Foreign Affairs
CFR's flagship publication
Foreign affairs are a nation's relationships and dealings with other countries—diplomacy, trade agreements, treaties, and international disputes.
The term usually appears in governmental contexts: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.
Someone's foreign affairs may also refer euphemistically to romantic entanglements abroad.
Official foreign representative
- embassyOfficial diplomatic residence abroad
- diplomatOfficial foreign representative
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- consulateForeign diplomatic office
attaché · consul · delegation · protocol · statecraft · bilateral · multilateral · international relations
Nation's collective welfare priorities
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- geopoliticsGeography's role in statecraft
- allianceFormal union of parties
- securityProtection from threat
strategic interests · intelligence · defense · diplomacy · doctrine · sphere of influence · containment · isolationism
Binding pact between nations
- talksSpeaks with others
- accordHarmony between parties
- pactFormal agreement between parties
- agreementShared position between parties
mediation · arbitration · dialogue · compromise · conciliation · bargaining · truce · convention
Armed struggle between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- tensionStretched or strained state
- aggressionHostile or attacking behavior
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
confrontation · sanctions · embargo · intervention · insurgency · proxy war · ceasefire · armistice
Reciprocal reliance between entities
- transnationalCrossing country lines
- cross-borderSpanning national boundaries
- tradeExchange of commodities
- multinationalOperating across multiple countries
integration · migration · international cooperation · exchange · economic ties · cultural diplomacy · remittances · diaspora
ambassador
Official foreign representative
- embassyOfficial diplomatic residence abroad
- diplomatOfficial foreign representative
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
consulate · attaché · consul · delegation · protocol · statecraft · bilateral · multilateral · international relations · summit
national interest
Nation's collective welfare priorities
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- geopoliticsGeography's role in statecraft
- allianceFormal union of parties
security · strategic interests · intelligence · defense · diplomacy · doctrine · sphere of influence · containment · isolationism · interventionism
treaty
Binding pact between nations
agreement · mediation · arbitration · dialogue · compromise · conciliation · bargaining · truce · convention · deal-making
war
Armed struggle between groups
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- tensionStretched or strained state
- aggressionHostile or attacking behavior
escalation · confrontation · sanctions · embargo · intervention · insurgency · proxy war · ceasefire · armistice · territorial dispute
interdependence
Reciprocal reliance between entities
- transnationalCrossing country lines
- cross-borderSpanning national boundaries
- tradeExchange of commodities
multinational · integration · migration · international cooperation · exchange · economic ties · cultural diplomacy · remittances · diaspora · free trade
Foreign Affairsinternal affairs
Officers investigating officers
domestic relations · civil affairs · self-governance · national security