U.S. Religious Diplomacy in the 21st Century: A Foreign Policy Instrument or a Tool for Domestic Political Struggle?

The role of religion in U.S. foreign policy has significantly increased in the 21st century, primarily due to the rising influence of conservative evangelical groups. Amid shifting demographic trends, reliance on Christian fundamentalists has become essential for the Republican Party's political survival. Donald Trump’s example demonstrates that genuine religious devotion is less critical than employing rhetoric and actions appealing to religious conservatives. Despite ambiguity surrounding Trump's personal religious beliefs, he effectively branded himself as a defender of religious freedoms. However, his second-term decisions to cut funding for international aid programs provoked criticism even from traditionally supportive conservative Christian groups. The article traces the evolution of American religious diplomacy from the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act to contemporary developments, assessing the effectiveness of implemented measures. It concludes that religious diplomacy has taken on a distinctly partisan character and argues that for Republicans, it serves less as a foreign policy tool than as an instrument of domestic political mobilization.

Religious Diplomacy, Donald Trump, Religious Freedom, International Aid, Evangelicals, Christian Nationalism, U.S. Foreign Policy