Diplomatic Leads: Strengthening the Role of the Department of State in US Regional Engagement Strategy

摘要

The U.S. State Department is the lead agency whose role is to develop and implement the foreign policy of the United States. It does so principally through its regional bureaus and its country ambassadors. As stated in the Department's Strategic Plan published in 2004, the U.S. State Department strives to 'avert and resolve local and regional conflicts to preserve peace and minimize harm to the national interests of the United States' (DOS, 2003). In comparison, the United States military is organized into six Geographical Combatant Commands (GCC). Each command is structured to conduct a wide range of missions, including military operations and humanitarian assistance. With numerous mission sets come large staffs and associated funding. The GCC missions and resources allow it to implement U.S. foreign policy throughout its region of responsibility. In many cases, the commander has unfettered access to presidents, prime ministers, and rulers of all stripes as he conducts his assigned duties. This access permits him to operate in the diplomatic arena as a uniformed military officer. Clearly, coordination occurs between the Department of State (DOS) and the Department of Defense (DoD) from the embassies to the Department level. However, given the immense resources of the DoD, the GCC finds itself taking on more missions, like nation-building, which are not its core competence. Is it right for the DoD and the GCC to have such a large stake, and in some instances the lead, in regional engagement. Are the two departments in sync with the objectives for a particular region. Finally, as the United States reviews it foreign policy objectives, how can the two departments organize, on a regional basis, to be more effective and restore primacy to diplomacy. This paper will argue that the DoD has been improperly used in the area of regional engagement and will identify potential problem areas a new administration will encounter.