foreign policy

/ˌfɔrən ˌpɑləsi/

/ˈfɒrən ˈpɒləsi/

Other forms: foreign policies

A country's foreign policy is its set of rules and goals for interacting with other countries. Most foreign policy involves diplomatic discussions, but it can also mean going to war.

Around the world, every nation’s foreign policy has the ultimate goal of protecting and benefitting itself and its citizens politically and economically. In practice, foreign policy can include diplomatic tactics, military aggression, trade agreements, and foreign aid. Most countries have a foreign minister who oversees foreign policy; in the United States, this is the job of the Secretary of State.

Definitions of foreign policy

1. noun

   a policy governing international relations
   types:

   brinkmanship

   the policy of pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of disaster (to the limits of safety)

   imperialism

   a policy of extending your rule over foreign countries

   interference, intervention

   a policy of intervening in the affairs of other countries

   noninterference, nonintervention

   a foreign policy of staying out of other countries' disputes

   nonaggression

   a policy of not initiating hostilities

   isolationism

   a policy of nonparticipation in international economic and political relations

   Monroe Doctrine

   an American foreign policy opposing interference in the western hemisphere from outside powers

   Truman doctrine

   President Truman's policy of providing economic and military aid to any country threatened by communism or totalitarian ideology

   neutralism

   a policy of neutrality or nonalignment in international affairs

   regionalism

   a foreign policy that defines the international interests of a country in terms of particular geographic areas

   national trading policy, trade policy

   a government's policy controlling foreign trade

   appeasement

   a policy of pacifying an enemy or potential enemy by making concessions

   manifest destiny

   a policy of imperialism rationalized as inevitable (as if granted by God)

   open door, open-door policy

   the policy of granting equal trade opportunities to all countries

   type of:

   policy

   a line of argument rationalizing the course of action of a government