Final answer:
U.S. foreign policy aims to protect the nation, maintain access to resources and markets, preserve world balance of power, and safeguard human rights and democracy. A comprehensive national security strategy involves military, economic, energy, and environmental aspects to address multiple challenges. The U.S.'s extensive defense budget and military presence globally illustrate its active role in implementing these policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Objectives of U.S. Foreign Policy
The objectives of U.S. foreign policy encompass a wide range of goals aimed at ensuring the nation's security and prosperity. These objectives include: protection of the United States and its citizens, maintaining access to international resources and markets, preserving a balance of power in the world, and protecting human rights and democracy. The multitude of challenges faced by the U.S. requires a comprehensive approach to national security, extending beyond traditional military strength to include economic, energy, and environmental security. Policies involve various aspects like trade, diplomacy, sanctions, military/defense, intelligence activities, foreign aid, and global environmental policy.
The annual defense budget of approximately 1.3 trillion dollars indicates the scale at which the U.S. prepares for and engages in these areas. With commitments to defend 37 countries and military installations in around 130 countries, the U.S. enforces its foreign policy objectives actively and often militarily. Key departments such as the State Department, Defense Department, and Department of Homeland Security, guided by the National Security Act of 1947 and subsequent bureaucratic reorganizations, notably post-9/11, shape and carry out U.S. foreign policy.