Every President for over three decades has recognized that America's
interests are global and that we must pursue a global foreign policy.
Two world wars have made clear our stake in Western Europe and the North
Atlantic area. We are also inextricably linked with the Far East,
politically, economically, and militarily. In both of these, the United
States has a permanent presence and security commitments which would be
automatically triggered. We have become increasingly conscious of our
growing interests in a third area, the Middle East and the Persian Gulf
area.
We have vital stakes in other major regions of the world as well. We have
long recognized that in an era of interdependence, our own security and
prosperity depend upon a larger common effort with friends and allies
throughout the world.