Strategy & U.S. Foreign Policy
The coordinated use of national resources to achieve long-term policy objectives abroad.
What is strategy in U.S. foreign policy?
A period of strategic rivalry involving economic, technological, and ideological competition, but not direct military conflict, between the U.S. and China.
What is the “new Cold War”?
An unexpected event, such as 9/11, that catches policymakers unprepared.
What is a strategic surprise?
A specific course of action proposed to address a policy issue or challenge.
What is a policy recommendation?
Persistent rivalry for influence and security among leading states describes this pattern.
What is an enduring pattern in great power competition?
This is one way policymakers adapt strategy in response to new international threats.
What is reassessing priorities, forming new alliances, or reallocating resources?
The U.S. and China compete economically in these areas, including technology and infrastructure investment.
What are trade policy, technology, or infrastructure investment?
This complicates planning and can lead to risk aversion or miscalculation in foreign policy.
What is uncertainty?
Investing in cyber defenses and negotiating international norms are policy actions to address this threat from China.
What are cybersecurity threats?
This is a key difference between the U.S.–Soviet Cold War and today’s U.S.–China rivalry.
What is greater economic interdependence and technological competition?
This provides policymakers with information on threats, opportunities, and the intentions of other states.
What is intelligence?
The race for dominance in 5G, AI, and semiconductors is an example of this kind of competition.
What is technological competition?
The incorrect assessment of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is an example of this.
What is an intelligence failure?
Strengthening alliances and maintaining freedom of navigation operations are recommended strategies for managing uncertainty here
What is the South China Sea?
Intelligence now emphasizes cyber threats, open-source data, and rapid dissemination, reflecting this change since the Cold War.
What is the changing role of intelligence?
Public opinion, interest groups, and congressional oversight are all ways this shapes foreign policy strategy.
What is domestic politics?
China’s main military strategy in the Asia-Pacific region.
What is anti-access/area denial and regional dominance?
Scenario analysis and probability assessments are examples of these tools used by governments.
What are methods to interpret risk?
Promoting transparent investment and supporting African agency are recommended U.S. approaches for balancing interests with China in this region.
What is Africa?
The rise of multipolarity and more influential non-state actors mark this shift from the 20th to the 21st century.
What is a shift in global order?
This U.S. foreign policy shift was a response to China’s rise as a global power.
What is the “pivot to Asia”?
The rivalry between the U.S. and China has led to increased polarization and competition for influence in these organizations.
What are global institutions like the UN and WTO?
The use of disinformation to influence public opinion and disrupt adversaries is a form of this.
What is information warfare?
This comprehensive U.S. policy combines trade enforcement, technology investment, and coordination with allies to address economic competition with China.
What is a multi-faceted response to economic competition with China?
Today, deterrence includes cyber, space, and hybrid threats beyond nuclear weapons, in contrast to this earlier strategic environment.
What is the Cold War era of nuclear deterrence?