Top Global Hot Spots Involving U.S. Foreign Policy
By Keith Porter, About.com Guide to US Foreign Policy
America's interests - and reach - are global. Therefore, a crisis anywhere on the planet has a good chance of being on the agenda at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon as well. Here are the top hot spots consuming U.S. foreign policy efforts today.
The Iraq War
The war in Iraq and its fallout have been at the center of U.S. foreign policy since the overt march to war began in 2002. The war and surrounding issues (like Iran) occupy the attention of nearly all those in leadership at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon. And the war has fueled anti-American sentiment around the world, making global diplomacy all the more difficult.
- Foreign Policy Political Casualties from the Iraq War
- Foreign Policy Implications of the Iraq War
- Iraq War: Paths Forward
Iran's Nuclear Ambitions
Efforts to enrich weapons-grade uranium and meddling inside Iraq make Iran one of the top foreign policy priorities for the Bush Administration. The uranium issue is being pursued through the United Nations Security Council, but the United States is engaging in direct talks with Iran on Iraqi security issues.
- Profile: U.S.-Iranian Relations
- Timeline of U.S.-Iranian Relations
- Profile: The Persian Gulf
- Iran's Nuclear Weapons Program: Ambition or Reality?
North Korea's Nuclear Ambitions
North Korea seems to always find a way to get the world's attention. Efforts to end North Korea's nuclear weapons program have led the United States to engage North Korea as part of a broader regional dialogue.
- Profile: U.S.-North Korean Relations
- Timeline of U.S.-North Korean Relations
- Profile: Christopher Hill
- New York Philharmonic Visits North Korea
Arab-Israeli Conflict
Ensuring security for Israel and securing peace among its neighbors has been a prime part of U.S. foreign policy for over 50 years.
Kosovo
Kosovo has been a serious concern of U.S. foreign policy makers for over a decade. Oppression of ethnic Albanian Kosovars ended when U.S.-led NATO military force was used against the Serbs in 1999. After several years of United Nations administration, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008. Although the United States immediately gave diplomatic recognition to the new nation, the story is far from over.
- The Kosovar Moment
- The Kosovo Decision
- Joy in Kosovo
- A Gift For Kosovo
- Final Status Decision on Kosovo Nears
Managing Global Change
Much like the shifts at the end of the Cold War, the global order is changing. New powers are challenging America's dominance of world affairs. The so-called "unipolar moment" the United States has enjoyed since 1990 may be coming to an end. How will U.S. foreign policy manage the chain, enhance the opportunities, and mitigate the dangers through this transition to a new era?
