A Youth Exchange program participant from Egypt 

with her U.S. host sister.

State Department photo
1

The U.S. Department of

State manages America’s

relationships with foreign

governments, international

organizations, and the people

of other countries. The

management of all of these

relationships is called

diplomacy. State Department

diplomats carry out the

President’s foreign policy and

help build a more free,

prosperous, and secure world. 

The State Department is a vital part of the U.S.

Government because it:

■ Represents the United States overseas and

conveys U.S. policies to foreign governments and

international organizations through American

embassies and consulates in foreign countries and

diplomatic missions;

■ Negotiates and concludes agreements and treaties

on issues ranging from trade to nuclear weapons;

■ Coordinates and supports international activities

of other U.S. agencies, hosts official visits, and

performs other diplomatic missions; 

■ Leads interagency coordination and manages the

allocation of resources for foreign relations; and

■ Promotes mutual

understanding between the

people of the United States

and the people of other

countries around the world.

There are more than 190

countries in the world, and

the United States maintains

diplomatic relations with

some 180 of them, as well as

with many international

organizations. Advances in

travel, trade and technology have made the world

more interconnected today than ever before, making

interactions with other countries and their citizens

more important for the United States.

The State Department has four main foreign 

policy goals:

■ Protect the United States and Americans;

■ Advance democracy, human rights, and other

global interests;

■ Promote international understanding of

American values and policies; and

■ Support U.S. diplomats, government officials,

and all other personnel at home and abroad who

make these goals a reality.

Diplomacy in Action

Protect America Advance Global Interests Gain International Understanding Support Foreign and Civil Services

U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua Paul Trivelli visits with

College Horizons students in Nicaragua. 

State Department photo
2

Diplomacy is one of the best ways

to protect the United States and the

American people. We use diplomacy

with other nations to successfully

deal with many challenges that cross

national boundaries and affect us

here in the United States, including:

■ Terrorism;

■ The threat of weapons of mass

destruction;

■ HIV/AIDS and other infectious

diseases;

■ Illegal drug trafficking and crime;

■ Humanitarian needs of migrants and refugees;

and

■ Environmental degradation.

Americans at home and abroad face threats to their

physical and economic well-being. The State

Department protects our nation, its people, and our

prosperity by helping to:

■ Prevent terrorist attacks and strengthen

international alliances to defeat global terrorism;

■ Ensure America’s homeland security by

promoting policies and practices to keep travel,

trade, and important infrastructure safe;

■ Serve on the front line of America’s borders,

facilitating the entry of legitimate visitors to the

United States while denying visas to those who

do not qualify or would do us harm;

■ Promote stability in all regions of the world;

■ Prevent enemies from threatening the United 

States or our allies with weapons of

mass destruction;

■ Reduce the impact of international

crime and illegal drugs on

Americans;

■ Protect and assist American citizens

who travel, conduct business, and

live abroad; and

■ Nurture common interests and

values between the people of the

United States and the people of

other countries. 

Following are a few of the many ways the State

Department uses diplomacy to protect America: 

Fighting Terrorism

International terrorism threatens the United States,

its allies and interests, and the world community.

Defeating international terrorism requires sound

policies, concerted U.S. Government effort, and

international cooperation.

Our work reflects the goals of the National Strategy

for Combating Terrorism:

■ Defeat terrorists and their organizations; 

■ Deny sponsorship, support, and sanctuary 

to terrorists; 

■ Diminish the underlying conditions that

terrorists seek to exploit; and

■ Defend U.S. citizens and interests at home 

and abroad. 

Protecting America
3

In the fight against terrorism, the

State Department provides

foreign policy oversight and

guidance to all U.S. Government

international counterterrorism

activities. These include:

■ Designating Foreign Terrorist

Organizations to freeze their

assets and isolate them

internationally; 

■ Providing deterrence and

rapid response to

international terrorist

incidents; 

■ Delivering creative and flexible anti-terrorism

and counterterrorism finance training; 

■ Enhancing border security and global terrorism

watch listing (see www.state.gov/s/ct);

■ Providing expert counterterrorism assistance in

support of embassies and partner nations; 

■ Integrating homeland security initiatives with

foreign policy; and

■ Leading technology development to effectively

combat terrorism. 

The State Department’s annual Country Reports on

Terrorism is a congressionally mandated assessment of

trends in international terrorism and the nature of

the terrorist threat. The narrative is focused on

policy-related assessments, a country-by-country

breakdown of foreign government cooperation, and

chapters on State Sponsors of Terrorism, Foreign

Terrorist Organizations, WMD terrorism, and

Terrorist Safe Havens. Also see www.state.gov/s/ct.

Homeland Security 

Security for Americans begins at home but extends

beyond our borders. In pursuit of

homeland security, the State

Department conducts visa operations and leads U.S. diplomatic

efforts to gain international

cooperation on measures to deter

threats to travel, communications,

and other critical infrastructure

networks—information systems,

transportation, and energy—and

to secure our borders. 

Visas: Welcoming Foreign Citizens 

Immigrants and visitors have

contributed greatly to our country, and we welcome

their important contributions. Immigrants and many

visitors who want to enter the United States must

apply for a visa from the State Department. The State

Department carefully reviews more than 8 million visa

applications per year. The visa regulations help ensure

that no visas are approved for foreign citizens who

might harm our country, thereby keeping us safe while

continuing to welcome citizens from around the

globe. Also see the visa section on travel.state.gov.

Regional Stability 

The State Department uses diplomacy in all regions of

the world to keep local conflicts from becoming wider

wars that may harm U.S. interests. The State Department joins with other countries in international organizations to promote stability and economic prosperity.

Following are some of the regional issues the State

Department manages: 

Middle East Promote and support the development

of democracy in Iraq. Continue to work with Israel,

President Ortega of Nicaragua welcomes U.S. 

assistance in the wake of Hurricane Dean. 

© AP/WWP Photo
4

Egypt, other Middle Eastern countries, and the

Palestinians to find a way for them to live peacefully

together. Also see www.state.gov/p/nea.

Western Hemisphere Join with other countries to

confront terrorism and illegal drug trafficking, while

promoting institutions that support democracy and

freedom. Also see www.state.gov/p/wha.

Africa Support democratization, rule of law, and economic

development by reducing

poverty, fighting disease, and

encouraging regional leadership

for conflict resolution. Also see

www.state.gov/p/af.

East Asia and the Pacific

Work within organizations

such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to

build prosperity and peace in

the region by creating economic opportunities,

building societies, and preventing threats to

sustainable growth. Also see www.state.gov/p/eap.

South and Central Asia Support developing democracy in Afghanistan. Work with India and Pakistan

and the international community to deal with problems

between these countries, including the status of Kashmir

and nuclear arms. Also see www.state.gov/p/sca.

Europe and Eurasia Work with European and

Eurasian partners, and with key institutions such as

NATO, on a range of global issues to promote

stability and international cooperation. Also see

www.state.gov/p/eur.

Weapons of Mass Destruction 

Weapons of mass destruction—such as nuclear,

chemical, or biological weapons—pose a serious

danger to the United States and the world. We must

be concerned about the possibility that terrorists may

acquire these weapons for use against innocent

people. The State Department works to ensure that

more countries do not obtain these weapons and to

verify that international

agreements restricting such

weapons are being honored.

Also see www.state.gov/t/isn.

International Crime, Illegal Drugs

and Criminal Justice Institutions 

The State Department plays

an important role in

formulating and

implementing international

narcotics and crime control

strategies. Strong law

enforcement institutions,

rooted in democratic principles and protective of

human rights, are vital to preventing transnational

threats, from drugs to organized criminal activity to

terrorism. The State Department helps countries

combat international narcotics production and trafficking, reduce international crime and terrorism, and

strengthen international criminal justice institutions

through bilateral, regional, and global assistance

programs. The State Department’s annual report on

international narcotics control (see www.state.gov/p/inl)

outlines the strategies dealing with these issues.

The State Department plays a critical role in developing

civilian police and supporting justice reform in postconflict societies. This assistance helps countries

U.S.-sponsored educational programs help combat the

spread of HIV/AIDS in Mozambique. These women are performing a song that educates members of their community

about HIV/ AIDS and teaches them how to prevent infection. 

USAID photo
5

recovering from post-conflict or

authoritarian regimes to reform

their police, corrections, and judicial

systems to create the stability

necessary for economic prosperity

and strong, democratic institutions. 

Trafficking in persons is a modernday form of slavery involving

victims who are forced, defrauded,

or coerced into labor or sexual

exploitation. Annually, about

800,000 people, mostly women

and children, are trafficked across

national borders, which does not account for the

millions trafficked within their own countries. The

State Department’s annual report on trafficking in

persons (see www.state.gov/g/tip) assesses governments’

efforts to combat trafficking and is an important

diplomatic tool for ending modern day slavery.

Helping Americans 

The State Department helps U.S. citizens travel,

conduct business, and live abroad safely by: 

■ Providing information, including travel warnings

and alerts, and country-specific information for

those traveling and living abroad;

■ Issuing passports to U.S. citizens;

■ Helping U.S. citizens obtain emergency funds;

■ Checking on the welfare and whereabouts of U.S.

citizens abroad;

■ Helping families with arrangements if a U.S.

citizen dies overseas;

■ Assisting U.S. travelers who become ill or are

arrested while overseas;

■ Assisting in international child custody disputes

and adoptions; and

■ Protecting and assisting U.S.

citizens living or traveling

abroad during crises.

Also see www.travel.state.gov.

Economic Prosperity and Security

The State Department supports

U.S. businesses at home and

abroad. Officers at U.S.

embassies around the world are

experts on the business practices

of foreign countries and what

products and markets are

important in those countries.

They identify opportunities for American firms and

help support them in exporting or working within

the country. The State Department:

■ Helps ensure that American workers,

businesspeople, and farmers can fairly compete

for foreign investment and trade;

■ Negotiates trade agreements to open foreign

markets to increase opportunities to sell American

products and services abroad;

■ Supports U.S. business interests overseas by

pointing out potential problems and helping

make sure that American companies can sell

products or services within a foreign country;

■ Works with international and U.S. organizations

to represent business interests;

■ Promotes and licenses exports that contribute tens

of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy;

■ Protects American intellectual property rights,

such as copyrights and patents; and

■ Helps other countries develop strong, freemarket

economies that provide investment and export

opportunities. 

Also see www.state.gov/e/eeb.

Two boys from Honduras enjoy the fresh water 

piped in through the new water system.

USAID/Gabriella Chinchilla
6

Democracy and Human Rights

Promoting freedom and

democracy and protecting

human rights around the world

are central to U.S. foreign policy.

The values captured in the

Universal Declaration of Human

Rights and in other global and

regional commitments are

consistent with the values upon

which the United States was

founded centuries ago. The

United States supports those

persons who long to live in

freedom and under democratic governments that

protect universally accepted human rights. 

Tools to advance a freedom agenda:

■ Bilateral diplomacy;

■ Multilateral diplomacy;

■ Support for defenders of freedom;

■ Foreign assistance;

■ Reporting on human rights practices;

■ Public outreach; and

■ Economic sanctions.

State Department efforts to promote democracy 

seek to: 

■ Promote democracy as a means to achieve security,

stability, and prosperity for the entire world; 

■ Assist newly formed democracies in implementing

democratic principles; 

■ Assist democracy advocates

around the world to establish

vibrant democracies in their

own countries; and 

■ Identify and denounce

regimes that deny their

citizens the right to choose

their leaders in elections that

are free, fair, and transparent. 

State Department efforts to

promote human rights seek to: 

■ Hold governments accountable

to their obligations under 

universal human rights norms and international

human rights instruments; 

■ Promote greater respect for human rights, based

on those internationally accepted standards; 

■ Promote the rule of law, seek accountability, and

change cultures of impunity; and

■ Assist efforts to reform and strengthen the

institutional capacity of the UN Commission on

Human Rights. 

Also see www.state.gov/g/drl.

Other Transnational Issues

The State Department also deals with many issues

that are transnational, extending beyond any single

country’s borders. Examples include:

Health

HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases

Advancing Global Interests

American and Indonesian officials dedicate a new

Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART)

tsunameter funded by the U.S. Department of 

State aboard the Indonesian vessel Baruna Jaya III. 

Photo by U.S. Embassy Jakarta
7

pose health challenges for countries

around the world. As disease spreads

and more people become sick, the political and economic stability of countries is

put at risk. Working with other agencies

within the U.S. Government as well as

other countries, the State Department

prepares for and responds to world

health problems and monitors the

spread of potentially dangerous diseases.

Also see www.pepfar.gov and

www.state.gov/g/oes.

Environment, Science, and Technology

The Department promotes transformational diplomacy

through advancing environmental stewardship,

encouraging economic growth, and promoting social

development around the globe to foster a safer, more

secure, and hopeful world. It also advances critical and

diverse United States interests in the oceans. Science

and technology cooperation led by the State

Department helps make tangible improvements in the

lives of people everywhere. Climate change and energy

security pose serious interlinked

challenges, the scale and scope of which

will require a global response as well as

national actions. The State Department

is working with international partners

on measures to slow, stop, and reverse

greenhouse gas emissions in a way that

promotes sustainable economic growth,

increases energy security, and helps

nations deliver greater prosperity for

their people. Also see

www.state.gov/g/oes.

Refugees, Migration, and Population

The State Department helps millions of refugees and

victims of conflict or natural disasters around the

world. Each year, the United States also allows tens of

thousands of refugees to live in America permanently.

Population growth affects the environment and the

ability of governments to provide services to the

growing number of people who live in less space, use

more fuel, and require more food. Also see

www.state.gov/g/prm.

Mutual understanding between Americans and

people in other countries advances U.S. national

interests by fostering a sense of common interests and

common values. To that end, the State Department

engages international audiences on issues of foreign

policy, society, and values to help create an

environment receptive to U.S. national interests. 

We communicate with foreign opinionmakers and

other publics through a variety of public diplomacy

programs, using cutting edge technologies, including

websites in English and six foreign languages, as well

as traditional text publications. Additionally, experts

in many fields travel to other countries to engage

foreign audiences. The Department also provides

Promoting Mutual Understanding

A family votes in the Azerbaijan

presidential election. 

State Department photo
8

U.S. diplomacy requires a group of

highly motivated people to accomplish

the foreign policy goals of the United

States. The Foreign Service and Civil

Service work together both in the

United States and at U.S. missions

abroad to make U.S. foreign policy

happen. In the wake of the terrorist

attacks of September 11, 2001, our

diplomatic presence and programs are

more important than ever before. 

The Foreign Service is a group of more

than 11,000 employees who represent

the United States in other countries. 

A Foreign Service career is a way of life that requires

uncommon commitment, but through which one

can achieve unique rewards. Members of the Foreign

Service can be sent to any embassy, consulate, or

other diplomatic mission anywhere in the world, at

any time, to serve the diplomatic needs of the 

United States.

The Civil Service is made up of over 9,000

employees mostly in Washington, DC, who

provide expertise, support, and continuity

in accomplishing the mission of the

Department. Some Civil Service employees

are the domestic counterparts to consular

officers abroad, issuing passports and

assisting U.S. citizens at home and abroad.

In addition, more than 37,000 Foreign

Service National employees, who are citizens of the country in which an embassy or

other post is located, are a very valuable

part of the State Department team

overseas. These employees provide

continuity by remaining in their jobs, while the Foreign

Service officers move in and out of the country.

Both the Foreign and Civil Services offer a variety of

career opportunities. For information on careers at the

State Department or at international organizations,

please visit: www.careers.state.gov.

information outreach support to U.S. embassies and

consulates in more than 140 countries worldwide. 

One of the most effective means of increasing mutual

understanding is through people-to-people exchange

programs. The State Department annually sponsors

more than 40,000 educational and cultural

exchanges—including visitors to the United States

and Americans traveling abroad. These exchanges

offer firsthand experiences of American society and

culture to foreign visitors and provide opportunities

for Americans to learn about other countries,

cultures and peoples. Such intercultural experiences

personify the universal values of human rights,

freedom, equality, and opportunity that all civilized

nations share. Also see www.exchanges.state.gov.

Supporting Foreign and Civil Services

Editors Zania Pearson (left) 

and Monica Perry Roll confer

as they update www.state.gov.

The website keeps Americans

informed of international 

relations and the work of 

the Department.

State Department photo
Department of State Publication

Revised June 2008 • www.state.gov
www.state.gov