NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Foreign relations of the United States

The foreign relations of the United States are highly influential on the world stage. America's global reach is backed by a 13 trillion dollar economy. ^[1] Military intervention and deployments have been persistent components of U.S. foreign policy, see List of United States military history events, as have covert actions for regime change, see covert U.S. regime change actions. Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countriesAtlas Politics Portal The United States has a federal government, with elected officials at federal (national), state and... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal United States presidential elections determine who serves as president and vice president of the United... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal Midterm elections are elections in the United States in which members of Congress, state legislatures, and... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Politics Portal This list of political parties in the United States contains past and present political parties in the... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas Politics Portal Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... A state government is the government of a subnational entity in nation-states with federal forms of government, which shares political power with the federal government or national government. ... Local governments are administrative offices that are smaller than a state or province. ... Current party control of Governors offices (2006). ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal In the United States of America, a state legislature is a generic term referring to the... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal All United States states are required to possess a legislative branch. ... In the U.S., a state court has jurisdiction over disputes which occur in a state. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal Local government in the United States (sometimes referred to as municipal government) is generally structured... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... From 1776 to 2007, there have been hundreds of instances of the deployment of United States military forces abroad and domestically. ... According to various sources, the United States of America government has an established practice of forcibly overthrowing or trying to overthrow foreign governments perceived as hostile, directly or indirectly, and replacing them with a new ones, a practice that has recently become known as regime change. ...

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." ^[2] 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."^[3]. American foreign policy has been the subject of much debate, criticism and praise both domestically and abroad. The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ... The first U.S. census, in 1790, recorded under 4 million Americans. ... The U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs (also known as the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives which is in charge of bills and investigations related to the foreign affairs of the United States. ... The United States has the worlds second largest GDP, $13. ... By county. ...

Foreign policy powers of the president and Congress

Subject to the advice and consent role of the U.S. Senate, the President negotiates treaties with foreign nations, but treaties enter into force only if ratified by two-thirds of the Senate.^[4] The President is also Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces, and as such has broad authority over the armed forces once they are deployed, however Congress has the sole authority to declare war,^[5] and the civilian and military budget is written by the Congress.^[6] The Secretary of State is the foreign minister of the United States and is the primary conductor of state-to-state diplomacy. The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... The presidential seal is a well-known symbol of the presidency. ... A Commander-in-Chief is the commander of a nations military forces or significant element of those forces. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... In several countries, Secretary of State is a senior government position. ... A minister for foreign affairs, or foreign minister, is a governmental cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign nation. ...

Brief history

American foreign policy can be considered to have first emerged with the initiation of the "Olive Branch Policy", an attempt on the part of the new state of America to reconcile with Great Britain. During the American Revolution, the United States established relations with several European powers, convincing France, Spain, and the Netherlands to intervene in the war against Britain, a mutual enemy. In the period following, the U.S. oscillated between pro-French and pro-British policies. In general, the U.S. remained aloof from European disputes, focusing on territorial expansion in North America. Payments in ransom and tribute to the Barbary pirate states amounted to 20% of United States government annual revenues in 1800, therefore the punitive actions against the Barbary States of North Africa were launched by the administrations of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... William Bainbridge paying tribute to the Dey. ... William Bainbridge paying tribute to the Dey. ... William Bainbridge (1774-1833). ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress The American Revolution refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen Colonies that... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... The Moorish ambassador of the Barbary States to the Court of Queen Elizabeth I of England. ... The states along the Barbary Coast, Algiers, Morocco, Tripoli, and Tunis, were collectively known as the Barbary States. ... North Africa is the Mediterranean, northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa. ... Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.â€“4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801â€“09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ... James Madison (March 16, 1751 â€“ June 28, 1836), an American politician and fourth President of the United States of America (1809â€“1817), was one of the most influential Founders of the United States. ...

After the Spanish colonies in Latin America declared independence, the U.S. established the Monroe Doctrine, a policy of keeping European powers out of the Americas. U.S. expansionism, justified by jingoist doctrines such as "manifest destiny", included war against Mexico, with the U.S. taking what are now the territories of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, and to diplomatic conflict with Britain and Russia over the Oregon Territory and with Spain over Florida and later Cuba. During the American Civil War, the U.S. accused Britain and France of supporting the Confederate States and accused France of trying to control Mexico. After the Civil War Anglo-American relations improved as the wartime cooperation continued. The most comprehensive treaty of the century was concluded at Washington on May 8th 1871 that resolved antebellum and wartime disputes. Meanwhile, American patience about the French military occupation of Mexico City to protect the puppet ruler Napoleon III had sent, Maximilian, succeeded. The French government became increasingly bankrupted by the Mexican initiative, said to be part of Napoleon III's "grand design" to modernize backward nations. His design was more fraudulent to spread his imperial power, which he was then unable to do in Europe or elsewhere such as in the Middle East. In 1866 and 1867 over 40,000 French troops were withdrawn from Mexico and, despite American Secretary of State William Henry Seward's entreaties on his behalf, Maximilian was executed. Actually with the end of British military persuasion after 1815, the U.S. was unchallenged in its home territory, except by Native Americans. Through the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, it strove to be the dominant influence in the Americas, trying to weaken European influence in Latin America and occasionally intervening to establish puppet governments in weak states. Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... U.S. President James Monroe The Monroe Doctrine is a U.S. doctrine which, on December 2, 1823, proclaimed that European powers would no longer colonize or interfere with the affairs of the nations of the Americas. ... This painting (circa 1872) by John Gast called American Progress is an allegorical representation of Manifest Destiny. ... The Oregon Territory is the name applied both to the unorganized Oregon Country claimed by both the United States and Britain, as well as to the organized U.S. territory formed from it that existed between 1848 and 1859. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami Area Ranked 22nd - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] kmÂ²) - Width 361 miles (582 km) - Length 447 miles (721 km) - % water 17. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: With God As Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861â€“May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861â€“April 9, 1865 Danville, Virginia April 3â€“April 10, 1865 Largest city New Orleans February 4, 1861â€“May 1... Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (April 20, 1808 - January 9, 1873) was the son of King Louis Bonaparte and Queen Hortense de Beauharnais; both monarchs of the French puppet state, the Kingdom of Holland. ... Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico (Emperador Maximiliano I de MÃ©xico) (July 6, 1832 â€“ June 19, 1867) (born Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph) was a member of Austrias Imperial Habsburg-Lorraine family. ... Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States, including parts of Alaska. ... A political cartoonists commentary on Roosevelts big stick policy The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine was a substantial alteration (called an amendment) of the Monroe Doctrine by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. ... U.S. President James Monroe The Monroe Doctrine is a U.S. doctrine which, on December 2, 1823, proclaimed that European powers would no longer colonize or interfere with the affairs of the nations of the Americas. ... A puppet state is a state whose government, though notionally of the same culture as the governed people - owes its existence (or other major debt) to being installed, supported or controlled by a more powerful entity, typically a foreign power. ...

As U.S. economic power grew, it began to look at interests farther abroad, particularly in the pursuit of trade. The U.S. conquered Cuba and Puerto Rico, occupied territories in the Pacific, such as Hawaii and the Philippines, demanded the opening of Japan to trade, and competed with other powers for influence in China, see Gunboat Diplomacy. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area Ranked 43rd - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 kmÂ²) - Width n/a miles (n/a km) - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km) - % water 41. ... In international politics, gunboat diplomacy refers to the pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of military powerâ€”implying or constituting a direct threat of warfare, should terms not be agreeable to the superior force. ...

The U.S. entered World War I, emerging victorious with the Allies, after which it returned to more isolationist policies. â€œThe Great War â€ redirects here. ... Look up ally in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Isolationism is a diplomatic policy whereby a nation seeks to avoid alliances with other nations. ...

The United States entered World War II in 1941, again on the Allied side, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent declaration of war against the U.S. by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. After the war, it was a major player in the establishment of the United Nations and became one of five permanent members of the Security Council. Image File history File linksMetadata MerkelBushWashington1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata MerkelBushWashington1. ... (IPA: ) (born in Hamburg, Germany, on July 17, 1954, as Angela Dorothea Kasner), is the Chancellor of Germany. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article is about the harbor in Hawaii. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler Fascism (in Italian, fascismo), capitalized, refers to the right-wing authoritarian political movement which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... A session of the Security Council in progress The United Nations Security Council is the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ...

During the Cold War, U.S. foreign policy sought to limit the influence of the Soviet Union around the world (called "containment"), leading to the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the overthrow of the Iranian government, and diplomatic actions like the opening of China and establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. It also sought to fill the vacuum left by the decline of Britain as a global power, leading international economic organizations such as GATT. By the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. had military and economic interests in every region of the globe. In the twilight of the Cold War, the United States invaded Panama, officially because Noriega (the then dictator, and formerly on the CIA payroll) was involved in drug trafficking; many believe that, in reality, the US didn't want to relinquish the Panama canal on Panama's terms.^{[citation needed]} In the 1980s the U.S. operated campaigns in Central America, supporting the organisation "Contras" in Nicaragua and the dictatorial governments of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. In 1986 the US was convicted of multiple violations of international law and breaches of treaties against Nicaragua by the International Court of Justice in Nicaragua v. United States. For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... Combatants United Nations: Republic of Korea, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States Medical staff: Denmark, Australia, Italy, Norway, Sweden Communist states: Democratic Peopleâ€™s Republic of Korea, Peoples Republic of China, Soviet Union Commanders... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam Peopleâ€™s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Soldiers surround the Parliament building in Tehran on August 19, 1953. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. ... General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (usually abbreviated GATT) functions as the foundation of the WTO trading system, and remains in force, although the 1995 Agreement contains an updated version of it to replace the original 1947 one. ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... The International Court of Justice (known colloquially as the World Court or ICJ; French: ) is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. ... The Republic of Nicaragua v. ...

In 1991, the U.S. organized and led the Gulf War against Iraq in response to its invasion of Kuwait. After the September 11, 2001 attack, the country declared a "War on Terror," under which it has led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq (Second Gulf War). Combatants United States Saudi Arabia Egypt United Kingdom & US-led Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf Khalid bin Sultan Saddam Hussein Strength 883,863 360,000 Casualties 240 killed in action, 776 wounded, 30 taken prisoner At least 183,000 victims of the Gulf War syndrome Est. ... Combatants Republic of Iraq State of Kuwait Commanders Ali Hassan al-Majid N/A Strength 100,000[1] 16,000[2] Casualties 37+ aircraft (est. ... The World Trade Center on fire The September 11, 2001 attacks were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. ... The war on terrorism or war on terror (abbreviated in U.S. policy circles as GWOT for Global War on Terror) is an effort by the governments of the United States and its principal allies to destroy groups deemed to be terrorist (primarily radical Islamist organizations such as al-Qaeda... For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ...

As of 2007, the U.S. is one of only two countries in the English-speaking world not to be a member of the Commonwealth (the other being the Republic of Ireland). The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Diplomatic relations

The United States has one of the largest diplomatic presences of any nation. Almost every country in the world has both a U.S. embassy and an embassy of its own in Washington, D.C. Only a few nations do not have formal diplomatic relations with the United States. They are: Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 364 pixelsFull resolution (1357 Ã— 617 pixel, file size: 31 KB, MIME type: image/png) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 364 pixelsFull resolution (1357 Ã— 617 pixel, file size: 31 KB, MIME type: image/png) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Bush_and_Blair_at_Camp_David. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Bush_and_Blair_at_Camp_David. ... The presidential seal is a well-known symbol of the presidency. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... The West Wing, see NSF Thurmont (The West Wing). ... In the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister is the head of government, exercising many of the executive functions nominally vested in the Sovereign, who is head of state. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Image File history File linksMetadata Howard_and_Bush. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Howard_and_Bush. ... May 16 is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The current (25th) Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard (sitting, fifth from left), with his Cabinet, 1999 The office of Prime Minister is in practice the most powerful political office in the Commonwealth of Australia. ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ... Janette Howard (born 11 July 1944) is the wife of Australian Prime Minister John Howard. ... First Lady Laura Bush and former first ladies, from left, Rosalynn Carter, Sen. ... Laura Lane Welch Bush (born November 4, 1946) is the wife of the forty-third and current President of the United States of America George W. Bush and is thereby the First Lady of the United States. ... A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one nation state present in another nation state to represent the sending state in the receiving State. ... Nickname: Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia Coordinates: , Country United States Federal District District of Columbia Government - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) - D.C. Council Chairperson: Vincent C. Gray (D) Ward 1: Jim Graham (D) Ward 2...

In practical terms however, this lack of formal relations do not impede the U.S.'s communication with these nations. In the cases where no U.S. diplomatic post exists, American relations are usually conducted via the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, or another friendly third-party. In the case of the Republic of China, de facto relations are conducted through the American Institute in Taiwan. The U.S. also operates an "Interests Section in Havana". While this does not create a formal diplomatic relationship, it fulfils most other typical embassy functions. , This article is about the urban region that is the capital of India. ... Anthem National Anthem of the Republic of China Capital (and largest city) Taipei1 Official languages Standard Mandarin (GuÃ³yÇ”) Government Semi-presidential system - President Chen Shui-bian - Vice President Annette Lu - Premier Chang Chun-hsiung Establishment Xinhai Revolution - Independence declared October 10, 1911 - Republic established January 1, 1912 - Relocated to... Motto: ØØ±ÙŠØ© Ø¯ÙŠÙ…Ù‚Ø±Ø§Ø·ÙŠØ© ÙˆØØ¯Ø© (Arabic) Liberty, Democracy, Unity Anthem: YÄbaniy Es-SaharÄ listen This map indicates the territory claimed by the SADR, viz. ... The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) serves as the de facto embassy of the United States in Taiwan. ... The United States Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Havana, Cuba or USINT Havana (for the State Department telegraphic address) represents US interests in Cuba. ...

The U.S. maintains a Normal Trade Relations list and several countries are excluded from it, which means that their exports to the United States are subject to significantly higher tariffs. In the United States, Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status refers to what the World Trade Organization and much of the rest of the world still refer to (somewhat misleadingly) as most favoured nation status. ...

Allies

The United States is a founding member of NATO, the world's largest military alliance. The 26 nation alliance consists of Canada and much of Europe. Under the NATO charter, the United States is compelled to defend any NATO state that is attacked by a foreign power. This is restricted to within the North American and European areas, and for this reason the U.S. was not compelled to participate in the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, (left) with President Franklin Roosevelt, at the 1945 Yalta Conference. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 370 pixelsFull resolution (1357 Ã— 628 pixel, file size: 32 KB, MIME type: image/png) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 370 pixelsFull resolution (1357 Ã— 628 pixel, file size: 32 KB, MIME type: image/png) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ... Map of countries designated by the United States as major non-NATO allies Major non-NATO ally (MNNA) is a designation given by the United States government to exceptionally close allies who have strong strategic working relationships with American forces but are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. ... Partnership for Peace is a NATO project aimed at creating trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Manmohan_singh_with_bush. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Manmohan_singh_with_bush. ... It has been suggested that Indo-U.S. relations be merged into this article or section. ... The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the government of India. ... Dr. Manmohan Singh (Punjabi: , Hindi: ) is the 17th and current Prime Minister of India. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Combatants Argentina United Kingdom Commanders President Leopoldo Galtieri Vice-Admiral Juan Lombardo Brigadier-General Ernesto Crespo Brigade-General Mario MenÃ©ndez Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse Rear-Admiral John â€œSandyâ€ Woodward Major-General Jeremy Moore Casualties 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner 75 fixed...

The United States has also given major non-NATO ally-status to fourteen nations. Each such state has a unique relationship with the United States, involving various military and economic partnerships and alliances. Map of countries designated by the United States as major non-NATO allies Major non-NATO ally (MNNA) is a designation given by the United States government to exceptionally close allies who have strong strategic working relationships with American forces but are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. ...

The country's closest ally is arguably the United Kingdom, although Australia and Canada have also proved to be extremely resilient allies.

Other allies include South Korea, Israel, Germany, Turkey, and Japan. The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), does not have official diplomatic relations recognized and is no longer officially recognized by the State Department of the United States, but it is considered by some an ally of the United States. Anthem National Anthem of the Republic of China Capital (and largest city) Taipei1 Official languages Standard Mandarin (GuÃ³yÇ”) Government Semi-presidential system - President Chen Shui-bian - Vice President Annette Lu - Premier Chang Chun-hsiung Establishment Xinhai Revolution - Independence declared October 10, 1911 - Republic established January 1, 1912 - Relocated to...

In 2005, U.S. President George Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed a landmark agreement between the two countries on civilian nuclear energy cooperation. The deal is significant because India is not a member of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and detonated a nuclear device in 1974. The deal will greatly increase strategic and economic cooperation between the world's two largest democracies^[8]. The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the government of India. ... Dr. Manmohan Singh (Punjabi: , Hindi: ) is the 17th and current Prime Minister of India. ... The United States-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006 is a bilateral pact between the United States and India under which the U.S. will provide access to civilian nuclear technology and access to nuclear fuel in exchange for IAEA-safeguards on civilian Indian reactors. ... Nuclear energy is energy released from the atomic nucleus. ... The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a treaty, opened for signature on July 1, 1968, restricting the possession of nuclear weapons. ... The then Indian Prime minister Indira Gandhi at the Indian nuclear test site (Pokhran) The Smiling Buddha was the first nuclear test explosion by India on May 18, 1974 at Pokhran. ...

US State secretary Condoleezza Rice has signed the Defense Cooperation Agreement with Bulgaria, a new NATO member, in 2006. The treaty allows the US (not NATO) to develop as joint US-Bulgarian facilities the Bulgarian air bases at Bezmer (near Yambol) and Graf Ignatievo (near Plovdiv), the Novo Selo training range (near Sliven), and a logistics centre in Aytos, as well as to use the commercial port of Burgas. At least 2,500 US personnel will be located there. The treaty also allows the US to use the bases "for missions in tiers country without a specific authorization from Bulgarian authorities," and grants US militaries immunity from prosecution in this country ^[9]. Another agreement with Romania permits the US to use the Mihail Kogălniceanu base and another one nearby ^[9]. Condoleezza Rice (born November 14, 1954) is the 66th United States Secretary of State, and the second in the administration of President George W. Bush to hold the office. ... Joint US-Bulgarian military bases Joint US-Bulgarian military bases established according to the 2006 Defense Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Bulgaria: Bezmer Air Base, Yambol Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Plovdiv Novo Selo Range, Sliven Aytos Logistics Center, Aytos At least 2,500 US personel will be located... Joint US-Bulgarian military bases Joint US-Bulgarian military bases established according to the 2006 Defense Cooperation Agreement between the United States and Bulgaria: Bezmer Air Base, Yambol Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Plovdiv Novo Selo Range, Sliven Aytos Logistics Center, Aytos US-Bulgarian Defense Cooperation Agreement Bulgarian air bases The... Yambol (Bulgarian: Ð¯Ð¼Ð±Ð¾Ð», also transliterated as Jambol) is the principal town in Yambol Province, Bulgaria, located on the Tunzha River. ... Graf Ignatievo (Bulgarian: Ð“Ñ€Ð°Ñ„ Ð˜Ð³Ð½Ð°Ñ‚Ð¸ÐµÐ²Ð¾) is a village in the Maritsa municipality, southern Bulgaria. ... Plovdiv (Bulgarian: ) is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, with a population of 341,873([1]). It is the administrative centre of Plovdiv Province in southern Bulgaria, as well as the largest and most important city of the historical region of Upper (or Northern) Thrace, famous for its... The phrase Novo Selo means new village in several Slavic languages: Bulgarian, Croatian and Macedonian. ... Sliven (Bulgarian: Ð¡Ð»Ð¸Ð²ÐµÐ½) is a town in southeast Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Sliven Province. ... Aytos / Ajtos (Bulgarian: , Greek/Thracian: Î‘ÎµÏ„ÏŒÏ‚) is a town located in the eastern part of Bulgaria, belonging to the administrative boundaries of Burgas Province. ... Burgas (also transliterated as Bourgas; Bulgarian: ) is the second-largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. ... Immunity from prosecution is a doctrine of international law that allows an accused to avoid prosecution for criminal offences. ... Mihail KogÄƒlniceanu Airport is situated in south-east Romania, in the town of Mihail KogÄƒlniceanu, at 26 km from the city of ConstanÅ£a. ...

Relations with Latin America

Concerns have been raised following both the signature of a military training agreement with Paraguay, which accorded immunity to U.S. soldiers from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and was indefinitely renewable (something which had never been done before, while Donald Rumsfeld himself visited Paraguay and, for the first time ever, Paraguayan president Nicanor Duarte Frutos went to the White House), and the construction of a U.S. military base near the airport of Mariscal Estigarribia, within 200 km of Argentina and Bolivia and 300 km of Brazil. The airport can receive large planes (B-52, C-130 Hercules, etc.) which the Paraguayan Air Force does not possess. ^[10] ^[11]. The governments of Paraguay and the United States subsequently ostensibly declared that the use of an airport (Dr Luís María Argaña International)[1] was one point of transfer for few soldiers in Paraguay at the same time. According to the Argentine newspaper Clarín, the U.S. military base is strategic because of its location near the Triple Frontier, its proximity to the Guaraní Aquifer, and its closeness to Bolivia (less than 200 km) at the same "moment that Washington's magnifying glass goes on the Altiplano [Bolivia] and points toward Venezuelan [president] Hugo Chávez — the regional devil according to the Bush administration — as the instigator of the instability in the region" (El Clarín ^[11]). In October 2006, US President George W. Bush was reported to be negotiating for purchase of a 400 km² ranch near Marriscal Estigarribia ^[12]^[13]. The United States has always had a special conception of its relationship with the nations of Latin America. ... Official logo of the ICC. The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, crime of aggression, and war crimes, as defined by several international agreements, most prominently the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. ... Donald Henry Rumsfeld (born July 9, 1932) is a U.S. politician and businessman, who was the 13th Secretary of Defense under President Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1977, and the 21st Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006. ... Ã“scar Nicanor Duarte Frutos (born October 11, 1956) is the current President of Paraguay. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... US military bases in South America. ... B-52 can refer to the following: The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber aircraft A hairstyle popular in the 1950s and 1960s, named after the aircraft A rock band, The B-52s, named after the hairstyle A cocktail This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. ... The constitution of Paraguay designates the president as commander in chief of the armed forces. ... ClarÃn is a major newspaper in Argentina, founded by Roberto Noble on August 28, 1945. ... Puno, Peru, is one of larger cities of the Altiplano. ... Hugo Rafael ChÃ¡vez FrÃas (IPA: ) (born July 28, 1954) is the current President of Venezuela. ... The Bush administration includes President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney, Bushs Cabinet, and other select officials and advisors. ... October 2006 is the tenth month of that year and has yet to occur. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ...

But Paraguay decided in October 2006 not to renew the immunity granted to US soldiers. The other members of the Mercosur trade bloc (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela) have so far refused to grant immunity to U.S. troops. All four nations have in recent years elected leftist governments critical of U.S. policy (Lula in Brazil, Nestor Kirschner in Argentina, Tabaré Vázquez in Uruguay and Hugo Chávez in Venezuela) ^[14] Official Languages Portuguese, Spanish and GuaranÃ Members Argentina (1991) Brazil (1991) Paraguay (1991) Uruguay (1991) Venezuela (2006)2 Associate Members Bolivia (1997) Chile (1996) Colombia (2004) Ecuador (2004) Peru (2003) Observer Mexico (2004)3 Presidency Carlos Chacho Ãlvarez Seat of Secretariat Montevideo Area 12. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... , full name NÃ©stor Carlos Kirchner Ostoic (born 25 February 1950), is the President of Argentina, sworn in on May 25, 2003. ... TabarÃ© RamÃ³n VÃ¡zquez Rosas (pron IPA: ) (born 17 January 1940) is the current President of Uruguay. ...

Criticism and responses

Critics of U.S. foreign policy point out the contradiction between the lofty foreign policy rhetoric of noble causes espoused by the government and its actions which are seen as machiavelian and hypocritical. [2] [3][4][5][6][7] Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... A countrys foreign policy is a set of political goals that seeks to outline how that particular country will interact with other countries of the world and, to a lesser extent, non-state actors. ...

Charges of negative influence have been levied even in countries traditionally considered allies of the United States.^[15] The military history of the United States spans a period of less than two and a half centuries. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box: A dictatorship is an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by a dictator. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Kyoto Protocol Opened for signature December 11, 1997 in Kyoto, Japan Entered into force February 16, 2005. ... The Declaration of the Rights of the Child, drafted by Eglantyne Jebb and adopted by the International Save the Children Union, Geneva, 23 February 1923 and endorsed by the League of Nations General Assembly on 26 November 1924: By the present declaration of the Rights of the Child, commonly known... The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHISC), formerly School of the Americas (SOA), is a US Army facility at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia, USA. It is a training facility operated in the Spanish language especially for Latin American military personnel. ... The Contras (from the Spanish term La Contra, short for movement of the contrarrevolucionarios) were the armed opponents of Nicaraguas FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional) Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction following the July 1979 overthrow of Anastasio Somoza Debayle (which ended the Somoza dynasty), and continuing throughout the... President George W. Bush and Philippine president Gloria Arroyo review troops during a welcoming ceremony at Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines, Saturday, Oct. ... President George W. Bush and Philippine president Gloria Arroyo review troops during a welcoming ceremony at Malacanang Palace in Manila, Philippines, Saturday, Oct. ... The President of the Philippines is the head of state and government of the Republic of the Philippines. ... Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (born April 5, 1947), also known by her initials G.M.A., is the 14th and current president of the Philippines. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Depiction of the Malacañang Palace at the back of the 20-peso bill. ... Look up ally in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

There are a variety of responses to these criticisms. For instance, some argue that the increased American military involvement around the world is an outgrowth of the inherent instability of the world state system as it existed in the late 19th century. The inherent failings of this system led to the outbreak of World War I and World War II. The United States has assumed a prominent peacekeeping role, on its own terms, due to the easily demonstrable inter-state insecurity that existed before 1945. â€œThe Great War â€ redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Further, some opinions have stated that since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq was not a war to defend against an imminent threat, it was a war of aggression, and therefore under the Nuremberg Principles it constitutes the supreme international crime from which all other war crimes follow. For example, Benjamin Ferenccz, a chief prosecutor of Nazi war crimes at Nuremberg said George W. Bush should be tried for war crimes along with Saddam Hussein for starting "aggressive" wars--Saddam for his 1990 attack on Kuwait and Bush for his 2003 invasion of Iraq.^[16] Similarly, under the United Nations Charter, ratified by the U.S. and therefore binding on it, all U.N. member states including the U.S. are prohibited from using force against fellow member states (Iraq is a member of the U.N.) except to defend against an imminent attack or pursuant to explicit U.N. Security Council authorization (U.N. Charter; international law). "There was no authorization from the U.N. Security Council ... and that made it a crime against the peace," said Francis McSillypants, professor of international law, who also said the U.S. Army's field manual required such authorization for an offensive war.^[17] A frequent rebuttal to this criticism is the assertion that the United Nations gave the United States and its coalition partners the legal authority to remove Saddam Hussein from power in UN Security Council Resolution 1441, providing that Iraq would "face serious consequences as a result of its continued violations of its obligations." The Nuremberg Principles were a set of guidelines for determining what constitues a war crime. ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (28 April 1937 â€“ 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq and Chairman of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council from 1979 until his overthrow by US forces in 2003. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The subject of this article is the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... â€œUNSCâ€ redirects here. ...

Other realist critics, such as George F. Kennan, have argued that the responsibility of the United States is only to protect the rights of its own citizens, and that therefore Washington should deal with other governments on that basis alone. Realists charge that a claimed heavy emphasis on democratization (however, this is not mentioned in Wilson's Fourteen Points) or nation-building abroad was one of the major tenets of President Woodrow Wilson's diplomatic philosophy, and the failure of the League of Nations to enforce the will of the international community in the cases of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan in the 1930s, as well as the inherent weakness of the new states created at the Paris Peace Conference, demonstrated the folly of Wilson's idealism. However, an important explanation for the weakness of the League of Nations was the refusal of the US to join after Wilson's death. Main International Relations Theories and derivates Realism & Neorealism Idealism, Liberalism & Neoliberalism Marxism & Dependency theory Functionalism & Neofunctionalism Critical theory & Constructivism The term realism or political realism collects a wide variety of theories and modes of thought about International Relations that have in common that the motivation of states is in the... George Frost Kennan (February 16, 1904 â€“ March 17, 2005) was an American advisor, diplomat, political scientist, and historian, best known as the father of containment and as a key figure in the emergence of the Cold War. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box: Democratization (British English: Democratisation) is the transition from an authoritarian or a semi-authoritarian political system to a democratic political system. ... United States President Woodrow Wilson listed the Fourteen Points in a speech that he delivered to the United States Congress on January 8, 1918. ... This article or section should be merged with nation-building Nation building is the use of armed force in the aftermath of a conflict to underpin an enduring transition to democracy. ... Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856 â€“ February 3, 1924), was the 28th President of the United States. ... The League of Nations was an international organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919-1920. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler Fascism (in Italian, fascismo), capitalized, refers to the right-wing authoritarian political movement which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. ... The ensign of Imperial Japanese Navy was a prominent symbol of Imperial Japan. ... Face The 1930s (years from 1930â€“1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... Map of the World with the Participants in World War I. The Allies are depicted in green, the Central Powers in orange, and neutral countries in grey. ... This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedias quality standards. ...

There is also criticism of alleged human rights abuse, the most important recent examples of which are the multiple reports of alleged prisoner abuse and torture at U.S.-run detention camps in Guantánamo Bay (at "Camp X-ray") (in Cuba), Abu Ghraib (Iraq), secret CIA prisons (eastern Europe), and other places voiced by, e.g. the Council of Europe and Amnesty International. Amnesty International in its Amnesty International Report 2005 [8] says that: "the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay has become the gulag of our times" [9]. This Amnesty report also claimed that there was a use of double standards in the U.S. government: the U.S. president "has repeatedly asserted that the United States was founded upon and is dedicated to the cause of human dignity". (Theme of his speech to the U.N. General Assembly in September 2004). But some memorandums emerged after the Abu Ghraib scandal "suggested that the administration was discussing ways in which its agents could avoid the international ban on torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" [10]. Government responses to these criticisms include that Abu Ghraib, Guantánamo Bay, and the network of secret CIA jails in Eastern Europe and the Middle East were largely isolated incidents and not reflective of general U.S. conduct, and at the same time maintain that coerced interrogation in Guantánamo and Europe is necessary to prevent future terrorist attacks. Map of Cuba with location of GuantÃ¡namo Bay indicated. ... It has been suggested that Nature of Abu Ghraib abuse be merged into this article or section. ... The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an intelligence agency of the United States government. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Anthem Ode to Joy (orchestral) ten founding members joined subsequently observer at the Parliamentary Assembly observer at the Committee of Ministers official candidate Seat Strasbourg, France Membership 47 European states 6 observers (Council) 3 observers (Assembly) Leaders - Secretary General Terry Davis - Commissioner for Human Rights Establishment - Treaty of London 5... Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a pressure group that promotes human rights. ... Gulag ( , Russian: ) was the government body responsible for administering prison camps across the former Soviet Union. ... A double standard is an ethical rule applied more stringently to one party than to others. ... Human dignity is an expression that can be used as a moral concept or as a legal term. ... The United Nations General Assembly (GA) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Torture is defined by the United Nations Convention Against Torture as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he... Cruelty is indifference to suffering and even positive pleasure in inflicting it. ... The Inhumans are a fictional race of superhumans in the Marvel Comics universe, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. ...

U.S. generosity is not demonstrated in the relatively low spendings on foreign developmental aid (measured as percentage of GDP) when compared to other western countries. However as far as measured by goods and monetary amounts the U.S is the most generous. Religious tithes, emergency donations to relief organizations, and donations to medical research, for example, are common and frequent. The United States tax code structure is designed to further this type of charitable donation by private individuals and corporations.

Regarding support for various dictatorships, especially during the Cold War, a response is that the alternatives were usually even worse Communist or fundamentalist dictatorships. It is rare for democracy to exist in nations with low economic development. In these nations the population often lack literacy, education, and are otherwise too poor to be able to fully participate in a democratic process. Thus, it is argued that supporting a dictatorship that promotes economic growth may be the best option available, anticipating that this will eventually leads to democratization. Right-wing dictatorships in nations such as Portugal, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Chile, Brazil, South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, and Indonesia eventually become democracies. However, this view has been challenged recently by arguing that research shows that poor democracies perform better, including also on economic growth if excluding East Asia, than poor dictatorships.[11] World literacy rates by country The traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write, or the ability to use language to read, write, listen, and speak. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box: Democratization (British English: Democratisation) is the transition from an authoritarian or a semi-authoritarian political system to a democratic political system. ...

Many of these former foes has democratized and many became US allies. The Philippines (1946), South Korea (1948), West Germany (1949), Japan (1952), Austria (1955), the Panama Canal Zone (1979), the Federated States of Micronesia (1986), Marshall Islands (1986), and Palau (1994) are examples of former possessions that have gained independence. Many nations in Eastern Europe have joined NATO. (Note, statements regarding degree of democracy are based on the classification at these times in the Polity data series). The Panama Canal Zone (Spanish: ), was a 553 square mile (1,432 kmÂ²) territory inside of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles (8. ... This Polity data series is a well-known and highly respected data series. ...

Many democracies have voluntary military alliances with United States. See NATO, ANZUS, Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, Mutual Defense Treaty with South Korea, and Major non-NATO ally. Those nations with military alliances with the US can spend less on the military since they can count on US protection. This may give a false impression that the US is less peaceful than those nations.[12][13] NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ... The Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty (ANZUS or ANZUS Treaty) is the military alliance which binds Australia and the United States, and separately Australia and New Zealand to cooperate on defence matters in the Pacific Ocean area, though today the treaty is understood to relate to attacks in... The Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security (in Japanese, æ—¥æœ¬å›½ã¨ã‚¢ãƒ¡ãƒªã‚«åˆè¡†å›½ã¨ã®é–“ã®ç›¸äº’å”åŠ›åŠã³å®‰å…¨ä¿éšœæ¡ç´„, Treaty of mutual cooperation and security between Japan and the United States of America) was signed between the United States and Japan in Washington on January 19, 1960. ... This is a list of treaties to which the United States has been a party or which have had direct relevance to U.S. history. ... Map of countries designated by the United States as major non-NATO allies Major non-NATO ally (MNNA) is a designation given by the United States government to exceptionally close allies who have strong strategic working relationships with American forces but are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. ...

Today the US states that democratic nations best support US national interests. "democracy is the one national interest that helps to secure all the others. Democratically governed nations are more likely to secure the peace, deter aggression, expand open markets, promote economic development, protect American citizens, combat international terrorism and crime, uphold human and worker rights, avoid humanitarian crises and refugee flows, improve the global environment, and protect human health."[14] Former President Bill Clinton of the Democratic Party: "Ultimately, the best strategy to ensure our security and to build a durable peace is to support the advance of democracy elsewhere. Democracies don't attack each other."^[18] In one view mentioned by the US State Department, democracy is also good for business. Countries that embrace political reforms are also more likely to pursue economic reforms that improve the productivity of businesses. Accordingly, since the mid-1980s, there has been an increase in levels of foreign direct investment going to emerging market democracies relative to countries that have not undertaken political reforms.[15] William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas Politics Portal Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic...

The United States officially maintains that it supports democracy and human rights through several tools[16],although its commitment to human rights is disputed by human rights organizations.^[19]^[20] Examples of these tools are as follows:

An ambassador, rarely embassador, is a diplomatic official accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization, to serve as the official representative of his or her own country. ...

Territorial disputes

The United States is involved with several territorial disputes, including maritime disputes over the Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Northwest Passage, and areas around Machias Seal Island and North Rock with Canada. ^[21] These disputes have become dormant recently, and are largely considered not to affect the strong relations between the two nations. The Dixon Entrance is a strait about 80 km (50 miles) long and wide in the Pacific Ocean at the International Boundary between the United States ( Alaska) and Canada. ... Approximate area of the Beaufort Sea, and the disputed waters The Beaufort Sea is a large body of water north of The Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Alaska and west of Canadas arctic islands that is a part of the Arctic Ocean. ... The Strait of Juan de Fuca separates Vancouver Island of British Columbia from the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state. ... Popular Northwest Passage routes through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago This article describes the route through the Canadian Arctic. ... Machias Seal Island is an island located at 44Â° 30â€²10â€³N, 67Â° 06â€²10â€³W. Sovereignty of the island is under dispute with ownership claimed by both Canada and the United States. ... North Rock is an offshore rock to the east of the North American continent, adjacent to the Canadian province of New Brunswick and the U.S. state of Maine. ... Canada-United States relations span more than two centuries, marked by a shared British colonial heritage, conflict during the early years of the U.S., and the eventual development of one of the most successful international relationships in the modern world. ...

Map of Cuba with location of GuantÃ¡namo Bay indicated. ... Page one of the Platt Amendment The Platt Amendment was a rider amended to the Army Appropriations Act, a United States federal law passed on March 2, 1901 that stipulated the conditions for the withdrawal of United States troops remaining in Cuba since the Spanish-American War, and defined the... The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (or VCLT), adopted on May 22, 1969 and opened for signature on May 23, 1969, codified the pre-existing customary international law on treaties, with some necessary gap-filling and clarifications. ...

Illicit drugs

United States foreign policy is influenced by the efforts of the U.S. government to halt imports of illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana. This is especially true in Latin America, a focus for the U.S. War on Drugs. Those efforts date back to at least 1880, when the U.S. and China completed an agreement which prohibited the shipment of opium between the two countries. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ... Heroin (INN: diacetylmorphine, BAN: diamorphine) is an opioid synthesized directly from the extracts of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. ... This article is about the psychostimulant, d-methamphetamine. ... A Cannabis sativa plant The drug cannabis, also called marijuana, is produced from parts of the cannabis plant, primarily the cured flowers and gathered trichomes of the female plant. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... Massive mark-ups for drugs, [http://www. ... For the general concept, see Prohibitionism. ... This article does not adequately cite its references. ...

Over a century later, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act requires the President to identify the major drug transit or major illicit drug-producing countries. In September 2005 [22], the following countries were identified: Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. Two of these, Burma and Venezuela are countries that the U.S. considers to have failed to adhere to their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements during the previous twelve months. Notably absent from the 2005 list were Afghanistan, the People's Republic of China and Vietnam; Canada was also omitted in spite of evidence that criminal groups there are increasingly involved in the production of MDMA destined for the United States and that large-scale cross-border trafficking of Canadian-grown marijuana continues. The U.S. believes that The Netherlands are successfully countering the production and flow of MDMA to the U.S. ecstasy and religious ecstasy MDMA, most commonly known today by the street name ecstasy, is a synthetic entactogen of the phenethylamine family whose primary effect is to stimulate the brain to rapidly secrete large amounts of serotonin, causing a general sense of openness, empathy, energy, euphoria, and well-being. ... Motto: Je Maintiendrai (Dutch: Ik zal handhaven, English: I Shall Uphold) Anthem: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Capital Amsterdam1 Largest city Amsterdam Official language(s) Dutch2 Government Parliamentary democracy Constitutional monarchy - Queen Beatrix - Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende Independence Eighty Years War - Declared July 26, 1581 - Recognised January 30, 1648 (by Spain...

Military aid

The U.S. provides military aid through many different channels. Counting the items that appear in the budget as 'Foreign Military Financing' and 'Plan Colombia', the U.S. spent approximately $4.5 billion in military aid in 2001, of which $2 billion went to Israel, $1.3 billion went to Egypt, and $1 billion went to Colombia. This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Plan Colombia is a controversial initiative aimed at resolving the ongoing, fifty-year civil war in Colombia. ...

History of exporting democracy

In the history of the United States, presidents have often used democracy as a justification for military intervention abroad,^[22]^[23], although on a number of other occasions the U.S. overthrew democratically elected governments (See Operation Ajax, Operation PBSUCCESS, Covert U.S. Regime Change Actions). A number of studies have been devoted to the historical success rate of the U.S. in exporting democracy abroad. Most studies of American intervention have been pessimistic about the history of the United States exporting democracy.^[24] Until recently, scholars have generally agreed with international relations professor Abraham Lowenthal that U.S. attempts to export democracy have been "negligible, often counterproductive, and only occasionally positive."^[25]^[26] The democratic peace theory or simply the democratic peace is a theory and related empirical research in international relations, political science, and philosophy which holds that democraciesâ€”usually, liberal democracies[1]â€”never or almost never go to war with one another. ... The Iran Freedom and Support Act of 2005 (S. 333) is an act passed by the United States Congress that appropriates $10 million and directs the President of the United States to spend that money in support of groups opposed to the Iranian government. ... In telecommunication, the term justify has the following meanings: 1. ... From 1776 to 2007, there have been hundreds of instances of the deployment of United States military forces abroad and domestically. ... Soldiers surround the Parliament building in Tehran on August 19, 1953. ... Former president Jacobo Arbenz GuzmÃ¡n on the cover of TIME magazine in June 1954 after his overthrow Operation PBSUCCESS was a CIA-organized covert operation that overthrew the democratically-elected President of Guatemala, Jacobo Arbenz GuzmÃ¡n in 1954. ... According to various sources, the United States of America government has an established practice of forcibly overthrowing or trying to overthrow foreign governments perceived as hostile, directly or indirectly, and replacing them with a new ones, a practice that has recently become known as regime change. ...

But some studies, such as a study by Tures find U.S. intervention has had mixed results,^[24] and another by Hermann and Kegley has found that military interventions have improved democracy in other countries.^[27] From 1776 to 2007, there have been hundreds of instances of the deployment of United States military forces abroad and domestically. ...

Opinion that U.S. intervention does not export democracy

Professor Paul W. Drake explains that the United States first attempted to export democracy in Latin America through intervention from 1912 to 1932. Drake argues that this was contradictory because international law defines intervention as "dictorial interference in the affairs of another state for the purpose of altering the condition of things." Democracy failed because democracy needs to develop out of internal conditions, and American leaders usually defined democracy as elections only. Further the United States Department of State disapproved of any rebellion of any kind, which were often incorrectly labeled "revolutions", even against dictatorships.^[28] As historian Walter LaFeber states, "The world's leading revolutionary nation (the U.S.) in the eighteenth century became the leading protector of the status quo in the twentieth century."^[29] Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... An invasion is a military action consisting of armed forces of one geopolitical entity entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of conquering territory, or altering the established government. ... The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ... Walter LaFeber (born 1933, Walkerton, Indiana) is Marie Underhill Noll Professor and a Steven Weisse Presidential Teaching Fellow of History at Cornell University. ...

Mesquita and Downs evaluate the period between 1945 to 2004. They state that the U.S. has intervened in 35 countries, and only in one case, Colombia, did a "full fledged, stable democracy" develop within 10 years.^[30] Samia Amin Pei argues that nation building in developed countries usually begins to unravel four to six years after American intervention ends. Pei, quoting Polity, (a database on democracy in the world), agrees with Mesquita and Downs that most countries where the U.S. intervenes never becomes a democracy or becomes more authoritarian after 10 years.^[31] This is a list of notable political scientists. ... Polity (Greek: Î Î¿Î»Î¹Ï„ÎµÎ¯Î± or Î Î¿Î»Î¯Ï„ÎµÏ…Î¼Î± transliterated as PoliteÃa or PolÃteuma) was originally a term used in Ancient Greece to refer to the many Greek city states that had an assembly of citizens as part of the political process. ...

Professor Joshua Muravchik argues that U.S. occupation was critical for Axis power democratization after World War II, but America's failure to build democracy in the third world "prove...that U.S. military occupation is not a sufficient condition to make a country democratic."^[32]^[33] The success of democracy in former Axis countries maybe because of these countries per-capita income. Steven Krasner of the CDDRL states that a high per capita income may help build a democracy, because no democratic country with a per-capita income which is above $6,000 has ever become an autocracy.^[28] Joshua Muravchik is a Jewish author and a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For the Jamaican reggae band, see Third World (band). ... The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box: An autocracy is a form of government in which the political power is held by everybody The term autocrat is derived from the Greek word autokratÃ´r (lit. ...

Opinion that U.S. intervention has mixed results

Tures examines 228 cases of American intervention from 1973 to 2005, using Freedom House data. A plurality of interventions, 96, caused no change in the country's democracy. In 69 instances the country became less democratic after the intervention. In the remaining 63 cases, a country became more democratic.^[24] This map reflects the findings of Freedom Houses 2006 survey Freedom in the World, concerning the state of world freedom in 2005. ...

Opinion that U.S. intervention effectively exports democracy

Hermann and Kegley find that American military interventions which are designed to protect or promote democracy increase freedom in those countries.^[27] Penceny argues that the democracies created after military intervention are still closer to an autocracy than a democracy, quoting Przeworski "while some democracies are more democratic than others, unless offices are contested, no regime should be considered democratic."^[34] Therefore, Penceny concludes, it is difficult to know from the Hermann and Kegley study whether U.S. intervention has only produced less repressive autocratic governments or genuine democracies.^[35] Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box: An autocracy is a form of government in which the political power is held by everybody The term autocrat is derived from the Greek word autokratÃ´r (lit. ...

Penceny states that the United States has attempted to export democracy in 33 of its 93 twentieth-century military interventions.^[36] Penceny argues that proliberal policies after military intervention have a positive impact on democracy.^[37]

Quotes

Highly decorated Marine Corps General Smedley Butler, who in 1934 exposed a plot to mount a coup against the Roosevelt administration, was a popular lecturer on the left-wing circuit who claimed: The UKs Royal Marines in a Rigid Raider assault watercraft A marine corps (from French corps de marine) is a branch of a nations armed forces incorporating Marines, intended to be capable of mounting amphibious assaults using infantry, armour, aircraft, and watercraft. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 â€“ June 21, 1940), nicknamed The Fighting Quaker and Old Gimlet Eye, was a Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps and, at the time of his death, the most decorated Marine in U.S. history. ...

Contents

Foreign policy powers of the president and Congress

Brief history

Diplomatic relations

Allies

Relations with Latin America

Criticism and responses

Territorial disputes

Illicit drugs

Military aid

History of exporting democracy

Opinion that U.S. intervention does not export democracy

Opinion that U.S. intervention has mixed results

Opinion that U.S. intervention effectively exports democracy

Quotes

See also

References

External links

Further reading

History of exporting democracy