US Foreign Policies
Foreign policies are the various ways in which a country will interact with other countries from foreign nations through the setting of standards for all organizations and citizens in the United States. The main reasons as to why there is a need for the foreign policy is to ensure that there is democracy, success, and security in the world for all Americans and the international community in general. Foreign policy is very important since it ensures that the relationship between the United States and the neighboring countries including other continents is right and good at all times (US Department of State, p1). Democratic relations are always meant at being maintained at a higher level and must at all times be positive and accordingly. For the United States to be progressive and successful the foreign policies must be formulated and focused.
Domestic needs of the country can be identified through other nations and therefore the foreign policy should be encouraging enough for many members to feel safe doing business with the United States community. There are resources which are present in other countries but not present in the United States and vice verse and the foreign policy can be helpful in making sure that they are accessed in the right manner (US Department of State, p1). The United States is the country that utilizes most if the products in the world meaning it is the biggest consumer but China is the highest in terms of manufacturing and therefore the need to exchange the resources. For global development, the available resources have to be used in the correct way through having a precise policy for development. National goals cannot be achieved in case the foreign policies are not well and fairly formulated.
South Korea has been one of the most productive and growing countries in the world mainly due to their innovations and development in terms of technology. The history of the United States and South Korea dates back to the year 1945 after the world war when there was a division between the north and the south in Korea. The United States took the south part while the north was taken by the Soviet Union. Supporting South Korea triggered a distant relationship between the United States and North Korea but strengthened the relationship between South Korea and United States (Ministry of Foreign Affairs (R.O.K), p1). The United States and South Korea have had a series of a good relationship which is mainly attributed to the fact that the two countries had a diplomatic relationship agreement treaty which was signed in the year 1882. The two countries enjoyed their close relationship until 1905 when South Korea was taken over by Japan. During the World War II in 1945, Japan surrendered and this caused the breakdown of the south and the north and the United States took control of the Southern part of Korea (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, p1).
Historically, North Korea attempted to attack South Korea in the late 1950s but a coalition of at least 16 countries including the United States defended the invasion. China supported North Korea and this made the situation difficult since United States relations with China began to worsen. Both the United States and South Korea enjoy a long-term friendship which is a strategy to ensure that the mutual interest between the two countries is well taken care of (Ministry of Foreign Affairs (R.O.K), p1). The United States and South Korea peace and defend treaty might as well be blunt in the future especially if the aggression of North Korea entry into South Korea escalates. North Korea has for the past decades since the end of World War II has been developing new nuclear weapons which are dangerous for the relationship between South Korea and United States (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, p1). Foreign policies are meant to ensure that the United States is safe and in good relationship with the outside world but with new historical threats starting to develop then there needs to be a formulation of a new foreign policy.
The United States has been in agreement of supporting one another in case an enemy emerged but the situation between the two countries is riskier now since North Korea has just established their grounds are already testing their nuclear weapons which they might use in the United States. It is safe to rethink of the policy once more and make America safe from outside attack. First, if the American foreign policy agreement with South Korea continues, then there is a high chance that North Korea might test their strength with the United States before attacking their neighbors to the south. At this point then as the president of the United States, new foreign policies need to be drafted to immediately secure the citizens of United States. This move might also be very risky since if the relationship between the United States and the South Korea breaks, Japan in any case can also feel the impact since they neighbor South Korea to the south making them also prone to being attacked by the North Korea (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, p1). North Korea has a ballistic missile ready for launch anytime and this increases the tension especially in Washington where it might be targeted. The current times are the times when the regimes are so ruthless due to the ability to develop and implement nuclear weapons which have the capability of killing millions in a second. With these facts in mind, then the foreign policy must now be implemented according to how well they will reduce the Americans from being attacked.
Such policies might include having the treaty agreement stated as null and void and therefore reduce the impact of the North Korea attack on the American soil. Calling back the over 20, 000 troops which are in South Korea might be the next move to making sure that America is out of the picture in case the war erupts to greater heights (Department of Defense, p1). Also, this is a risky move since if the Americans withdraw their help from South Korea; Japan will also lose its support from America and therefore left in the open for an attack. For this case, Japan and South Korea might gang up their support for each other and increase the likelihood of being independent in the war. When Japan and South Korea come together in support of each other, numerous weapons will be developed especially due to the fact that China will now have the advantage to take over South Korea (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, p1). South Korea might also be the main reason as to why the foreign policy might change in the United States. This is so because South Korea in the fear of being in a losing battle might launch attacks to the North even before any actions are taken by North Korea leaving North Korea with no option but to fight back South Korea and any other country that supports South Korea. With this kind of situation, United States must make the treaty void as fast as possible to deter the attack from North Korea.
North Korea has a significantly large number of military troops and also missiles which present a heavy threat to every nation on earth. But with the United States in support of the South Korea, North Korea might be deterred from their intentions if the treaty is firmly worked on as promised decades ago. The foreign policy of United States can also cause a destabilization of Asia if it decides to abandon South Korea. Coming together to South Korea and Japan will most definitely increase the probability of affecting China in the process which in the real sense can trigger a third world war which will be of dangerous nuclear weapons or crisis in the near future (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, p1). Changing the foreign policies in the United States might also increase the likelihood of China becoming the dominant superpower in northeast Asia especially if South Korea is abandoned by the United States. The United States has an alliance with many countries in Asia and therefore if South Koreas help is withdrawn, Philippines, Malaysia and others will be forced to join hands with China removing the United States out of the Asia world picture.
Cutting off South Korea can also cause the United States to be on the wrong side in the world relations. This can mean that the United States is a coward and in future any other country that feels to threaten the United States economy, they can always use nuclear blackmail to ensure the United States complies effectively. This situation leaves the United States in a state of Dilemma. If the foreign policy is formulated in a way that cuts off South Korean support, United States will be prone to future global challenges of missile blackmails from any nation with interest and if the policy supports South Korea, then Washington will be in trouble with North Korea (Department of Defense, p1). With this ideology in mind, the only way out of the situation is to have a one on one negotiation with North Korea in order to improve on the United States foreign policies. Having a foreign policy that is crippled with lack of an understanding among foreign nations is dangerous as this can lead to economic issues with the world making it difficult to trade.
Works cited
Asia Unbound [Council on Foreign Relations]
Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, DOD
http://policy.defense.gov/OUSDPOffices/ASDforAsianandPacificSecurityAffairs.aspx
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. State Department
http://www.state.gov/p/eap/index.htm
Diplomatic Blue Book, Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
http://www.mofa.go.jp/fp/pp/page24e_000100.html
Ministry News – North America, ROK (South Korea) Ministry of Foreign Affairs
http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/policy/bilateral/northamerica/index.jsp
North America and Oceania Bureau, China Ministry of Foreign Affairs
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/gjhdq_665435/3376_665447/