US foreign policy’s familiar follies show lessons not easily learnt
History appears to be repeating itself in U.S. foreign policy, as longstanding missteps in strategy and execution continue to shape global outcomes. This article examines patterns in past interventions, diplomatic failures, and policy miscalculations, offering insight into why lessons often go unlearned and how these recurring issues affect America’s credibility and influence abroad.
For students and professionals of international policy and historical strategy, it provides a nuanced assessment of the structural, political, and institutional factors that drive repeated mistakes. The piece sheds light on the broader consequences of these missteps and encourages reflection on how future U.S. policy could avoid repeating familiar errors while advancing more coherent and effective global strategies.
James Borton, Senior Fellow at FPI, wrote in East Asia Forum on April 30, 2025, analyzing repeated missteps in U.S. foreign policy.