As the first President of the United States, George Washington advocated for a policy of neutrality and non-interference in the affairs of other countries. He believed that the young and fragile United States should avoid involvement in foreign wars and entangling alliances that could draw it into conflicts that did not directly concern its national interests. Washington also believed that the United States needed to focus on building its economy and infrastructure, and that engaging in foreign conflicts could distract it from these important tasks. Additionally, Washington feared that forming foreign alliances could lead to political divisions and internal strife within the United States, as different factions might have conflicting opinions on which countries to ally with and under what terms.