International Engagement Quotes

If Australia wants to be a friend of Asia, it should stop behaving as if it is there to teach us how to run our country.

I think a policy of isolationism toward Cuba is misplaced and hasn't worked.

I think one big reason why Sweden might have a good reputation around the world is that if you look at Norway or Denmark or Finland, any of the Scandinavian countries, they all seem less interested in being a part of the larger world, where Sweden has always tried to reach out, whether it's with Volvos, Saabs, H&Ms, music, clothes.

America must always lead on the world stage.

America does not have the luxury of withdrawing from the world, our security, and our prosperity, and our values demand that we remain engaged and involved in -- often distant places.

The rest of the world cares about how we conduct our affairs because they then take that lead. We're the only leader in the world today. Some are wishing us well, others think that we're down and are not going to get back up again, but they are all watching with great interest to see how we conduct our business over the next couple of years.

American diplomats meet with formal government officials, we meet with opposition protesters, not just in Hong Kong or China. This literally happens in every single country in which an American embassy is present.

[Arguing against isolationism:] This country is not looking for prestige. It has all it can use. It is not looking for power. It has, likewise, all that it knows how to use .... [But] are we willing to live behind a Maginot Line or a Great Wall of China here on the North American continent, and trade and travel in the rest of the world only as permitted by a stronger power than we are?

I think it's important that the English culture changes a little bit and we do start to go abroad and step out of our comfort zone.

Iran is isolating itself from the rest of the world.

I do think it's fair to say that there are times when President Obama has not been engaged enough with the Middle East.

Norway will be recognized as an open democracy with the rule of law, with the universal human rights, and with the broad international engagement on the international scene taking upon ourselves responsibilities, because we are a privileged country.

I've never believed protectionism of that kind will lead us anywhere. I think you can have certain specific rules for engaging with India.. for example, not allowing mineral resources to be taken out of the country.. but there is not a shred of doubt in my mind that when you open an economy you should do it in totality. Foreign investment adds a sense of competition; we should see this as a wake-up call to modernise and upgrade. Companies that do not will undoubtedly die.

Until the attack on Pearl Harbor, isolationism was an important, even dominant strand in U.S. politics. After the Second World War, this strand disappeared, smothered by the widespread and bipartisan conviction that the United States needed to stay engaged with the world to prevent future crises.

A fundamental reason why Britain was not torn apart by civil war after 1688 was that its inhabitants' aggression was channelled so regularly and so remorsely into war and imperial expansion abroad.

I think [Donald Trump] is now talking about engaging in countries on a bilateral basis.

My priority is to give the United States the kind of influence it should have.

I have more engagement with New Zealand than people might think. Unlike the impression I have of the American president, who sits in the Oval Office and people come to them.

I am a very strong supporter of our government's view that it is important to engage with all countries around the world - very much including Russia.

Isolationism is not leadership.

Britain has always been a nation with a strong global focus. We have influenced change and built strong ties all round the world.

The United States should serve as a weight, not the weight on the scale of foreign affairs.

Britain can get far better results if it engages with Europe than standing on the sidelines and saying that Europe should change.

It's very important for Taiwan to maintain its international contact.

As the young leaders of tomorrow, you have the passion and energy and commitment to make a difference. What I'd like to really urge you do is to have a global vision. Go beyond your country; go beyond your national boundaries