US Foreign Policy Rundown

Foreign policy is shaping up to be a major talking point during the 2024 election. Here is a rundown of America's positions.

Foreign policy is set to become a major political talking point from now through the 2024 election. 

Republicans have already begun lodging complaints suggesting that Biden is showing weakness and that our adversaries are emboldened. These statements typically accompany claims that:

• the dollar will be replaced as a global currency

• that China will overtake our economy and global influence

• a “New Axis of Evil” that wants to destroy America

• and general fears around BRICS

Let’s take a look at the accuracy of these claims:

The World’s Opinion

Pew Research has conducted an international poll every year with questions focused on opinions of the United States (link at end of article). This long running poll lets us easily compare how the world view has shifted with different leadership.

The blue boxes mark the lowest confidence level recorded per nation. There were a lot of them under the previous administration.

The only blue box for Biden is Hungary who has a relatively strong relationship with Russia. Every other nation on the list besides Israel not only shows higher confidence with Biden as President, but most show a substantial increase.

Military Might

America is the only military Super Power in the world. We spend almost $900 billion on our military whereas China, the second highest spender, budgets only $225 billion.

Military might isn’t purely defined by spending, it is also defined by technology. In modern times where battles are won with long range missiles, drones, data and communications, the technology that matters most is surprisingly small: microchips.

The US has continually held a multiple generation lead on microchips over China, and has worked hard to hang onto that lead.

This is achieved both through constant investment into new advances as well as protecting the technology by not allowing China to purchase the newest chips or the equipment to manufacture those chips.

China has been working hard to close the gap which has resulted in their attempts to side step America’s safeguards in order to obtain the most advanced chips. This has stirred up a modern cold war that has also been dubbed the “Chip War”.

Despite the US owning the technology, microchips are mostly manufactured in other countries. Taiwan, South Korea and Japan are the largest manufacturers.

Espionage, along with increased global risks, has led to the recent efforts by the US to bring microchip manufacturing back to the United States.

The CHIPS and Science Act is one piece of legislation leading this charge and there is more legislation in the works to further protect America’s technological advantage all while creating jobs.

Beyond our own military and technology, the US has amassed a large network of allies, largely through NATO.

During Biden’s term as President:

• Finland joined NATO

• Sweden has been approved by all members to join NATO and is simply waiting for the final ratification

• Ukraine has requested to join, but NATO is waiting for the war with Russia to end

• Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with Georgia, have also declared their interest in joining

This is in stark contrast to the previous administration which routinely chastised NATO allies for not spending enough on their militaries which culminated in threats of the US leaving the NATO alliance all together. A move that would have been an incredible gift to our adversaries.

In contrast to NATO, conservative media has dubbed China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran as the “New Axis of Evil”. There isn’t a specific organization that contains only these four nations and they do not have any formal alliance, but they do maintain communication. This group is significantly smaller and weaker than NATO.

A stance that doesn’t add up is far right conservatives who refuse to support Ukraine in their defense against Russia’s invasion. Besides the assault on freedom and the atrocities committed by Russia, an additional reason to support Ukraine is it directly weakens Russia and its allies.

It makes no sense to fear the “New Axis of Evil” and simultaneously not support Ukraine.

BRICS

Back in 2001, economists began referring to a group of developing economies as BRIC, an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India and China. The estimates were that these nations combined could become the economic leaders of the world by 2050.

In 2009, the BRIC nations held their first official summit to discuss how to improve their economies and world influence. It also kicked off the initial calls for a stable global currency, a rebuff of the US dollar.

The following year China officially invited South Africa to join the group. The other nations agreed and changed the coalition name to BRICS.

BRICS has stayed at five countries until this year when they announced that six emerging economic nations were being invited to officially join BRICS in 2024. Those nations are:

• Argentina

• Egypt

• Ethiopia

• Iran

• Saudi Arabia

• United Arab Emirates

At the same time, calls for moving away from the dollar as the main global currency are on the rise, with Russia and China leading the way.

The continual rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve is one reason. As the Fed raises rates, countries holding onto the dollar lose value.

For China, their goal is to move from the second largest economy into the lead position. They also want to increase China’s influence around the world, which includes substantial investments being made in Africa and South America, areas the US has ignored for far too long.

Russia, and many other nations, have had to face US economic sanctions, one of America’s most powerful non-military methods of influencing foreign agendas.

Every member of BRICS, including the new members joining in 2024, have faced US sanctions at some point. Russia and Iran are currently sanctioned. 

The US has overused sanctions in our attempts to control the world. Sanctions should only be used in the most serious of instances such as unjust wars, genocides, and oppression. Not to simply change government policies we disagree with or force allegiances.

This graph from Pew Research shows how the world views the US approach to foreign affairs and suggests we shouldn’t be surprised that the dollar is losing ground on the world stage, although it is still king for now and for the short term foreseeable future.

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Overall, the US standing in the world is better now than it was under the last administration and none of the problems being faced are new. But that doesn’t mean the US should rest easy and ignore the world with an America First mindset.

Our position in world affairs is never a guarantee. It requires constant diplomacy to retain our place of influence and safety. It is far easier to destroy relationships than to build them.

On top of continuing to expand NATO in Europe, the US needs to be forward looking with economic and political developments in Africa and South America. 

Africa contains 1/6th of the entire world population and includes nations that will experience large economic gains over the next several decades. Nations that would make great trade partners and potential future allies for the US.  

South America contains economies that are already growing quickly and are located relatively close to the United States. The more nations where the US can become the primary economic partner, the stronger the dollar’s standing remains.

Beyond economic reasons, there are military considerations for expanded diplomacy as well. America’s alliance with countries such as Japan, South Korea, and many nations in Europe, allows us to position bases in strategic areas around the world.

China is currently building a spy base in Cuba thanks to America’s poor relationship with the small island nation. Imagine the panic if China expanded military and intelligence bases throughout Latin and South America.

There are plenty of considerations for future US foreign policy needs, but it is also clear that America’s standing in the world today is far better than it was just three years ago.

https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2023/06/27/international-views-of-biden-and-u-s-largely-positive/