioning from post-conflict or authoritarian regimes. It helps these countries reform their police, judicial, and corrections systems to establish the stability required for economic growth and robust democratic institutions. The State Department's annual report on human trafficking is a crucial diplomatic tool in this regard, assessing governments' efforts to combat this modern form of slavery. Additionally, the US provides assistance to refugees and victims of conflict or natural disasters worldwide, demonstrating its commitment to humanitarian values.
To achieve its diplomatic goals, the US relies on a dedicated group of individuals in the Foreign Service and Civil Service, both domestically and abroad. These diplomats represent US interests in foreign countries, navigating complex environments and working with local partners to build resilience and pursue lasting peace. They also play a vital role in promoting mutual understanding between Americans and people from other countries, fostering a sense of shared interests and values that align with US national interests.
US diplomacy also involves engaging in conflict resolution techniques, such as deterrence, defensive alliances, economic sanctions, and direct military force to establish demilitarised zones. However, the effectiveness of these techniques has evolved over time, with a shift towards more nuanced approaches. For instance, the US may employ a multi-pronged strategy that includes improving human rights, addressing health and education dimensions of conflict, and countering disinformation to prevent its escalation.
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The US uses public diplomacy to share its foundational values and achievements with foreign governments and citizens
Diplomacy is one of the best ways to protect the United States and its citizens. The US Department of State, created in 1789, is the principal agency in charge of American diplomacy. It is responsible for managing America's relationships with foreign governments, international organisations, and the people of other countries.
The State Department engages international audiences on issues of foreign policy, society, and values to create an environment receptive to US national interests. It communicates with foreign opinion-makers and other publics through public diplomacy programs, using websites in multiple languages and traditional text publications. These programs encourage entrepreneurship and job-related training, providing citizens of friendly countries with knowledge about America's core values and aid that improves their daily lives.
Public diplomacy is also used to counter disinformation and fake news, delivering a truthful and authentic American message to the world. It is a powerful tool for advancing American interests and protecting national security. The success of public diplomacy requires support from the White House and Congress, as well as the involvement of various sectors and individuals.
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Treaties are a formal, written agreement between countries, international organisations, or sovereign states
Treaties are a vital tool of diplomacy, and the United States enters into more than 200 treaties and other international agreements each year. Treaties are formal, written agreements between countries, international organisations, or sovereign states, and they cover a wide range of topics, including peace, trade, defence, territorial boundaries, human rights, law enforcement, and environmental matters. For example, in 1796, the United States entered into the Treaty with Tripoli to protect American citizens from kidnapping and ransom by pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. More recently, in 2001, the United States agreed to a treaty on cybercrime.
The process of creating a treaty begins with negotiations between the involved parties. In the United States, the president has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, as granted by Article Two of the United States Constitution. Once a treaty is signed, it must be ratified to come into force. In the US, the Treaty Clause of the Constitution dictates that for a treaty to be ratified, it must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations typically discusses and votes on treaties first. If approved, the United States exchanges the instruments of ratification with the relevant foreign states.
It is important to note that international agreements can also be reached through other mechanisms, such as executive agreements made by the president or congressional-executive agreements. These have different legal implications than Senate-ratified treaties. Additionally, the Supreme Court has ruled that Congress can modify or repeal treaties even after they have been ratified. This has been a source of controversy, as it can be seen as a violation of the treaty under international law.
The Office of Treaty Affairs within the US Department of State plays a crucial role in the treaty process. It provides advice to the State Department and other government agencies on the negotiation, conclusion, interpretation, and implementation of treaties. The office also handles the United States' responsibilities as a depositary for more than 200 multilateral treaties, including significant agreements such as the Charter of the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty.
Through the use of treaties and other diplomatic tools, the United States aims to protect its citizens, promote American businesses, foster alliances, and secure its interests on the global stage.
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Frequently asked questions
The U.S. Department of State is the principal agency in charge of American diplomacy. It manages America's relationships with foreign governments, international organisations, and the people of other countries. The Department of State also conveys U.S. policies to foreign governments and international organisations through embassies and consulates in foreign countries and diplomatic missions.
American diplomacy aims to protect U.S. citizens, promote American businesses, rally allies, and negotiate and secure U.S. interests. Diplomacy is one of the best ways to protect the United States and its people, and it is supplemented by military strength, economic influence, and political influence.
The U.S. conducts diplomacy through its ambassadors and other representatives of the Department of State. The U.S. also engages in public diplomacy, which involves communicating with foreign publics and governments to share America's foundational values and achievements. This is done through a variety of channels, including new and traditional media, and with the support of the private sector.
American diplomacy has resulted in tangible benefits for American families and communities, including more markets for American workers and businesses, more affordable goods for consumers, and more reliable food and energy supplies. Diplomacy also helps to create more robust health systems that can address deadly diseases before they spread to the United States, and it helps to deter aggression and address global challenges through a network of allies and partners.
