Why America struggles to make friends abroad
The newly elected president of Saffronia is granted an audience in the West Wing
Imagine yourself the head of state of Saffronia, a midsized country which looks to America for its security. You are on your way to Washington for your first official visit, in the hope of opening negotiations over a trade deal that would enrich the people who just elected you. A closer trading relationship would also tilt Saffronia towards the United States, which already provides some security guarantees to your country, and away from China. This seems like what the Americans call win-win.
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This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Coming to America”
United States November 18th 2023
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From the November 18th 2023 edition
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