United States
United States of America
Population
334.9M
GDP
$27.70T
Capital
Washington, D.C.
Government
Federal presidential constit...
At a Glance
Human Development
0.9
HDI (0-1)
Democracy
7.8
EIU (0-10)
Press Freedom
—
RSF score
Corruption
—
TI CPI (0-100)
Innovation
—
GII score
Happiness
—
WHR (0-10)
The United States is a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of the Security Council (P5) with veto power. It is the world's largest economy and leading military power, and hosts the UN headquarters in New York City. The US is the single largest financial contributor to the UN system.
The United States has shaped the post-World War II international order through institutions like the UN, NATO, the World Bank, and the IMF. Its foreign policy oscillates between internationalism and unilateralism, but its influence on virtually every global issue -- from trade and climate to security and human rights -- is unmatched.
As a P5 member, the US holds decisive influence over Security Council resolutions, peacekeeping mandates, and sanctions regimes. Its relationships with allies (NATO, Five Eyes, bilateral defence treaties) and rivals (China, Russia, Iran) define many of the central dynamics of international relations.
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As the United States, you are the most powerful delegation in the room but also the most scrutinised. Your veto on the Security Council is your ultimate tool, but overusing it erodes legitimacy. Build coalitions with allies (UK, France on the P5; NATO and EU partners broadly; Japan, Australia, South Korea in the Indo-Pacific).
Use your economic leverage -- sanctions, trade access, development aid -- as both carrot and stick. On contentious issues (Israel-Palestine, climate commitments, arms control), be prepared for significant opposition from the G-77 and Non-Aligned Movement.
Avoid isolating yourself. The US is most effective when it leads consensus rather than dictating terms. Work behind the scenes to shape resolution language before it reaches the floor, and use procedural knowledge to your advantage.
Foreign Policy
US foreign policy is anchored in alliance networks (NATO, bilateral treaties with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines), economic statecraft (sanctions, trade agreements, dollar hegemony), and military preeminence. The US pursues a 'free and open Indo-Pacific' strategy and leads Western responses to Russian aggression and Chinese strategic competition.
Domestically, foreign policy is shaped by the interplay between the executive and Congress, producing shifts between multilateral engagement and unilateral action. The US champions democracy promotion, counterterrorism, nuclear non-proliferation, and freedom of navigation, while facing criticism over selective application of human rights standards and military interventions.