US Foreign Policy in 2015: A Round-The-World Tour

The historic deal reached with Iran in July on its nuclear program, the Ebola crisis, the threat posed by violent extremism and ISIS, the ongoing war in Syria and the relationship of the US with states such as Russia and China give us a clear picture of the key issues (and opportunities) faced by American foreign policy in 2015. Let's begin the tour.

A world of complexity and uncertainty

When DCM Dibble grew up, the world was, as she described it, "bipolar, defined by the Cold War: the East against the West". In some ways, the world was "simpler". The current world, however, is characterized by "complexity and uncertainty". Two of the key developments that have contributed to this shifting reality are the proliferation of non-state actors and technology. The key question is how these changes affect foreign policy. According to DCM Dibble, the goals of US foreign policy have not changed, what has changed is the way they are pursued.

"America cannot and should not address the world's problems by itself"

In this new approach, two key concepts arise: the term partnership and the notion of smart power. As DCM Dibble put it, the "lines are blurred nowadays", no nation is an island and countries must therefore work together. In the words of President Barack Obama: "We have an enormous stake in each other's success". The US cannot solve the world's problems alone and needs partners in order to achieve its goals. Historical partnerships with countries such as the UK remain extremely important, as they can "still shape the world's policy". In turn, "new partnerships will be crucial" in facing new challenges to international peace and stability. More complex issues require a more sophisticated response. Military force "remains on the table" but is not sufficient anymore. DCM Dibble stated that the US would still act militarily if required to protect its allies, ensure freedom of navigation or dismantle terrorist networks, but that hard power alone is limited. Instead, she proposed the use of smart power, a mix of diplomacy, hard power and development to find the "best combination of tools to each problem". In this sense, technology plays a key role in opening up new ways to engage civil society and "reach citizens directly".

After setting up the general frame, the focus switched to specific cases that have been relevant to American Foreign Policy in 2015.

Iran and the necessary "slog" of diplomatic relations

There were 7 countries in negotiation when the deal with Iran on nuclear weapons was reached in July 2015. The UK, China and Russia were part of it and they represented, in DCM Dibble's words, "a wide range of different approaches". According to the diplomat, the process was "a long, hard slog of diplomatic relations" and it was an example of smart power: "there were economic sanctions, but we also reached out to the regime and the Iranian people".

The Ebola crisis and the need to be resilient

The Ebola crisis placed global health security in the spotlight. A disease that started in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone reached the UK and the US. According to DCM Dibble, the US sent military help, supplies and staff to the affected countries in order to "share expertise and necessary information". However, in her own words, "We need to do more to ensure resilience in the face of future crises".

Extremism: combating ideas with better ideas

When talking about some of the ongoing challenges, DCM Dibble stated that "violent extremism" represented by groups such as ISIS, Boko Haram or Al-Shabaab require a collective global response, as "You cannot bomb an idea; ultimately ideas are combated with better ideas". According to the diplomat, the US is one of the biggest supporters of development programs in conflict areas, acknowledging the role of poverty in fomenting disaffection and extremist recruitment. Again, "there are no purely military victories nowadays".

Syria: the intractable war

After five years of unstoppable war in Syria, the conflict still seems to be intractable. The only meaningful solution, according to DCM Dibble, would be "a political agreement", as a military solution "would only escalate violence". The diplomat pointed out that the conflict is expanding beyond Syria's borders as can be seen by the refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe. Therefore, she urged Russia to agree with the American approach.

American relations with two key powers: Russia and China

The American diplomatic relations with Russia have had mixed results during 2015. On the one hand, DCM Dibble agreed that Russia played a constructive role in the deal with Iran. On the other hand, the diplomat was critical of Russia's role in the Ukraine: "We support the Ukraine and the full implementation of the Minsk agreement", she stated. When talking about another key actor, China, DCM Dibble claimed that it is the "most complex relationship" that America must manage. As the diplomat put it, the two countries share many of the same responsibilities and threats and therefore "cooperation is key".

In closing, DCM Dibble struck an optimistic note. Acknowledging the uncertainty of the present era, she nevertheless described it as a time of transition, not chaos. Her final message was addressed to future generations of international diplomats: "We must to tackle the immediate crises of today, but we must also build a world for the future". Cooperation is fundamental to accomplishing this goal.

From left to right: Jonathan Monten-SPP, Tom Pegram-GGI Deputy Director, Dame Nicola Brewer-Vice-Provost International, David Coen-GGI Director, Kristin Bakke-SPP.

Elisabeth Dibble is currently the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in London. From 2011 - 2013 she was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. From 2010 - 2011 Ms. Dibble was Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Her previous overseas assignments include Rome, Damascus, Islamabad, Tunis and London, after having worked in Washington, where she served as Director of the Office of Peace Process and Regional Affairs in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and as Deputy Director of the Office of Development Finance in the Economic Bureau.