Danger Zones
The top 5 challenges the U.S. faces around the world today
From containing the spread of nuclear weapons to fighting terrorism around the globe, the United States currently faces a number of urgent foreign-policy challenges. (Foreign policy refers to a government’s strategy in dealing with other nations.)
According to Rex Tillerson, the U.S. secretary of state, the Trump administration’s foreign-policy agenda is focused on putting “America first.” By that he means that the U.S. aims to prioritize its own national security and economic interests ahead of solving other countries’ problems.
Still, the White House continues to engage with other nations on a regular basis to improve relations and to boost America’s standing in the world.
The countries featured here—Russia, North Korea, China, Iran, and Mexico—have long posed foreign-policy challenges for the U.S. American presidents have been attempting to address many of the issues for decades.
These problems are among the most pressing the U.S. has to deal with right now—and they’ll likely continue to dominate the news in the months and years ahead.
1. RUSSIA
Did Russian President Vladimir Putin back a campaign of computer hacking and disinformation meant to disrupt the 2016 U.S. presidential election? Some U.S. officials say he did—in an attempt to undermine our democracy. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Congress are now investigating the matter.
When Donald Trump took office, he had hoped to improve ties with Russia. The U.S. seeks Putin’s help in defeating ISIS, the terrorist group that’s responsible for recent deadly attacks in Europe and the Middle East.
But the U.S. and Russia are at odds on many issues. For one thing, Russia backs regimes like those in Syria and Iran, which the U.S. says are a major cause of conflict in the Middle East.
The U.S. and Russia are also divided when it comes to
2. NORTH KOREA
Tensions between the U.S. and this isolated Communist country have increased as North Korea’s reckless young dictator, Kim Jong Un, continues to test nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles in defiance of the U.S. and the United Nations.
Experts say the acceleration of North Korea’s nuclear program is a threat to the U.S. and its allies in Asia, particularly South Korea and Japan. A single nuclear bomb can wipe out an entire city and kill millions of people. Kim has repeatedly threatened to use such a bomb to strike the U.S.
In recent months, President Trump has called on China to rein in its neighbor. China is North Korea’s closest ally and trading partner, and supplies most of its food and electricity. China could cripple North Korea by cutting off aid. At the same time, the U.S. has increased its military presence on the Korean Peninsula as a show of strength.
According to James Mattis, the U.S. secretary of defense, the Trump administration is open to working toward a
3. CHINA
China’s booming economy is set to overtake America’s as the world’s largest by 2030.
In the past two decades, China has also built one of the biggest navies in the world. Under President Xi Jinping, it has seized areas of the South China Sea that are claimed by other nations. There, Chinese engineers have created seven artificial islands that are being turned into military bases.
This has alarmed U.S. allies in the Pacific, including South Korea, Japan, and Australia. U.S. officials also worry that China’s aggression could lead to conflict with U.S. ships in the area.
Trade is another concern. Many U.S. companies do business in China. But they say the country places unfair burdens on foreign firms, denying them free access to the Chinese consumer market.
Despite their differences, the U.S. seeks China’s cooperation in key areas. Chief among these is containing North Korea, China’s ally, and its dangerous nuclear missile program.
Still, the U.S. will likely continue to struggle with China for global influence. China has used its wealth to invest billions of dollars in
4. IRAN
The U.S. has been at odds with this Middle Eastern country for decades over its destabilizing actions in the region and its support for terrorist organizations.
Earlier this year, relations deteriorated further after President Trump issued an executive order temporarily barring immigration from Iran and several other Muslim-majority countries. The order has faced legal challenges and is now headed to the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Iran has turned over most of its enriched uranium following a 2015 agreement with the U.S. and five other nations. The deal aims to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. In return, the U.S. and its allies have begun to lift
Critics of the agreement, including President Trump, insist that Iran can’t be trusted to keep up its end of the bargain. Still, the president has reauthorized parts of the current deal.
5. MEXICO
U.S.-Mexico ties have grown strained in recent months. An estimated 11 million
The flow of immigrants illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border has slowed in recent years thanks to Mexico’s growing economy. Still, President Trump says he will build a wall between the two countries to keep more immigrants from entering the U.S. Trump has said that Mexico will pay for the wall, but Mexican officials have refused.
The Trump administration also wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which opened up trade between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada in 1994. Trump says NAFTA encourages U.S. companies to move jobs to Mexico and has called the agreement “the worst trade deal ever.” Mexico is open to renegotiating the deal, but experts caution against changing NAFTA too much because both the U.S. and its southern neighbor have come to rely on the increase in trade.
Looking ahead, Mexico’s presidential election next year could further escalate tensions with the U.S. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a tough-talking leading presidential contender, has promised to stand up to American officials if he wins.
CORE QUESTION: Which of these nations do you think poses the greatest threat? Cite evidence from the text.