Nicaragua

U.S.-Nicaraguan relations have been rocky ever since the end of the U.S.-sponsored war against the Sandinista government.

Hidden Costs of NATO Expansion

Expansion of the NATO military alliance is proceeding rapidly despite an overwhelming lack of public or congressional debate.

Asia/Pacific Overview

For the cold war generation, U.S. foreign policy toward the Asia/Pacific region was simple, straightforward, and secure.

Africa Overview

The absence of a coherent U.S. foreign policy agenda—except in the expansion of exports and investments to promising new markets—leaves U.S. policy decisions at the mercy of old and new prejudices, while ad hoc response to crises becomes more the norm than the exception.

Indonesia

As the country in the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) that leads the effort to seek rapid tariffs reductions, Indonesia is the darling of U.S. export industries.

Somalia

For many in the U.S., Somalia is viewed as a powerful symbol of United Nations peacekeeping failure.

North American Free Trade Agreement

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) sets guidelines for the elimination of most trade and investment barriers between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico over a 15-year period.

Military Strategy

The U.S. military did not foresee an end of the cold war and was caught without a new strategy when the Soviet Union collapsed.

Mexico

Since the early 1980s Washington has sought to break down all barriers to U.S. trade and investment in Mexico.

South Africa

Since 1994 U.S. statements regarding a newly democratic South Africa, under the leadership of Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress (ANC) have frequently been cast in the language of a love fest.

Overseas Private Investment Corporation

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a wholly owned government corporation established in 1971, provides taxpayer-backed and taxpayer-funded loans, loan guarantees, and insurance to businesses for investments in “politically risky” countries.

Indochina

The unquiet legacy of foreign intervention still casts a long shadow over U.S. policy in Indochina.

World Trade Organization

Today, member countries number 125 (nearly the whole world except China, some former communist countries, and a number of small nations) and WTO rules apply to over 90 percent of international trade.