According to the Department of State, the goals of our foreign policy are “to create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community.”
As partisan as our politics can seem at times, there is actually agreement between Democrats, Republicans, and Independents on issues surrounding America’s role in the world.
Political, military, and business leaders know that “smart power,” a combination of traditional ‘hard’ power and modern ‘soft’ power, should form the basis of U.S. foreign policy.
While our leaders recognize the need for a well-trained and well-equipped military, they also see factors such as humanitarian aid, development assistance, and good governance and democracy-building initiatives as essential to long-term peace and stability around the world.
Newly-appointed Secretary of State John Kerry explains, “The work we do with the money we have in that little, tiny 1% probably buys us more than any other section of the budget…”
Florida Senator Marco Rubio agrees, “Foreign aid is a very cost-effective way, not only to export our values and our example, but to advance our security and economic interests.”
When the U.S. spends money on foreign assistance that fights poverty, hunger, disease, and corruption, it enhances national security, opens up new markets to American goods, and solidifies our good standing in the world.
– Jordan N. Hunt
Source: USGLC, U.S. Department of State
Photo: ideastream