On the 250th anniversary of the United States, concerns have been raised about the nation's foreign policy choices, particularly its role in arming autocratic governments. Historically, the Founding Fathers debated whether America should spread liberty by force. While Thomas Jefferson supported backing the French Revolution, George Washington cautioned Americans to "steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world" in his Farewell Address.
John Quincy Adams also warned on a Fourth of July against the foreign policy that later U.S. leaders would adopt. Yet, what neither Jefferson nor Washington envisioned was America becoming a strong supporter of absolute monarchies and autocracies.
During the first half of the Biden administration, The Intercept found that the United States sold weapons to the majority of the world's autocracies. According to the nonprofit Freedom House's "Freedom in the World" report, 39 out of 61 countries listed as "not free" and 38 out of 42 countries listed as "partly free" received U.S. weapons or security aid.
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger famously stated that foreign policy "should not be confused with missionary work," suggesting that the U.S. government has the option to pursue a more moral approach. Many of the current partnerships with unsavory regimes are remnants of Cold War-era policies.
This reality contrasts sharply with the ideals of America’s founders and highlights ongoing debates about the nation’s role on the global stage.
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