An Exploration of U.S. Strategic Planning Capabilities of Diplomacy: A Case Study of the Two Administrations of Trump and Biden

Abstract

Nowadays, the international environment is filled with increasing uncertainty due to the changes in the current international situation. Given the intensification of Sino-US competition in recent years and its long-term nature, the game between the two countries in the diplomatic field is also exceptionally intense, which makes it necessary to strengthen in-depth research on the diplomatic capabilities of the United States. This paper studies the strategic planning capabilities of diplomacy of the two administrations of Trump and Biden. It can be found that the United States has a relatively strong capacity for foreign strategic planning, but there is also variability due to the conflicting interests of domestic political groups, the governing styles of the leaders, and the orientation of the international system. The strategic planning capabilities of different governments have different political positions. How to balance the conflicting interests of all parties will also become an important part of U.S. diplomatic strategy.