United States Country Brief

United States of America

Overview: The top priority of the United States is to maintain a balance of power in the world by promoting peace and security through democratic values and human rights. By working with allies and trading with foreign nations, the United States hopes to preserve its own security as well as help others secure theirs. The U.S has a great economy, and the power to support one of the best militaries in the world.

Representative: Richard Perez Report on U.S.A

Historical Background: The United States declared its independence in 176 from Great Britain. The United states is made up of 50 states and 14 territories. The states go as far north as Alaska, as far south as Florida, as far west as Hawaii, and as far east as Maine.

Political System: The United States has a political system based around a democratic republic. It has three branches of government, the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legislative branch is bicameral. The executive branch is ran by the President, who at the time is Donald J. Trump. The Judicial branch’s highest court is the Supreme court.

Economic System: The United States has a market economy.

Economic Standing: The GINI Index score of the United States is 48.0%.  In 2017, the official exchange GDP was 19.49 trillion USD.  

Military Strength: The United States spends 3.29% of their GDP on their military, making them the  highest spender in the world.

Foreign Military Bases: The United States has 800 military bases spread out in 70 countries.

Other Capabilities and Assets: The United States has an Army, Navy, Air Force, and US Coast Guard.

Geographic Location and Features: The United States borders Canada and the United States of Mexico. They are also touching the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean.

Political Culture: The United States voter turnout has fallen in the past couple elections. In 2016 during the Presidential election the turnout was only 61.4%.

Internal Strengths:The United States has many internal strengths including a great economy and many industries.

Internal Weaknesses:  A growing divide of ideas in different regions in the United States.

External Orientation

Key Institutional Memberships: The United States is apart of NAFTA and NATO.

Policy Promotion: The White House’s has the current foreign policy as, “President Trump is bolstering American influence by leading a coalition of strong and independent nations to promote security, prosperity, and peace both within America’s borders and beyond. The promise of a better future will come in part from reasserting American sovereignty and the right of all nations to determine their own futures.”

Policy Detraction: The United States is hurting itself by distancing itself from allies like NATO. The U.S is not only distancing themselves from their allies, but they are also moving toward an isolationist ideology.

Allies: Some notable allies are Canada (NAFTA), Australia, UK (NATO), France(NATO), and Israel.

Adversaries: Some notable adversaries are North Korea, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, China, Pakistan, and Palestine.

Foreign Policy Objectives: Objectives of the United States include, balancing power throughout nations in the world, promoting world peace and global security, protect national security, solve international problems with allies, promote human rights and democratic values, and keep up foreign trade.

Capabilities: By having a huge economy, the United States is able to support one of the best militaries in the world with a minimal amount of money. The United States also has lots of military bases and a constant moving military around the world and can set out to defend or attack quicker than most current day militaries. The United States also has a vast nuclear program.  

Obstacles: The United States faces obstacles like Russia taking over land in the Ukraine, and pushing limits. North Korea is also developing nuclear weapons. Syria is using chemical weapons on its people. These countries like others are pushing the limits to see how far they can go before the U.S steps in, and when the U.S steps in there will be conflict that can lead to further problems.

Citations

1.Foreign Policy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2019, from

https://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/

2.Foreign Policy: What Now? (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2019, from

http://www.ushistory.org/gov/11a.asp

3.The World Factbook: United States. (2018, February 01). Retrieved March 17, 2019, from

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html

4.Williams, P., Peggy, Wang, S., Boyter, D., Bob, Clay C., & Makayla King. (2017, February 23).

Who Americans Consider Their Allies, Friends & Enemies. Retrieved March 18, 2019, from https://brilliantmaps.com/us-allies-enemies/