The U.S. government intends to replace traditional diplomacy conducted through U.S. embassies with an interventionist foreign policy that focuses on political and economic reform, Robert Zoellick, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, said Friday.
The new policy will require applying pressure to enforce the Bush Administration’s ideals of free trade and democracy in the Middle East.
"The old days of a foreign policy characterized only by the meetings and machinations of diplomatic statecraft are past," Zoellick said during a speech at the World Economic Forum conference at a Dead Sea resort.
Zoellick and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Liz Cheney will oversee the new U.S. government policy.
Resistance to reforms expected.
"This will not be an easy transformation. The pace of change is likely to spark resistance. There will be some who want to maintain the status quo or even drag the region back into a darkness that abhors modernity and tolerance." Zoellick said.
The U.S intends to provide grants an apply diplomatic pressure to convince Middle East countries to call elections and permit political parties, drop trade barriers, allow foreign investment and boost literacy and women’s rights.
"This broader engagement is the foundation for America’s efforts to counter terrorism, forward peace processes and strengthen security," Zoellick said.
