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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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

He and others suggested funneling funds through multinational agencies to remove resentment against U.S. dollar diplomacy.

From Time Magazine Archive

The argument for dollar diplomacy was that it opened new fields for the use of American capital, and thus indirectly benefited the whole people.

From The United States Since the Civil War by Lingley, Charles Ramsdell