8/8/2019 International Interactions America

1/2

INTERNATIONAL INTERACTIONS

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The foreign policy of the United States is the policy by which the United States interacts with

foreign nations and sets standards of interaction for its organizations, corporations and individual

citizens. The U.S. is highly influential in the world. The global reach of the United States is

backed by a $14 trillion economy, approximately a quarter of global GDP, and a defense budget

of $711 billion, which accounts for approximately 43% of global military spending. The U.S.Secretary of State is the foreign minister and is the official charged with state-to-state diplomacy,

although the president has ultimate authority over foreign policy; that policy includes defining

the national interest, as well as the strategies chosen to both safeguard that and achieve its policy

goals.

The officially stated goals of the foreign policy of the United States, as mentioned in the Foreign

Policy Agenda of the U.S. Department of State, are "to create a more secure, democratic, and

prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community. In

addition, the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs states as some of its

jurisdictional goals: "export controls, including nonproliferation of nuclear technology and

nuclear hardware; measures to foster commercial intercourse with foreign nations and to

safeguard American business abroad; International commodity agreements; international

education; and protection of American citizens abroad and expatriation."

U.S. foreign policy has been the subject of much debate, praise and criticism both domestically

and abroad

The United States is a founding member of NATO, the world's largest military alliance. The 28

nation alliance consists of neighbor,Canada and much of Europe, including NATO's secondlargest military; the United Kingdom . Under the NATO charter, the United States is compelled

to defend any NATO state that is attacked by a foreign power. NATO is restricted to within the

North American and European areas. Starting in 1989, the United States also created a major

non-NATO ally status (MNNA) for five nations.Americas interactions with some countries is as

given.

8/8/2019 International Interactions America

2/2

WITH UNITED KINGDOM: United States foreign policy affirms its alliance with the

United Kingdom as its most important bilateral relationship in the world, evidenced by aligned

political affairs between the White House and 10 Downing Street, as well as joint military

operations carried out between the two nations.

WITH CANADA: The bilateral relationship between Canada and the United States is of

extreme importance to both countries. About 7585% of Canadian trade is with the United

States, and Canada is the United States' largest trading partner. While there are disputed issuesbetween the two nations, relations are close and the two countries famously share the "world's

longest undefended border."The United States was a close ally of Canada in both World Wars

WITH AUSTRALIA: The United States' relationship with Australia is a very close one,

with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stating that "America doesn't have a better friend in the

world than Australia". The relationship is formalised by the ANZUS treaty and the Australia-

United States Free Trade Agreement. The two countries have a shared history, both have

previously been British Colonies and many Americans flocked to the Australian goldfields in the19th century.

WITH MIDDLE EAST: The United States has seven major non-NATO allies in the

Greater Middle East region. These allies are Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Kuwait,

Pakistan, and Morocco. Israel and Egypt are leading recipients of foreign aid, receiving 2.75

billion and 1.75 billion in 2010.

WITH GEORGIA: Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili sees membership of the

NATO as a premise of stability for Georgia. On March 9, 2007, President Saakashvili announced

his plans to increase total Georgian troop strength in Iraq to 2000, making Georgia one of the

biggest supporters of Coalition Forces, and keeping its troops in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

Following the outbreak of war between Georgia and Russia on August 8, 2008, Mikheil

Saakashvili said that Georgia was pulling its entire 2,000-strong contingent of troops from

Iraq.During August 10 and 11, 2008, the U.S. Air Force airlifted the whole contingent out of

Iraq. America severly condemmed Russia for its attack on Georgia.