Final answer:
EEZs influence foreign policy by affecting economic interests and strategic positioning, causing competition over resources and necessitating comprehensive environmental management. They encourage peaceful relations for economic stability and require responsive governance shaped by public and international engagement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) play a significant role in shaping foreign policy among coastal states. These maritime boundaries extend 200 nautical miles from the coastline and confer rights to the exploration and use of marine resources, significantly affecting nations’ economic and strategic interests. For instance, the potential for resource exploitation within EEZs can lead to increased competition and sometimes tensions over access to fishing areas, oil, and gas deposits, and other marine resources. This has been evident in areas rich in resources like the South China Sea, where overlapping claims have led to diplomatic and military standoffs.
Countries may use their EEZs to enhance their strategic positioning by establishing naval bases, expanding infrastructure, and demonstrating their control over valuable trade routes. The United States, as a major world power with a vast coastline, has international peers whose influence overseas impacts its security and economic interests, prompting it to establish protective measures and partake in international dialogues regarding maritime territory and the seas’ security. Moreover, the economic ties built through the utilization of EEZs can encourage countries to maintain peaceful relations to safeguard shared economic interests, as exemplified by the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) along China's coastline attracting foreign business and investment.
Environmental concerns also influence policy, as overfishing and pollution within EEZs require comprehensive regulatory frameworks like the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union. Such policies can have both environmental and economic repercussions, resulting in strategic decisions by states like Norway and Iceland to stay outside the EU to avoid restrictive fishing quotas. Lastly, individuals can impact policy by engaging elected representatives and the public, voicing opinions on foreign policy issues, including EEZ management and marine conservation, and highlighting how public sentiment can shape government approaches to maritime areas.