Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo argues passionately for the worth of American principles and the defence of those values overseas in his recently published book, Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love. The previous Obama administration’s foreign policy decisions, according to Mr Pompeo, were too centred on diplomacy and insufficiently forceful in safeguarding American interests. While America needs to stand up for its values, Mr Pompeo’s strategy has come under fire for being unduly interventionist and hawkish.
Even while it takes time and may not always produce results right away, diplomacy is nevertheless a crucial tool for foreign policy and can be useful in settling disputes and advancing American interests. In his book, Mr Pompeo also criticises Sushma Swaraj, the former foreign minister of India. She is charged with ignoring American interests while placing an excessive amount of emphasis on Indian interests.
While India is of course free to pursue its interests, it’s crucial to keep in mind that working together with other nations to accomplish shared objectives is still necessary. Mr Pompeo’s passion for America’s place in the world and desire to see that American values and interests are protected abroad are understandable. However, a diplomatic strategy that considers the interests of other nations is frequently more successful than a merely hawkish strategy.
It is crucial to keep in mind that diplomacy is an effective tool in foreign policy and shouldn’t be brushed aside. The skills and knowledge of foreign leaders, like Ms Swaraj, who could have different perspectives and strategies than those of the United States, must also be respected.
