The author discusses the role of national interests in foreign policy. Kinzer argues that all countries have interests and only some of those interests are vital. The U.S., he writes, currently has too many interests that it considers vital, easily drawing the U.S. into conflicts it does not need to fight. Kinzer compares this situation to the late period of the Cold War, when the U.S. was similarly stretched too thin by a too long list of vital interests. The author argues that the U.S. should consider vital interests that include protecting global trade and preventing the spread of war, but that goals like “limiting Russia’s influence over nearby countries” should be eliminated from the list.

Read the full article at the Boston Globe.

Photo by Capt. Albert E. Theberge of NOAA shared in the public domain.