dollar diplomacy

American  

noun

1. a government policy of promoting the business interests of its citizens in other countries.

2. diplomacy or foreign relations strengthened by the power of a nation's financial resources.

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dollar diplomacy British  

noun

1. a foreign policy that encourages and protects capital investment and commercial and financial involvement abroad

2. use of financial power as a diplomatic weapon

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dollar diplomacy Cultural  

1. The use of diplomatic influence, economic pressure, and military power to protect a nation's economic and business interests abroad. The term was first used to describe the exploitative nature of United States involvement in Latin America.

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Etymology

Origin of dollar diplomacy

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

After 1909, Secretary of State Philander Knox, one of the founders of the United States Steel Corporation, pursued a program of "dollar diplomacy" that promoted American power through overseas investments rather than territorial conquests.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2025

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said her government would not “engage in a meaningless contest of dollar diplomacy with China.”

From Seattle Times • Mar. 25, 2023

“Under no circumstances will Taiwan resort to an ugly dollar diplomacy bidding war with China, much less line the pockets of corrupt politicians,” said Joanne Ou, a spokesperson for Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From The Guardian • Dec. 7, 2019

Sir: As an American citizen, a Korean veteran, and one who is damned sick of dollar diplomacy, I strongly object to the Tractors for Freedom Committee.

From Time Magazine Archive

The critics of this policy stigmatized it as "dollar diplomacy," but Taft and Knox defended it as leading these republics through sound finance to stable government.

From The New Nation by Dodd, William E.