View source for Foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration

{{Short description|Overview of the foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration}}
{{Main|Presidency of George W. Bush}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{George W. Bush series}}

The main event by far shaping the [[Foreign policy of the United States|United States foreign policy]] during the [[presidency of George W. Bush]] (2001–2009) was the [[September 11 attacks|9/11 terrorist attacks]] against the United States on September 11, 2001, and the subsequent [[war on terror]]. There was massive domestic and international support for destroying the attackers. With UN approval, US and NATO forces quickly invaded the attackers' base in Afghanistan and drove them out and the Taliban government that harbored them. It was the start of a 20-year quagmire that finally ended in failure with the [[2020–2021 U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan|withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan]].

Other interactions with foreign nations during this period included diplomatic and military initiatives in the [[United States foreign policy in the Middle East|Middle East]], [[Africa–United States relations|Africa]], and elsewhere. Important economic developments that occurred during Bush's presidency include the several [[United States free-trade agreements|free-trade agreements]].

The chief advisors of the president were [[United States Secretary of State|Secretaries of State]] [[Colin Powell]] and [[Condoleezza Rice]], [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] [[Stephen Hadley]], and [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney]].

==Appointments==
{{multiple image
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| image1    = 46 Dick Cheney 3x4.jpg
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| caption1  = '''[[Dick Cheney]]'''
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| image2    = George Tenet portrait headshot.jpg
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| caption2  = '''[[George Tenet]]'''
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| image3    = Condoleezza Rice cropped.jpg
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| caption3  = '''[[Condoleezza Rice]]'''
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| image4    = Colin Powell official Secretary of State photo.jpg
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{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
!colspan="9"|George W. Bush administration foreign policy personnel
|-
|  style="width:225pt; text-align:left;"|[[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] ||colspan="8"|[[Dick Cheney|Cheney]]<br /><small>(2001–2009)</small>
|-
|  style="width:225pt; text-align:left;"|[[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] ||colspan="4"|[[Colin Powell|Powell]]<br /><small>(2001–2005)</small> ||colspan="4"|[[Condoleezza|Rice]]<br /><small>(2005–2009)</small>
|-
|  style="width:225pt; text-align:left;"|[[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] ||colspan="6"|[[Donald Rumsfeld|Rumsfeld]]<br /><small>(2001–2006)</small> ||colspan="2"|[[Robert Gates|Gates]]<br /><small>(2006–2009)</small> 
|-
|  style="width:225pt; text-align:left;"|[[List of ambassadors of the United States to the United Nations|Ambassador to the United Nations]]||''[[James B. Cunningham|Cunningham]]''<br /><small>(2001)</small> ||colspan="2"|[[John Negroponte|Negroponte]]<br /><small>(2001–2004)</small> ||[[John Danforth|Danforth]]<br /><small>(2004–2005)</small> ||''[[Anne W. Patterson|Patterson]]''<br /><small>(2005)</small> ||[[John Bolton|Bolton]]<br /><small>(2005–2006)</small> ||''[[Alejandro Daniel Wolff|Wolff]]''<br /><small>(2006–2007)</small> ||[[Zalmay Khalilzad|Khalilzad]]<br /><small>(2007–2009)</small>
|-
|  style="width:225pt; text-align:left;"|[[Director of Central Intelligence]] ||colspan="3"|[[George Tenet|Tenet]]<br /><small>(2001–2004)</small> ||''[[John E. McLaughlin|McLaughlin]]''<br /><small>(2004)</small> || [[Porter Goss|Goss]]<br /><small>(2004–2005)</small> ||colspan="3"|''Discontinued''<br /><small>(2005–2009)</small> 
|-
|  style="width:225pt; text-align:left;"|[[Director of National Intelligence]] || colspan="5"|''Not yet created''<br /><small>(2001–2005)</small> || colspan="2"|[[John Negroponte|Negroponte]]<br /><small>(2005–2007)</small> || colspan="1"|[[Mike McConnell (U.S. Naval officer)|McConnell]]<br /><small>(2007–2009)</small>
|-
|  style="width:225pt; text-align:left;"|[[Director of the Central Intelligence Agency]] || colspan="5"|''Not yet created''<br /><small>(2001–2005)</small> || [[Porter Goss|Goss]]<br /><small>(2005–2006)</small> || colspan="2"|[[Michael Hayden (general)|Hayden]]<br /><small>(2006–2009)</small>
|-
|  style="width:225pt; text-align:left;"|[[National Security Advisor (United States)|Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs]] ||colspan="4"|[[Condoleezza Rice|Rice]]<br /><small>(2001–2005)</small> ||colspan="4"|[[Stephen Hadley|Hadley]]<br /><small>(2005–2009)</small> 
|-
|  style="width:225pt; text-align:left;"|[[Deputy National Security Advisor|Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs]] ||colspan="5"|[[Stephen Hadley|Hadley]]<br /><small>(2001–2005)</small> ||colspan="2"|[[Jack Dyer Crouch II|Crouch]]<br /><small>(2005–2007)</small> ||[[James Franklin Jeffrey|Jeffrey]]<br /><small>(2007–2008)</small> 
|-
|  style="width:225pt; text-align:left;"|[[Office of the United States Trade Representative|Trade Representative]] ||colspan="5"|[[Robert Zoellick|Zoellick]]<br /><small>(2001–2005)</small> ||''[[Peter Allgeier|Allgeier]]''<br /><small>(2005)</small> ||[[Rob Portman|Sapiro]]<br /><small>(2005–2006)</small> ||colspan="1"|[[Susan Schwab|Schwab]]<br /><small>(2006–2009)</small>
|}

==Approaching foreign policy==
[[George W. Bush]] had little experience or interest in foreign policy prior to the presidency and his decisions were guided by his advisers. In a gaffe in 2000, for example, Bush confused Afghanistan's ruling [[Taliban]] with a musical [[Musical ensemble|band]].<ref>{{cite book|author-link=Steve Coll|last=Coll|first=Steve|title=[[Ghost Wars|Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001]]|publisher=[[Penguin Group]]|year=2004|isbn=9781594200076|pages=543–544}}</ref> Bush embraced the views of Cheney and other [[Neoconservatism|neoconservatives]], who de-emphasized the importance of [[multilateralism]]; neoconservatives believed that because the United States was the world's lone [[superpower]], it could act unilaterally if necessary.<ref name="smith181182">Smith (2016), pp. 181–182, 193.</ref> At the same time, Bush sought to enact the less [[Interventionism (politics)|interventionist]] foreign policy he had promised during the 2000 campaign.<ref>Draper (2007), pp. 128–130.</ref> Also during the 2000 presidential campaign, Bush's [[Foreign policy of the United States|foreign policy]] platform included support for stronger economic and political relationship with [[Latin America]], especially [[Mexico]], and a reduction of involvement in "[[nation-building]]" and other small-scale military engagements.<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite news |url=https://fas.org/nuke/control/abmt/news/010501bush.html |title=President Bush Speech on Missile Defense |publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]] |date=May 1, 2001 |access-date=September 1, 2008 |archive-date=March 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313022704/http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/abmt/news/010501bush.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Oliver argues that Bush was quickly influenced by ideologues who argued for unilateral action to establish US primacy in world affairs. They included Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and National Security Advisor [[Condoleezza Rice]], – with Secretary of State Colin Powell as a non-ideological centrist.<ref>James Oliver, "Pragmatic Fathers and Ideological Suns: Foreign Policy in the Administrations of George H.W. Bush and George W Bush". ''White House Studies'' 7#3 (2007): 199–213.</ref><ref>Roberta Haar, "Explaining George W. Bush's adoption of the neoconservative agenda after 9/11". ''Politics & Policy'' 38.5 (2010): 965–990.</ref>

===September 11 attacks===
{{Main|September 11 attacks}}
[[File:Address to the Nation by President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001.webm|thumb|President Bush addresses the nation from the Oval Office, regarding the [[September 11 attacks|terrorist attacks]], September 11, 2001]]
[[File:FEMA - 3905 - Photograph by SFC Thomas R. Roberts taken on 09-14-2001 in New York.jpg|thumb|President Bush, standing with firefighter [[Bob Beckwith]], addressing rescue workers at [[World Trade Center site|Ground Zero]] in New York, September 14, 2001]]

On [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001]], two hijacked planes destroyed the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] in New York City, a third plane hit the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] and a fourth crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after being averted by passengers from its target. These attacks were carried out by the [[Al-Qaeda]] terrorist organization led by mastermind [[Osama bin Laden|Osama Bin Laden]]<ref name="Moghadam">{{cite book|title=The Globalization of Martyrdom: Al Qaeda, Salafi Jihad, and the Diffusion of Suicide Attacks|last=Moghadam|first=Assaf|publisher=Johns Hopkins University|year=2008|isbn=978-0-8018-9055-0|page=48}}</ref><ref name="SalafistJidadism">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/front/special/sala.html|title=Special Reports{{nbsp}}– The Salafist Movement: Al Qaeda's New Front|last=Livesey|first=Bruce|date=January 25, 2005|website=PBS Frontline|publisher=WGBH educational foundation|access-date=October 18, 2011}}{{cite book|title=US Counter-Terrorism Strategy and al-Qaeda: Signalling and the Terrorist World-View|last1=Geltzer|first1=Joshua A.|date=2011|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0415664523|edition=Reprint|page=83}}</ref>{{sfnp|Wright|2006|p=79}}

On September 14, 2001, Congress passed legislation titled [[Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001|Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists]], which was signed on September 18, 2001, by President Bush. It authorized the use of US Armed Forces against those responsible for the 9/11 attacks and those who harbored them.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/107/sjres23/text|title=S.J.Res. 23 (107th): Authorization for Use of Military Force|publisher=www.govtrack.us|access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref>

The September 11 terrorist attacks were a major turning point in Bush's presidency. That evening, he addressed the nation from the [[Oval Office]], promising a strong response to the attacks. He also emphasized the need for the nation to come together and comfort the families of the victims. Three days after the attacks, Bush visited [[World Trade Center site|Ground Zero]] and met with Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]], firefighters, police officers, and volunteers. To much applause, Bush addressed the gathering via a megaphone while standing in a heap of rubble: "I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010914-9.html |date=September 14, 2001 |title=President Bush Salutes Heroes in New York |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225062850/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010914-9.html |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |access-date=June 23, 2009 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:September 2001 George W. Bush speech to a joint session of Congress.webm|thumb|President Bush delivers [[September 2001 George W. Bush speech to a joint session of Congress|an address]] and declares "Freedom at War with Fear", September 20, 2001]]

In his [[September 2001 George W. Bush speech to a joint session of Congress|address to a joint session of congress]] on September 20, 2001, President Bush condemned [[Osama bin Laden]] and his organization [[Al-Qaeda]], and issued an ultimatum to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, where bin Laden was operating, to "hand over the terrorists, or{{nbsp}}... share in their fate".<ref name="auto6">{{cite web |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010920-8.html |date=September 20, 2001 |title=Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People |access-date=June 23, 2009 |archive-date=May 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527194111/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010920-8.html |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Writing about changes to the [[United States Department of State|US State Department]] in the wake of the September 11 attacks in a 2020 article in ''[[Foreign Affairs]]'' magazine, former Deputy Secretary of State [[William J. Burns (diplomat)|William J. Burns]] and former Assistant Secretary of State [[Linda Thomas-Greenfield]] said, "Although the transformation of the State Department into a more expeditionary and agile institution was healthy in many respects, it was also distorting. It was tethered to a fundamentally flawed strategy—one that was too narrowly focused on terrorism and too wrapped up in magical thinking about the United States' supposed power to transform regions and societies."<ref name="ForeignAffairs20200923">{{cite magazine|last1=Burns|first1=William J.|author-link=William J. Burns (diplomat)|last2=Thomas-Greenfield|first2=Linda|author-link2=Linda Thomas-Greenfield|date=September 23, 2020|title=The Transformation of Diplomacy: How to Save the State Department|volume=99|number=6|magazine=[[Foreign Affairs]]|url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-09-23/diplomacy-transformation|issn=0015-7120|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

===Bush Doctrine===
{{Main|Bush Doctrine}}

After the September 11 attacks, Bush's approval ratings increased tremendously. Bush decided to use his newfound political capital to fundamentally change U.S. foreign policy. He became increasingly focused on the possibility of a hostile country providing [[Weapon of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]] (WMDs) to terrorist organizations.<ref>Draper (2007), pp. 166–169</ref> During his [[2002 State of the Union Address|State of the Union Address]] in January 2002, Bush set forth what has become known as the [[Bush Doctrine]], which held that the United States would implement a policy of [[Preemptive war|preemptive military strikes]] against nations known to be harboring or aiding a terrorist organization hostile to the United States.<ref>Smith (2016), pp. 277–278</ref> Bush outlined what he called the "[[Axis of evil|Axis of Evil]]", consisting of three nations that, he argued, posed the greatest threat to world peace due to their pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and potential to aid terrorists. The axis consisted of [[Iraq]], [[North Korea]] and [[Iran]].<ref>Herring (2008), pp. 943–944</ref> Bush also began emphasizing the importance of spreading democracy worldwide, stating in 2005 that "the survival of liberty in our land depends on the success of liberty in other land." Pursuant to this newly-interventionist policy, the Bush administration boosted foreign aid and increased defense expenditures.<ref>Leffler (2011), pp. 34–35</ref> Defense spending rose from $304 billion in fiscal year 2001 to $616 billion in fiscal year 2008.<ref>Leffler (2011), pp. 37–38</ref>

===National missile defense===
On December 13, 2001, President Bush announced the withdrawal of the United States from the 1972 [[Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty]], a bedrock of [[Soviet Union–United States relations|U.S.–Soviet nuclear stability]] during the [[Cold War]] era. Bush stated, "I have concluded the ABM treaty hinders our government's ability to develop ways to protect our people from future terrorist or rogue state missile attacks."  According to the announcement, the withdrawal was to become effective six months from that date.<ref>{{cite web|title=ABM Treaty Fact Sheet: Statement by the Press Secretary: Announcement of Withdrawal from the ABM Treaty|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/12/20011213-2.html|publisher=White House, Office of the Press Secretary|access-date=July 15, 2013}}</ref> The Bush administration pursued a national missile defense.<ref name=autogenerated3 />  The [[United States national missile defense|national missile defense]] project that Clinton introduced and Bush supported was designed to detect [[intercontinental ballistic missile]]s and destroy them in flight. Critics doubted that the project could ever work and said that it would<!-- did it? --> cost US$53 billion from 2004 to 2009, being the largest single line item in [[the Pentagon]]'s funding.<ref>Stephen L. Quackenbush, "National missile defense and deterrence". ''Political Research Quarterly'' 59.4 (2006): 533–541. [http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.875.479&rep=rep1&type=pdf Online]</ref>

==Other issues==

===Environmental issues===
In terms of international environmental policy, Daynes, and Sussman argues the son was less committed than the father, and neither was as successful as Bill Clinton.<ref>Byron W. Daynes, and Glen Sussman. "Comparing the Environmental Policies of Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush". ''White House Studies'' 7#3 (2007): 167+.</ref> Many governments have criticized the failure of the United States to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which was signed but not submitted for Senate ratification by the previous administration. Former President [[Bill Clinton]] recommended that his successor not submit the treaty for ratification until the wording was altered to reflect U.S. concerns. Bush, who was opposed to the treaty, rescinded U.S. executive approval from the proposed treaty. In 1997, prior to the Kyoto negotiations, the [[Byrd–Hagel Resolution]] passed in the U.S. Senate by a 95–0 vote.  The resolution stated that the United States should not be a signatory to any protocol that did not include binding targets and timetables for developing nations as well as industrialized ones, or that seriously harm the American economy. Byron W. Daynes, and Glen Sussman conclude that Bush's policy had a "negative impact on the environment".<ref>Byron W. Daynes, and Glen Sussman, ''White House Politics and the Environment: Franklin D. Roosevelt to George W. Bush'' (Texas A&M UP, 2010) pp 189–209.</ref>

===International Criminal Court===
[[File:ICCmemberstatesworldmap072007.png|thumb|right|400px|World map of ICC member states as of 2007]]

The [[International Criminal Court]] (ICC) came into being on July 1, 2002. The ICC is the first ever permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to promote the rule of law and ensure that the gravest international crimes do not go unpunished.

Later that year, in August 2002, the [[American Service-Members' Protection Act|American Servicemembers' Protection Act]] (ASPA) was passed by Congress with the stated intention "to protect United States military personnel and other elected and appointed officials of the United States government against criminal prosecution by an international criminal court to which the United States is not a party."

==International trips==
{{Further|List of international presidential trips made by George W. Bush}}
[[File:George W Bush Overseas Visits.svg|thumb|Countries visited by President Bush during his time in office]]
The number of visits per country where he traveled are:

* One visit to [[Albania]], [[Argentina]], [[Austria]], [[Bahrain]], [[Benin]], [[Botswana]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Chile]], [[Croatia]], [[Denmark]], [[El Salvador]], [[Estonia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Ghana]], [[Guatemala]], [[Hungary]], [[India]], [[Kosovo]], [[Kuwait]], [[Liberia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Mongolia]], [[Netherlands]], [[Nigeria]], [[Pakistan]], [[Panama]], [[Philippines]], [[Portugal]], [[Qatar]], [[Rwanda]], [[Senegal]], [[Slovakia]], [[South Africa]], [[Spain]], [[Sweden]], [[Tanzania]], [[Turkey]], [[Uganda]], [[Ukraine]], [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Uruguay]], [[Vietnam]], and the [[West Bank]]
* Two visits to [[Afghanistan]], [[Australia]], [[Belgium]], [[Brazil]], [[Colombia]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Indonesia]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], [[Israel]], [[Jordan]], [[Latvia]], [[Peru]], [[Romania]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Singapore]], [[Slovenia]], and [[Thailand]]
* Three visits to [[Egypt]], [[South Korea]], and [[Poland]]
* Four visits to [[Canada]], [[China]], [[France]], [[Iraq]], and [[Japan]]
* Five visits to [[Germany]], the [[United Kingdom]], and [[Vatican City]]
* Six visits to [[Italy]] and [[Mexico]]
* Seven visits to [[Russia]]

==International trade==
President Bush supported free trade policies and legislation but resorted to [[Protectionism|protectionist]] policies on occasion. [[2002 United States steel tariff|Tariffs on imported steel]] imposed by the White House in March 2002 were lifted after the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO) ruled them illegal. Bush explained that the safeguard measures had "achieved their purpose", and "as a result of changed economic circumstances", it was time to lift them.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/12/05/bush_lifts_steel_import_tariffs/ |title=Bush lifts steel import tariffs: Industry angry; trade war averted |date=December 5, 2003 |author=Wayne Washington |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref> Bush used the authority he gained from the [[Trade Act of 2002]] to push through bilateral trade agreements with several countries. Bush also sought to expand multilateral trade agreements through the WTO, but negotiations were stalled in the [[Doha Development Round]] for most of Bush's presidency. On August 31, 2004, WTO arbitrators authorized the [[European Union]] and other leading U.S. trade partners to impose [[economic sanctions]] against the United States for violation of global trade laws. The decision by the WTO was one of several cases where the U.S. was found to have been in breach of international trade rules.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/01/business/worldbusiness/01trade.html |title=U.S. Loses Trade Cases and Faces Penalties |date=September 1, 2004 |author=Paul Meller, Elizabeth Becker |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref>

However, Bush pursued and signed [[free trade]] agreements with several countries, including [[Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement|Australia]], [[Bahrain–United States Free Trade Agreement|Bahrain]], [[Chile–United States Free Trade Agreement|Chile]], [[United States–Colombia Free Trade Agreement|Colombia]], [[Jordan–United States Free Trade Agreement|Jordan]], [[Morocco–United States Free Trade Agreement|Morocco]], [[Oman–United States Free Trade Agreement|Oman]], [[Peru–United States Trade Promotion Agreement|Peru]], [[Panama–United States Trade Promotion Agreement|Panama]], [[Singapore–United States Free Trade Agreement|Singapore]], [[United States–Korea Free Trade Agreement|South Korea]], Ukraine, and with six countries under the [[Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement|Central American Free Trade Agreement]].

==Defense==

===Weapons of mass destruction===
The Bush administration released its "National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction" in December 2002.  The strategy includes three key elements: counterproliferation to combat the use of [[Weapon of mass destruction|Weapons of Mass Destruction]] (WMD), strengthened nonproliferation to combat WMD proliferation, and consequence management to respond to WMD use.  The classified version of this strategy reportedly reserved the right to use overwhelming force, including potentially [[nuclear weapon]]s, in response to a WMD attack against the United States, its forces or allies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/nspd/nspd-17.html |title=National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction |date=September 17, 2002 |author=President Bush |publisher=National Security Presidential Directives |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref>

In February 2004, in the context of recent revelations about clandestine nuclear programs in Iran and Libya, and the role of the [[Abdul Qadeer Khan|A. Q. Khan]] network in proliferation of sensitive nuclear technology, Bush proposed seven initiatives:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040211-4.html |title=President Announces New Measures to Counter the Threat of WMD |date=February 11, 2004 |author=President Bush |publisher=Office of the Press Secretary |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref>
# Cooperation on law enforcement for interdiction of WMD trade, known as the [[Proliferation Security Initiative]];
# Passage of a UN Security Council Resolution requiring states to enact WMD-related controls, which led to [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540#WMD use and control|UN Security Council Resolution 1540]];
# Expansion of the G8 Global Partnership to eliminate WMD and secure WMD materials worldwide;
# Reliable access to nuclear fuel, accompanied by a ban on transfers of enrichment and reprocessing technology to countries that do not already have such facilities;
# Making the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA) [[Nuclear proliferation#Additional Protocol|Additional Protocol]] a condition for nuclear supply, and ratification of the U.S. Additional Protocol;
# Establishing a Special Committee of the IAEA Board of Governors on safeguards and verification to strengthen compliance and enforcement; and
# Excluding countries under investigation for nonproliferation violations from serving on the Board or the Special Committee.

===Defense spending===
Of the US$2.4 trillion budgeted for 2005, about $450 billion was planned to be spent on defense.<!-- what actually happened? --> This level was generally comparable<!-- in what respect? --> to the defense spending during the [[Cold War]].  Congress approved $87 billion for U.S. involvement in [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Afghanistan]] in November, and had approved an earlier $79 billion package the previous spring. Most of the funds were for military operations in the two countries.

The ratio of defense spending of the U.S. and its allies to its potential adversaries, for the year 2000, was about 6 to 1.

==International organizations==
In July 2002, Bush cut off all funding, approximately $34 million, for the [[United Nations Population Fund]] (UNFPA). This funding had been allocated by Congress the previous December. Bush claimed that the UNFPA supported forced [[abortion]]s and [[Sterilization (medicine)|sterilizations]] in China. His justification came from a group of members of Congress who oppose abortion and an anti-abortion organization called the [[Population Research Institute (organization)|Population Research Institute]], which claimed{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} to have obtained first-hand video taped evidence from victims of [[forced abortion]] and [[forced sterilization]] in counties where the UNFPA operates in China. This accusation has never been supported by any investigation, and has in fact been disproved{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} by the US State Department, UK, and [[United Nations|UN]] teams sent to examine UNFPA activities in China. The UNFPA points out that it "does not provide support for abortion services". Its charter includes a strong statement condemning coercion."{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}

The Bush administration opposed the creation of the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] to protest the repressive states among its membership.<ref name="Lynch">{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/31/AR2009033104115.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=U.S. to Seek Seat on U.N. Human Rights Council | first=Colum | last=Lynch | date=1 April 2009 | access-date=26 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?193556-1/un-ambassador-nomination-hearing| title=U.N. Ambassador Re-Nomination Hearing |website=C-SPAN |date=27 July 2006}}</ref>

===UN peacekeeping===
{{Further|United Nations peacekeeping}}

In the United States, the Clinton and Bush administrations started from opposite perspectives but came to adopt  remarkably similar policies in support of peace operations as tools for American foreign policy. Initial positions formed by ideological concerns, were replaced  by pragmatic decisions about how to support  UN peace operations. Both administrations were reluctant to contribute large contingents of ground troops to UN-commanded operations, even as both administrations supported increases in the number and scale of UN missions.<ref>Victoria K. Holt, and Michael G. Mackinnon. "The origins and evolution of US policy towards peace operations". ''International Peacekeeping'' 15.1 (2008): 18-34 [https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/94297/US_Policy_Towards_Peace_Operations.pdf online].</ref>

The Clinton administration faced significant operational challenges. Instead of a liability, this was the tactical price of strategic success. American peace operations help transform its NATO alliance.  The Bush administration started with a negative ideological attitude toward peace operations. However European and Latin American governments emphasized peace operations as strategically positive, especially regarding the use of European forces in  Afghanistan and Lebanon. However American  allies sometimes needed to flout their autonomy, even to the point of sacrificing operational efficiency, much to the annoyance of Washington.<ref>Richard Gowan, "The United States and Peacekeeping Policy in Europe and Latin America: An Uncertain Catalyst?." ''International Peacekeeping'' 15.1 (2008): 84-101.</ref><ref>Erika N. Cornelius, and Ryan C. Hendrickson, "George W. Bush, War Powers and UN Peacekeeping in Haiti." ''White House Studies'' 8.1 (2008): 57+.</ref>

==Foreign aid==
On July 21, 2004, in a statement on the fiftieth anniversary of the [[Food for Peace]] program, Bush hailed the United States for feeding the hungry. Noting that "Millions are facing great affliction", he stated that "America has a special calling to come to their aid."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://transition.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/ffp/50th/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121214082316/http://transition.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/ffp/50th/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 14, 2012 |title=USAID – 50 Years of Food For Peace: Bringing Hope to the Hungry |date=July 13, 2004 |publisher=USAID |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref> After the 2004 election, however, the Bush administration told several private charities that it would not be honoring previous funding commitments. The shortfall, estimated at $100 million, forced the charities to suspend or eliminate programs that had already been approved to improve farming, education and health in order to promote self-sufficiency in poor countries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/U-S-slashes-aid-to-food-programs-Charities-2628201.php |title=U.S. slashes aid to food programs / Charities estimate $100 million in cuts |date=December 22, 2004 |author=Elizabeth Becker |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref>

While the United States continued to give large amounts of aid abroad, the Bush presidency was criticized for having a major impact upon the [[Millennium Development Goals]] project of the [[United Nations]]. Many nations, including key [[OECD]] members, were criticized for falling far short of their promise to give 0.7% of their GDP in order to drastically reduce poverty by the target date of 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/endorse_TI_19Jan05.pdf |title=Poverty can be halved if efforts are coupled with better governance, says TI |date=January 19, 2005 |publisher=Transparency International |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref>

In his [[2003 State of the Union Address|State of the Union Address]] in January 2003, Bush outlined a five-year strategy for global emergency [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] relief, the [[President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief|President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief]]. The emergency relief effort was led by U.S. Ambassador [[Randall L. Tobias]], former [[chief executive officer|CEO]] of [[Eli Lilly and Company|Eli Lilly]] and [[United States Global AIDS Coordinator|Global AIDS Coordinator]] at the [[United States Department of State|Department of State]]. At the time of the speech, $9 billion was earmarked for new programs in AIDS relief for the 15 countries most affected by HIV/AIDS, another $5 billion for continuing support of AIDS relief in 100 countries where the U.S. already had bilateral programs established, and an additional $1 billion towards the [[The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria|Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria]].<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/01/29/quarter-of-bushs-15-bil_n_14689.html|title=Quarter Of Bush's $15 Billion For AIDS Going To Christian Groups|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=January 29, 2006|access-date=June 30, 2006}}</ref> This budget represented more money contributed to fight AIDS globally than all other donor countries combined.

As the largest national economy in the world, the United States' leadership and commitment was seen as vital in addressing world poverty and ensuring implementation of the project, considered the most progressive and feasible to date for the United Nations or any other institution.

President Bush signed a multimillion-dollar aid deal with the government of [[Tanzania]] on February 17, 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/17/bush.africa/index.html|title=Bush signs aid deal with Tanzania|work=[[CNN]]|date=February 17, 2008|access-date=February 17, 2006}}</ref> Bush, cheering Liberians to rebound from [[Second Liberian Civil War]] that left their nation in ruins, said February 21, 2008, that the United States will keep lending a hand to make [[Liberia]] a symbol of liberty for Africa and the world.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/02/21/bush.liberia.ap/index.html|title=Bush vows to help war-crippled Liberia rebound|work=[[CNN]]|date=February 21, 2008|access-date=February 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225210415/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/02/21/bush.liberia.ap/index.html|archive-date=February 25, 2008}}</ref> President Bush ordered the release of $200 million in emergency aid to help countries in Africa and elsewhere. Riots from [[Haiti]] to [[Bangladesh]] to [[Egypt]] over [[2007–2008 world food price crisis|surging food prices]] catapulted the issue to the forefront of the world's attention.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/15/whitehouse.food.crisis/index.html|title=U.S. to give $200M in food aid|work=[[CNN]]|date=April 15, 2008|access-date=April 15, 2008}}</ref>

==Criticisms and defenses==
The Bush policies in the Middle East, especially Iraq, have come under intense criticism although there are some supporters as well.  Bush supporters point to a range of more successful policies elsewhere in the world, as summarized by [[Hal Brands]] and Peter Feaver:

{{Blockquote|<blockquote>The administration successfully negotiated the Moscow Treaty, which codified mutually agreed upon deep cuts in the strategic arsenals. With respect to India, determined and creative engagement fostered a diplomatic breakthrough that brought New Delhi out of the 'nuclear ghetto' and fostered increased strategic cooperation with one of the world's most important rising powers. Regarding China, the Bush administration{{nbsp}}...[maintained] generally stable relations with a rising Beijing. The administration also maintained positive ties with Japan, continuing the post-Cold War process of encouraging that country to broaden its defense and strategic horizons. And across the Asia-Pacific, the Bush administration continued to modernize US alliances and partnerships.{{nbsp}}... The administration also established fairly productive relations with a rising Brazil in Latin America.{{nbsp}}... [It] continued and expanded Plan Colombia, an aggressive counter-narcotics and counter-insurgency assistance plan that helped{{nbsp}}... to reverse the trajectory of the Colombian civil war and make Bogota a key strategic partner in the region.{{nbsp}}... In Africa, the administration's record was perhaps most transformative of all.{{nbsp}}... Bush dramatically increased both the quantity and quality of foreign aid, doubling the aid budget and pushing forward important new reforms.<ref>Hal Brands, and Peter Feaver, "The case for Bush revisionism: Reevaluating the legacy of America's 43rd president". ''Journal of Strategic Studies'' 41.1-2 (2018): 234-274 .[https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390.2017.1348944 online pp 22-24.]</ref>  </blockquote>}}

==Americas==

===Canada===
{{Main|Canada–United States relations}}
{{Main|Canada in the War in Afghanistan|Canada and the Iraq War}}
[[File:Chrétien and Bush shaking hands Sept 9 2002.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Canadian Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]], September 2002]]
[[File:Stephen Harper and George W. Bush July 6 2006.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Canadian Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]], July 2006]]

Canada's elite [[Joint Task Force 2|JTF2]] unit joined American special forces in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|U.S.-led coalition War in Afghanistan]] shortly after the [[September 11 attacks|al-Qaida attacks on September 11, 2001]]. Canadian forces joined the multinational coalition in [[Operation Anaconda]] in January 2002. On April 18, 2002, an American pilot [[Tarnak Farm incident|bombed Canadian forces involved in a training exercise]], killing four and wounding eight Canadians. A joint American-Canadian inquiry determined the cause of the incident to be pilot error, in which the pilot interpreted ground fire as an attack; the pilot ignored orders that he felt were "second-guessing" his field tactical decision.<ref name="friendly fire cbc">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-friendly-fire-pilot-won-t-face-court-martial-1.479996|title=U.S. 'friendly fire' pilot won't face court martial|publisher=CBC News|date=July 6, 2004|access-date=January 28, 2004}}</ref><ref name="friendly fire bbc">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2073024.stm|title=Pilots blamed for 'friendly fire' deaths|work=BBC News|date=August 22, 2002|access-date=January 28, 2007}}</ref> Canadian forces assumed a six-month command rotation of the [[International Security Assistance Force]] in 2003; in 2005, Canadians assumed operational command of the multi-national Brigade in [[Kandahar]], with 2,300 troops, and supervises the [[Provincial Reconstruction Team]] in Kandahar, where al-Qaida forces are most active.

Relations between President Bush and Canadian Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]] were strained throughout their overlapping times in office. After the [[September 11 attacks]] terror attacks, Jean Chrétien publicly mused that U.S. foreign policy might be part of the "root causes" of terrorism. Some Americans criticized his "smug moralism", and Chrétien's public refusal to support the 2003 Iraq war was met with negative responses in the United States, especially among conservatives.<ref>{{cite book|first=Daniel|last=Drache|title=Big Picture Realities: Canada and Mexico at the Crossroads|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hKfvb5zf8oUC&pg=PA115|year=2008|publisher=Wilfrid Laurier U.P.|page=115|access-date=November 6, 2015|isbn=9781554582334}}</ref>

Prime Minister Chrétien said on October 10, 2002, that Canada would, in fact, be part of a military coalition to invade Iraq if it were sanctioned by the United Nations. However, when the United States and the United Kingdom subsequently withdrew their diplomatic efforts to gain that UN sanction, Jean Chrétien announced in Parliament on June 18, 2003, that Canada would ''not'' participate in the pending invasion. Nevertheless, he offered the US and its soldiers his moral support. However, according to classified U.S. documents released by [[WikiLeaks]], a high-ranking Canadian official may have secretly promised to clandestinely support the invasion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/weston-canada-offered-to-aid-iraq-invasion-wikileaks-1.1062501 |author=Greg Weston |title=Canada offered to aid Iraq invasion: WikiLeaks |publisher=CBC News |date=May 16, 2011}}</ref>

President Bush and newly elected Canadian Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]] were thought to share warm personal relations and also close ties between their administrations. Because Bush was so unpopular among liberals in Canada (particularly in the media), this was underplayed by the Harper government.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prime-ministers-and-presidents-1.848083 | work=CBC News | title=Prime ministers and presidents | date=February 18, 2009}}</ref>

Shortly after being congratulated by President Bush following his [[2006 Canadian federal election|election victory in January 2006]], Harper rebuked U.S. ambassador to Canada [[David H. Wilkins|David Wilkins]] for criticizing the [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservatives']] plans to assert Canada's sovereignty over the [[Arctic Ocean]] waters with military force.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/guest-column-time-canada-to-negotiate-the-northwest-passage-1.1047758|title=Guest column: Time, Canada, to negotiate the Northwest Passage|work=CBC News|access-date=July 18, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

===Central American Free Trade Agreement===
{{Main|Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement}}
[[File:Bush explains history of White House desk.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Central American leaders, April 2003]]

The [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] approved the CAFTA-DR on June 30, 2005, by a vote of 54–45,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00170|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress – 1st Session|website=www.senate.gov}}</ref> and the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] approved the pact on July 28, 2005, by a vote of 217–215, with two representatives not voting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll443.xml|title=27 July 2005 House Roll Call Vote on Passage of H.R. 3045}}</ref> Controversy arose over this vote because it was held open 1 hour and 45 minutes longer than the normal 15 minutes in order to get some members to change their votes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Anita |date=July 28, 2005 |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2005/07/28/Worldandnation/With_push_from_Bush__.shtml |title=With push from Bush, CAFTA is approved |newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060526001031/http://www.sptimes.com/2005/07/28/Worldandnation/With_push_from_Bush__.shtml |archive-date=May 26, 2006}}</ref> For procedural reasons, the Senate took a second vote on CAFTA on July 28 and the pact garnered an additional vote from Sen. [[Joe Lieberman]]—who had been absent on June 30—in favor of the agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00209|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress – 1st Session|website=www.senate.gov}}</ref> The implementing legislation became [[Act of Congress|Public Law]] 109-053 when it was signed by Bush on August 2, 2005.

The Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras have also approved the agreement. They are all the current members of CAFTA-DR.

El Salvador became the first country to formally implement CAFTA, which went into effect on March 1, 2006, when the [[Organization of American States]] (OAS) received signed copies of the treaty. On April 1, 2006, Honduras and Nicaragua fully implemented the agreement. On May 18, 2006, the [[Congress of the Republic of Guatemala|Congress of Guatemala]] ratified CAFTA-DR, which went into effect on July 1, 2006. The Dominican Republic implemented the agreement on March 1, 2007. In a referendum on October 7, 2007, Costa Rica narrowly backed the free trade agreement, with 51.6% voting  "Yes"; the agreement took effect on January 1, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.latinamericapress.org/article.asp?lanCode=1&artCode=5348|title=Latinamerica Press: Article|date=May 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510105108/http://www.latinamericapress.org/article.asp?lanCode=1&artCode=5348|archive-date=May 10, 2008}}</ref>

===Chile===
{{Main|Chile–United States relations|Chile–United States Free Trade Agreement}}

President Bush signed the [[Chile–United States Free Trade Agreement|United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement]] signed on June 6, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/07/business/chile-and-us-sign-accord-on-free-trade.html |title=Chile and U.S. Sign Accord on Free Trade |work=The New York Times |date=June 7, 2003 |access-date=December 15, 2010}}</ref> The pact<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/chile-fta/final-text |title=Final Text {{pipe}} Office of the United States Trade Representative |publisher=Ustr.gov |access-date=December 15, 2010}}</ref> came into force on January 1, 2004. On that date, tariffs on 90% of U.S. exports to Chile and 95% of Chilean exports to the United States were eliminated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/fact-sheets/archives/2004/june/-us-chile-free-trade-agreement-early-record-suc |title=The U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement: An Early Record of Success {{pipe}} Office of the United States Trade Representative |publisher=Ustr.gov |date=January 1, 2004 |access-date=December 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015085054/http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/fact-sheets/archives/2004/june/-us-chile-free-trade-agreement-early-record-suc |archive-date=October 15, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The agreement also established that Chile and the U.S. will establish duty-free trade in all products within a maximum of 12 years (2016).<ref>http://www.ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/reports/2010/NTE/2010_NTE_Chile_final.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> In 2009, bilateral trade between the United States and Chile reached US$15.4 billion, a 141% increase over bilateral trade levels before the U.S.-Chile FTA took effect. In particular, U.S. exports to Chile in 2009 showed a 248% increase over pre-FTA levels.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buyusa.gov/chile/en/chile_country_commercial_guide.pdf |title=Doing Business in Chile: 2010 Country Commercial Guide for U.S. Companies |access-date=December 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605192049/https://www.buyusa.gov/chile/en/chile_country_commercial_guide.pdf |archive-date=June 5, 2010}}</ref>

===Mexico===
{{Main|Mexico–United States relations}}
[[File:President George W. Bush greets Mexican President Vicente Fox.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Mexican President [[Vicente Fox]], March 2005]]

During Fox's administration, Mexico pushed for [[immigration reform|"comprehensive" reform]] of U.S. immigration law that addressed the problem of [[Illegal immigration to the United States]]. The issue had been called "The Whole Enchilada" by Fox's administration, which stated that "immigration reform in the United States should address mutual border problems, the rights of undocumented immigrants, and the development of regions in Mexico that 'expel' migrants".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32797MIGRATION-US:|title=Mexico Still Wants "The Whole Enchilada"}}</ref> However, according to former U.S. ambassador to Mexico [[Jeffrey Davidow]], all discussions between the parties on immigration were informal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elpais.es/articulo/reportajes/oso/puercoespin/elpdomrpj/20040104elpdmgrep_3/Tes/El|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801190537/http://www.elpais.es/articulo/reportajes/oso/puercoespin/elpdomrpj/20040104elpdmgrep_3/Tes/El| url-status=dead |title=oso y el puercoespín · ELPAÍS.com|archive-date=August 1, 2012}}</ref>

The immigration reform that Fox sought included a [[Foreign worker|guest worker plan]]. Fox said, "The best thing that can happen to both our countries is to have an orderly flow, a controlled flow, of migration to the United States".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/mexico/stories/DN-mexicofox_30int.ART.State.Edition2.e950034.htmlDallas|title=Morning News {{pipe}} News for Dallas, Texas {{pipe}} Mexico News {{pipe}} Dallas Morning News}}</ref> This reform was supported by President Bush and approved by the U.S. Senate, however, the bill was rejected by the House of Representatives.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/immigration;_ylt=A86.I1NlGTZEThIBNBxnr7sF;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-Bill|title=rejected by House of Representatives}}</ref> According to [[the Washington Post]], the hopes were complicated by the recent approval of the SBI ([[Secure Border Initiative]]), a bill that includes building a {{convert|700|mi|km|adj=on}} triple fence between the U.S. and Mexico.<ref>
[https://www.proquest.com/docview/410072881 With Senate Vote, Congress Passes Border Fence Bill; Barrier Trumps Immigration Overhaul]</ref>

During Fox's presidency the [[net migration rate]] in Mexico increased 152% from −2.84 migrants per 1,000 inhabitants<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps35389/2000/net_migration_rate.html |title=CIA – The World Factbook 2000 – Net migration rate |access-date=May 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118032235/http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps35389/2000/net_migration_rate.html |archive-date=November 18, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> to −4.32;<ref name="factbook">
[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mexico/ Mexico], The CIA factbook.</ref> in the same period, [[population growth]] decreased 35% from 1.57%<ref>[http://globalis.gvu.unu.edu/indicator_detail.cfm?IndicatorID=29&Country=MX Globalis – an interactive world map – Mexico – Annual population growth rate] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012115226/http://globalis.gvu.unu.edu/indicator_detail.cfm?IndicatorID=29&Country=MX |date=October 12, 2007}}</ref> to 1.16%.<ref name="factbook" /> Fox, who was said to be "proud" of Mexican immigrants in the U.S.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/24/AR2006052402389.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Mexico's Fox Urges Fairness for Immigrants | first=T.R. | last=Reid | date=May 25, 2006 | access-date=May 2, 2010}}</ref> has acknowledged the importance of [[remittance]]s by both legal and illegal Mexican workers in the U.S. (now the  #1 source of revenue for the country).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/05/21/MNGFQIVNAF1.DTL | work=The San Francisco Chronicle | title=Give and take across the border / 1 in 7 Mexican workers migrates – most send money home| first=Carolyn | last=Lochhead | date=May 21, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20030924-2051-us-mexico.html|title=SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Mexico – Remittances are Mexico's biggest source of income, says Fox}}</ref>

During the country's tenure as a [[List of members of the United Nations Security Council|rotating member of the UN Security Council]], Mexico did not support the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|U.S-led 2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/war-threat-divides-world/|work=CBS News|author=Jarrett Murphy|title=War Threat Divides World | date=March 21, 2003}}</ref>

===Peru===
{{Main|Peru–United States relations|Peru–United States Trade Promotion Agreement}}

On November 18, 2003, the [[Office of the United States Trade Representative|U.S. Trade Representative]], [[Robert Zoellick]], notified Congress of the intention of the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] to initiate negotiations for a [[free trade]] agreement with the countries involved in the Andean trade act.<ref>Office of the United States Trade Representative, ''[http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2003/November/USTR_Notifies_Congress_of_Intent_to_Initiate_Free_Trade_Talks_with_Andean_Countries.html USTR Notifies Congress of Intent to Initiate Free Trade Talks with Andean Countries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119134848/http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2003/November/USTR_Notifies_Congress_of_Intent_to_Initiate_Free_Trade_Talks_with_Andean_Countries.html |date=January 19, 2008}}''. November 18, 2003. Retrieved on December 4, 2007.</ref> Negotiations started without Bolivia in May 2004, however, as each of the three remaining Andean countries decided to pursue bilateral agreements with the United States. After 13 rounds of negotiations, Peru and the United States concluded an agreement on December 7, 2005. [[Alfredo Ferrero]], Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, and the U.S. Trade Representative [[Rob Portman]] signed the deal on April 12, 2006, in [[Washington, D.C.]], in the presence of Peruvian President [[Alejandro Toledo]].

The Congress of Peru debated the agreement for six hours during the night of June 27, 2006, and ratified it in the early hours of the next day. The vote was 79–14, with seven abstentions.<ref>{{in lang|es}} El Comercio, ''[https://archive.today/20070812025425/http://www.elcomercio.com.pe/EdicionOnline/Html/2006-06-28/onlEconomia0531424.html Por amplia mayoría Congreso aprobó ratificación del TLC]''. June 28, 2006. Retrieved on November 30, 2007.</ref> The U.S. House of Representatives approved the agreement on November 8, 2007, with a 285–132 vote.<ref>''The New York Times'', [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/washington/08cnd-trade.html?hp Democrats Divided as House Passes Peru Trade Bill]. November 8, 2007. Retrieved on November 30, 2007.</ref><ref>House Clerk's Office, [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll1060.xml]. Retrieved on February 13, 2008.</ref> The U.S. Senate approved the agreement on December 4, 2007, with a 77–18 vote.<ref>''The New York Times'', [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/business/05trade.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Senate Approves Peru Trade Deal]. December 5, 2007. Retrieved on December 5, 2007.</ref><ref>Senate Clerk's Office, [https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00413]. Retrieved on February 13, 2008.</ref> The implementation bills gained wide support from the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] (176–16 in the House, 47–1 in the Senate) and split backing from the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] (109–116 and 29–17).

On January 16, 2009, Bush signed a proclamation To Implement the [[Peru–United States Trade Promotion Agreement|United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement]] and for Other Purposes, effective February 1, 2009.

==Asia==

===ASEAN===
President Bush simultaneously improved relations with India, Japan, South Korea, China, and [[ASEAN]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/45521/Bush-SEA_KF_Cronin_17July2007.pdf|title=The Second Bush Administration and Southeast Asia-Richard P. Cronin Senior Associate-The Henry L. Stimson Center|publisher=www.files.ethz.ch|date=July 17, 2007|access-date=May 23, 2020}}</ref> Bush confirmed that he would be attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conference for the first time during his presidency in 2007. However, he did not attend the conference due to American opposition to the government of Myanmar at the time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.asiaone.com/News/The%2BStraits%2BTimes/Story/A1Story20071220-41882.html |title= Plans for Bush-Asean summit hit brick wall |access-date=March 6, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306151351/http://news.asiaone.com/News/The%2BStraits%2BTimes/Story/A1Story20071220-41882.html |archive-date=March 6, 2017}} ''[[The Straits Times]]''.</ref>

===China===
{{Main|China–United States relations#George W. Bush administration (2001–2009)}}
[[File:President of People's Republic of China Hu.jpg|thumb|President Bush and [[Paramount leader|Chinese leader]] [[Hu Jintao]], April 2006]]

The Bush administration's policy towards China faced the difficult task of sustaining the cooperative [[China–United States relations|US-China relationship]] in the context of China's rise. China's success in economic development since the 1979 reforms had allowed Beijing to transform growing Chinese material wealth into political and military power.<ref name=autogenerated5>{{cite journal|publisher=www.tandfonline.com|date=May 31, 2017|doi=10.1080/03068374.2017.1313618|title=George W. Bush and Asia: In the Shadow of 11 September|last1=Nguyen|first1=Thi Thuy Hang|journal=Asian Affairs|volume=48|issue=2|pages=313–333|s2cid=159960515}}</ref> [[Robert Zoellick]], serving in Bush's cabinet as US Trade Representative and Deputy Secretary of State, once underlined that "China is big, it is growing, and it will influence the world in the years ahead.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> At the end of his second term, President Bush had successfully managed to establish significant elements of US-China cooperation and build a record of cooperation with a rising China while achieving US national interests.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> During his presidential campaign, Bush revealed his disagreement with the Clinton administration's view of China as "a competitor, not a strategic partner. While seeing China as a power in transition and asserting that if China became a friend of the US, "that friendship will steady the world. But if not, the peace we seek may not be found", Bush warned that China would be "respected as a great power{{nbsp}}... unthreatened, but not unchecked", under his administration.<ref name=autogenerated5 />

Bush became increasingly concerned about China's growing economic and political influence in the world, often labelled as 'China's rise', and its implications for US primacy and interests.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> President Bush believed that China's rise was an inevitable phenomenon that the United States had to manage.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> He strived to build a "constructive, candid, and cooperative" relationship with China.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> This, in Bush's viewpoint, would form a sturdy basis for the US to advance engagement with China.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> In fact, Bush's determination to increase cooperation with China led to "the best relations since 1972.<ref name=autogenerated5 />

The Bush administration had made efforts to embed the Chinese economy in the international economic system, assist Chinese economic development and share the mutual economic benefits between the two nations.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> In 2001, despite a confrontation between Washington and Beijing over the downed EP-3E Aries II spy plane which collided with a Chinese fighter jet, President Bush still declared his support for China's entry into the World Trade Organization. He said, "I'm an advocate of China's entry into the WTO", stressing that "China ought to be a trading partner of ours. I think it is in our economic interests to open up the Chinese markets to U.S. products, to U.S. agricultural products".<ref name=autogenerated5 />

Also, President Bush actively supported permanent normalized trade relations with China.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> In his view, American farmers and businessmen would gain better benefits from freer access to the large Chinese market.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> He therefore asked the US Congress to extend normalized trade relations with China in 2001: "Fair trade is essential not only to improving living standards for Americans but also for a strong and productive relationship with China."<ref name=autogenerated5 /> President Bush and his team believed that trading with China would be a good thing for the US and Chinese economies.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> Integrating China into the world economy would ultimately lead to the promotion of human dignity in China and the emergence of a good China. In her 2000 article entitled "Promoting the National Interest" Condoleezza Rice, Bush's Secretary of State, wrote: President Bush's efforts to build a cooperative relationship with China can also be seen in his way of maintaining frank and productive relations with Chinese leaders.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> In 2002–2003 the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) broke out in China. There were up to 5,327 infections and 348 deaths in China. While the Chinese leadership had been criticized for its handling of the SARS outbreak, President Bush praised his Chinese counterpart for being open about this transnational epidemic. President Bush's public support for President Hu in that critical moment was highly appreciated by the Chinese president and contributed to building cooperative leader-to-leader relations between the United States and China.<ref name=autogenerated5 />

In the mid-2000s, the United States focused relatively less on China issues.<ref name=":042">{{Cite book |last=Crean |first=Jeffrey |title=The Fear of Chinese Power: an International History |date=2024 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Academic]] |isbn=978-1-350-23394-2 |edition= |series=New Approaches to International History series |location=London, UK}}</ref>{{Rp|page=158}} This approach was reinforced by the economic benefits to the United States from its relations with China, including cheaper consumer products like clothing and electronics.<ref name=":042" />{{Rp|page=158}} During this period, the United States also issued significant debt to fund its military interventions and China became the largest foreign purchaser of U.S. government debt.<ref name=":042" />{{Rp|page=158}}

President Bush called Chinese President [[Hu Jintao]] March 26, 2008, to express his concern about China's crackdown on protesters in [[Tibet]] since March 10, 2008. Bush and Hu also discussed issues including [[Taiwan]], [[North Korea]]'s denuclearization and [[Myanmar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20080327/NEWS/803270328|title=Bush confronts Chinese leader over Tibet crackdown, says Taiwan missile fuse shipment mistake|publisher=www.southcoasttoday.com|date=March 26, 2008|access-date=May 23, 2020}}</ref>

===India===
{{Main|India–United States relations}}
[[File:Bush Singh Ovaloffice july18 2005.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Indian Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]], July 2005]]

Relations with India improved significantly during Bush's tenure. In September 2001, President Bush removed sanctions which had been imposed.<ref name=autogenerated6>{{cite journal|last=Ejaz |first=Ahmad |url=http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/studies/PDF-FILES/4%20-%20Ahmad%20Ejaz%20Artical-2_v13No1.pdf |title=United States-India Relations: An expanding strategic partnership |journal=Pakistan Vision |volume=13 |access-date=December 17, 2013 |issue=1}}</ref>

During the tenure of the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|George W. Bush administration]], relations between India and the United States were seen to have blossomed, primarily over common concerns regarding growing [[Islamic extremism]], energy security, and climate change.<ref name=autogenerated6 /> Bush commented, "India is a great example of democracy. It is very devout, has diverse religious heads, but everyone is comfortable about their religion. The world needs India".<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/money/2006/mar/03bush2.htm The world needs India: Bush] March 3, 2006</ref> [[Fareed Zakaria]], in his book ''[[The Post-American World]]'', described Bush as "being the most pro-Indian president in American history."<ref>Zakaria, Fareed, The Post-American World, 2008 Cahapter VII, pp. 225–226</ref> Similar sentiments are echoed by [[Rejaul Karim Laskar]], a scholar of Indian foreign policy and ideologue of [[Indian National Congress|India's Congress Party]] – the largest constituent of the [[United Progressive Alliance (India)|UPA]]. According to [[Rejaul Karim Laskar|Laskar]], the [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] rule has seen a "transformation in bilateral ties with the US", as a result of which the relations now covers "a wide range of issues, including high technology, space, education, agriculture, trade, clean energy, counter-terrorism, etc.".<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Laskar|first1=Rejaul|title=Promoting National Interest Through Diplomacy|journal=Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist|date=December 2013|volume=1|issue=9|page=60}}</ref>

After the December [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 tsunami]], the US and Indian navies cooperated in search and rescue operations and in the reconstruction of affected areas.

Since 2004, Washington and New Delhi have been pursuing a "strategic partnership" that is based on shared values and generally convergent geopolitical interests. Numerous economic, security, and global initiatives – including plans for civilian nuclear cooperation – are underway. This latter initiative, first launched in 2005, reversed three decades of American non-proliferation policy. Also in 2005, the United States and India signed a ten-year defence framework agreement, with the goal of expanding bilateral security cooperation. The two countries engaged in numerous and unprecedented combined military exercises, and major US arms sales to India were concluded. An [[Freedoms of the air|Open Skies Agreement]] was signed in April 2005, enhancing trade, tourism, and business via the increased number of flights, and [[Air India]] purchased 68 US [[Boeing]] aircraft at a cost of $8 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boeing.co.in/Boeing-in-India/About-Boeing-in-India |title=About Boeing in India |publisher=Boeing India |access-date=December 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209045547/http://www.boeing.co.in/Boeing-in-India/About-Boeing-in-India |archive-date=February 9, 2014 }}</ref> The United States and India also signed a bilateral Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation in 2005.<ref name="auto4"/> After [[Hurricane Katrina]], India donated $5 million to the [[American Red Cross]] and sent two planeloads of relief supplies and materials to help.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ia.rediff.com/news/2005/sep/03katrina.htm |title=India pledges 5 million dollars for Katrina relief |publisher=Ia.rediff.com |date=September 3, 2005 |access-date=December 17, 2013}}</ref> Then, on March 1, 2006, President Bush made another diplomatic visit to further expand relations between India and the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipcs.org/pdf_file/news_archive/mar_06_nuclear.pdf|title=March 2006 news archive|website=ipcs.org|access-date=March 25, 2018}}</ref>

===Japan===
{{Main|Japan–United States relations}}
[[File:President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan Shake Hands.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister [[Junichiro Koizumi]], September 2001]]

During Bush's visit to Japan, In his address to the Japanese parliament in February 2002, President Bush expressed his gratitude to Japan for supporting the US in the [[war on terror]], and asserting that the Japanese response to the terrorist threat showed the strength of the US-Japan alliance and "the indispensable role of Japan, a role that is global, and begins in Asia".<ref name=autogenerated5 /> President Bush also convinced members of Japan's parliament that the 21st century would be "the Pacific century", and committed to giving support to Japan.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> The Bush administration made important progress in deepening US-Japan security cooperation.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> Under Bush, bilateral security initiatives between the United States and Japan were centred on counter-terrorism cooperation.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> President Bush endorsed the idea that Japan should play a more active international role and praised Japan for its passage of the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law that allowed Japan to send refuelling tankers to the Indian Ocean to assist [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|US-led operations in Afghanistan]] in 2001.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> On December 9, 2003, the Japanese Diet passed the Humanitarian Relief and Iraqi Reconstruction Special Measures Law that allowed Prime Minister Koizumi to dispatch the Self Defence Forces (SDF) to Iraq.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> In January 2004, Japan sent a total of 1,000 military personnel (including 550 Ground Self-Defence Force personnel and 450 Maritime Self-Defence Force and Air Self- Defence Force personnel) to Iraq to provide humanitarian assistance and take part in reconstruction activities.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> This was the first time in the post-war period Japanese troops were sent overseas without an inter- national mandate.<ref name=autogenerated5 /> Japan withdrew its ground forces in 2006 while a Japanese self-defence forces air division stayed in Iraq until the expiration of the UN authorisation for multilateral forces in Iraq in 2008. Indeed, under Bush, military cooperation between Washington and Tokyo in Afghanistan and Iraq became a new dimension and a symbol of their alliance.<ref name=autogenerated5 />

===North Korea===
{{Main|North Korea–United States relations}}

Bush publicly condemned [[Kim Jong-il]] of North Korea and identified North Korea as one of the three states in an "[[axis of evil]]" in his [[2002 State of the Union Address]]. He said that "the United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons." and that "North Korea is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens"<ref name=sotu2002/> Within months, "both countries had walked away from their respective commitments under the U.S.–DPRK [[Agreed Framework]] of October 1994."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwc.navy.mil/press/Review/2003/Summer/art1-su3.htm|title=The United States, North Korea, and the End of the Agreed Framework|last=Pollack|first=Jonathan D.|publisher=Naval War College Review|date=Summer 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818114650/http://www.nwc.navy.mil/press/Review/2003/Summer/art1-su3.htm|archive-date=August 18, 2006|volume=LV I|issue=3}}</ref> President Bush in his [[2005 State of the Union Address]], stated that "We're working closely with the governments in Asia to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions" and that "In the next 4 years, my administration will continue to build the coalitions that will defeat the dangers of our time".<ref>[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/02/20050202-11.html State of the Union Address]. February 2, 2005.</ref> North Korea's October 9, 2006, [[2006 North Korean nuclear test|detonation]] of a nuclear device further complicated Bush's foreign policy, which centered for both terms of his presidency on "[preventing] the terrorists and regimes who seek chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons from threatening the United States and the world".<ref name=sotu2002/> Bush condemned North Korea's position, reaffirmed his commitment to "a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula", and said that "transfer of nuclear weapons or material by North Korea to states or non-state entities would be considered a grave threat to the United States", for which North Korea would be held accountable.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061009.html |title=President Bush's Statement on North Korea Nuclear Test |date=October 9, 2006 |access-date=June 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822122622/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061009.html |archive-date=August 22, 2008 |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[North Korea]] had [[North Korea and weapons of mass destruction|developed weapons of mass destruction]] for several years prior to Bush's inauguration, and the Clinton administration had sought to trade economic assistance for an end to the North Korean WMD program. Though Secretary of State Powell urged the continuation of the rapprochement, other administration officials, including Vice President Cheney, were more skeptical of the good faith of the North Koreans. Bush instead sought to isolate North Korea in the hope that the regime would eventually collapse.<ref>Mann (2015), pp. 186–189</ref>

[[2006 North Korean missile test|North Korea launched missile tests]] on July 5, 2006, leading to [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1695]]. The country said on October 3, 2006 "The U.S. extreme threat of a [[Nuclear warfare|nuclear war]] and [[international sanctions|sanctions]] and pressure compel the [[North Korea|DPRK]] to conduct a [[nuclear testing|nuclear test]]", which the Bush administration denied and denounced.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/10/03/nkorea.nuclear/index.html|title=North Korea pledges to test nuclear bomb|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=October 4, 2006|access-date=October 16, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022231456/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/10/03/nkorea.nuclear/index.html|archive-date=October 22, 2006|url-status=live}}</ref> Days later on October 9, 2006, North Korea followed through on its promise to [[2006 North Korean nuclear test|test nuclear weapons]].<ref>{{cite news|author=[[NBC News]] and lnews services|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15287725|title=U.S. confirms N. Korean blast was radioactive|work=[[NBC News]]|date=October 16, 2006|access-date=October 16, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305095057/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15287725/|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> On October 14, 2006, the Security Council unanimously passed [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718]], sanctioning North Korea for the test.<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/security-council-unanimously-approves-sanctions-on-n-korea|title=Security Council Unanimously Approves Sanctions on N. Korea|publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]|date=October 14, 2006|access-date=October 14, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015222127/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,220760,00.html|archive-date=October 15, 2006|url-status=live}}</ref> In the waning days of his presidency, Bush attempted to re-open negotiations with North Korea, but North Korea continued to develop its nuclear programs.<ref name="kesslernk">{{cite news|last1=Kessler|first1=Glenn|title=Cotton's misguided history lesson on the North Korean nuclear deal|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/03/13/cottons-misguided-history-lesson-on-the-north-korean-nuclear-deal/|access-date=April 8, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112081807/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/03/13/cottons-misguided-history-lesson-on-the-north-korean-nuclear-deal/|archive-date=November 12, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 7, 2007, North Korea agreed to shut down its nuclear reactors immediately pending the release of frozen funds held in a foreign bank account. This was a result of a series of three-way talks initiated by the United States and including China.<ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/north-korea-ready-to-shut-down-reactor-immediately |title=North Korea Ready to Shut Down Reactor 'Immediately' |publisher=Fox News Channel |date=May 7, 2007 |access-date=September 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509020138/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C270397%2C00.html |archive-date=May 9, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> On September 2, 2007, North Korea agreed to disclose and dismantle all its nuclear programs by the end of 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S.: North Korea agrees to shut down nuke facilities |agency=Associated Press |publisher=CNN |date=September 2, 2007 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/02/koreas.nuclear.ap/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917103449/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/02/koreas.nuclear.ap/index.html |archive-date=September 17, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Singapore===
{{Main|Singapore–United States relations|Singapore–United States Free Trade Agreement}}
[[File:SingaporeUS FreeTrade.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Singaporean Prime Minister [[Goh Chok Tong]] signing the [[Singapore–United States Free Trade Agreement|free trade agreement]], May 2003]]

President Bush and Singaporean Prime Minister [[Goh Chok Tong]] signed a [[Singapore–United States Free Trade Agreement|bilateral free trade agreement]] on May 6, 2003; the agreement entered into force on January 1, 2004. The growth of U.S. investment in Singapore and the large number of Americans living there enhance opportunities for contact between Singapore and the United States.<ref name="U.S. State Dept. 2009">{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2798.htm|title=Background Note: Singapore|publisher=Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State|date=September 2009|access-date=March 11, 2010}}</ref>

===South Korea===
{{Main|South Korea–United States relations|United States–Korea Free Trade Agreement}}
[[File:Roh Moo-hyun & GW Bush, 2003-May-14.jpg|thumb|President Bush and South Korean President [[Roh Moo-hyun]], May 2003]]

President Bush simultaneously improved relations with South Korea. On February 20, 2002, during President Bush's visit to South Korea, Bush and South Korean President [[Kim Dae-jung]] recognized that the [[South Korea–United States relations|South Korea-U.S. alliance]] is indispensable not only for stability on the Korean Peninsula but also in Northeast Asia as a whole. Furthermore, President Bush and Kim Dae-Jung expressed satisfaction that the bilateral alliance is not limited to cooperation in security matters but that the comprehensive partnership has expanded and developed to all areas, including political, economic, and diplomatic arenas.<ref name=autogenerated7>{{cite web|url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/the-presidents-news-conference-with-president-kim-dae-jung-south-korea-seoul-south-korea|title=The President's News Conference With President Kim Dae-jung of South Korea in Seoul, South Korea|publisher=www.presidency.ucsb.edu|date=February 20, 2002|access-date=May 23, 2020}}</ref> President Bush and president Kim Dae-jung exchanged views about the war against terrorism and future course of action. and Dae-Jung praised President Bush for the success in the war against terrorism under his outstanding leadership and indicated that South Korea as an ally would do its utmost to cooperate and provide full support.<ref name=autogenerated7 /> In December 2001, South Korea deployed troops to the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|U.S.-led War in Afghanistan]] . Afterwards, South Korea took only the role of providing medical and vocational training by assisting the United States with only two dozen volunteers working inside [[Bagram Airfield|Bagram Air Base]], north of Kabul.<ref name=autogenerated8>{{cite journal|title=The ROK Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan|jstor = resrep05670.4|last1 = Hemmings|first1 = John|last2 = Bruce|first2 = Scott|last3 = Hwang|first3 = Balbina Y.|last4 = Roehrig|first4 = Terence|last5 = Snyder|first5 = Scott A.|journal = Global Korea|year = 2012|pages = 45–60}}</ref> According to an ISAF statement, on June 30, 2008, South Korea returned, operating a small hospital near the airbase in Bagram with military and civilian personnel.<ref name=autogenerated8 /> In February 2004, South Korea deployed troops to Iraq as part of the [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|coalition forces]] to provide support to U.S. forces in the [[Iraq War]], which was also another boost in [[South Korea–United States relations|U.S.-ROK Relations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heritage.org/asia/report/south-korean-troops-iraq-boost-us-rok-relations|title=South Korean Troops to Iraq: A Boost for U.S.-ROK Relations|publisher=www.heritage.org|date=February 13, 2004|access-date=May 23, 2020}}</ref>

===Taiwan===
{{Main|Taiwan–United States relations}}

Bush's hostile position toward China in the 2000 campaign and early months of his presidency was suddenly reversed after 9/11, and his especially friendly attitude toward Taiwan became a casualty. During his campaign Bush had warned that Clinton was too friendly with China, which he saw as a strategic competitor. Early on as president Bush increased arms sales to Taiwan, including 8 submarines. He was asked on April 25, 2001, "if Taiwan were attacked by China, do we [The U.S.] have an obligation to defend the Taiwanese?" He responded, "Yes, we do{{nbsp}}... and the Chinese must understand that. The United States would do whatever it took to help Taiwan defend herself."<ref name="go.com">{{cite web |url=http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/us/dailynews/taiwan010425.html |title=Bush Vows Taiwan Support |access-date=June 1, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031110065750/http://more.abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/taiwan010425.html |archive-date=November 10, 2003 }}</ref> He made it understood that "though we have common interests, the Chinese must understand that there will be some areas where we disagree."<ref name="go.com"/> However, on the advice of Rice and Powell, he later explained that he was not changing America's historical relationships.<ref>Jean Edward Smith, ''Bush'' (2016) p 197.</ref>  The shock of 9/11 force Bush to move closer to China. Soon he was calling China a strategic partner in the war on terror and postponing deals with Taiwan.<ref>Guy Roberts, "Circling the Middle Kingdom: George W. Bush and China 1999–2003" ''Australasian Journal of American Studies'' (2011) 30#1 pp 57-71.</ref>

Taiwan's leadership was increasingly nervous in the early 21st century. It had to deal with growing isolation around the world because of China's pressure on other countries. In economic terms, it was facing worsening trade relationships with major trading partners. According to Chen-Don Tso, Taiwan was unable to make free trade agreements with them. Its main goal was to reach an explicit partnership with the United States. However, repeated efforts by Taiwan especially in 2003 to 2006 were rejected by Washington, in its quest to improve relations with Beijing.<ref>Chen-Don Tso, "The US-Taiwan FTA during the Bush-Chen Era Revisited: Trade and Strategic Accounts Compared". ''Issues & Studies'' 48.1 (2012) pp 5184.</ref>

==Europe==

===Historical background===
[[File:Chirac Bush Blair Berlusconi.jpg|thumb|From left: French President [[Jacques Chirac]], President Bush, British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] and Italian Prime minister [[Silvio Berlusconi]] at the [[29th G8 summit|G8 Summit]] at Evian, France. Chirac was against the invasion, the other three leaders were in favor of it.]]

President Bush made his first visit to Europe in June 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/06/12/itinerary/index.html |title=President Bush's first-ever trip to Europe |date=June 12, 2001 |author=Tom McNichol |publisher=Salon Media Group |access-date=September 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210110311/http://archive.salon.com/politics/feature/2001/06/12/itinerary/index.html |archive-date=February 10, 2009}}</ref> Bush came under criticism from European leaders for the rejection of the [[Kyoto Protocol]], which was aimed at reducing [[carbon dioxide]] emissions that contribute to [[Climate change|global warming]]. He asserted that the Kyoto Protocol is "unfair and ineffective" because it would exempt 80 percent of the world and "cause serious harm to the U.S. economy".<ref>{{cite web|title=Text of a Letter From The President|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/03/20010314.html|access-date=September 2, 2017|language=en|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|date=March 13, 2001}}</ref> Post September 11, President Bush worked closely with his [[NATO]] allies in Europe, to fight against the [[Taliban]] and [[Al-Qaeda]], in [[Afghanistan]]. However, after the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 Invasion of Iraq]], relations were strained with France and Germany, who strongly opposed the invasion. But President Bush had an excellent relationship with [[Tony Blair]] of Britain and [[Silvio Berlusconi]] of Italy, which took part in the wars in both [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]]. Bush began his second term with an emphasis on improving strained relations with European nations. Bush lauded the pro-democracy struggles in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and [[Ukraine]]. However, [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]] of [[Kazakhstan]] and [[Ilham Aliyev]] of [[Azerbaijan]], both undemocratically elected and fiercely [[Autocracy|autocratic]],{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} received official state visits to the White House,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/04/20060428.html|title=President Bush Welcomes President Aliyev of Azerbaijan to the White House|access-date=October 23, 2006|date=April 28, 2005|work=Transcript from The Oval Office|publisher=Office of the Press Secretary}}</ref> along with increased economic and military assistance.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/23/AR2006042301017.html|title=Retreat From the Freedom Agenda|access-date=October 23, 2006|date=April 24, 2006|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Jackson|last=Diehl}}</ref> The President had encouraged both leaders to hold free and fair elections early on in his second term, but in fact neither leader carried out significant reforms.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/azerbaijan-protests-face-crackdown/|title=Azerbaijan Protests Face Crackdown|access-date=October 23, 2006|date=November 27, 2005|work=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/08/235340A7-FE24-4C1F-97E5-CEC841B6A0CD.html|title=Supporters Of Slain Kazakh Oppositionist Open Probe|access-date=October 23, 2006|date=August 29, 2006|publisher=Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perspicacityonline.com/Articles/2005/01/Kuzbekistan050118.htm|title=Setback for Democracy in Kazakhstan|access-date=October 23, 2006|date=January 12, 2005|publisher=Perspicacity Press Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509181655/http://www.perspicacityonline.com/Articles/2005/01/Kuzbekistan050118.htm|archive-date=May 9, 2006}}</ref>

===Belarus===
{{Main|Belarus–United States relations}}

President Bush signed the [[Belarus Democracy Act of 2004]] on October 20, 2004, to impose sanctions on the Belarus government of [[Alexander Lukashenko]].<ref name="CSCE">{{cite web |title=Press Release: President Bush Signs Belarus Democracy Act on Heels of Rigged Elections and Referendum |url=https://www.csce.gov/international-impact/press-and-media/press-releases/president-bush-signs-belarus-democracy-act-heels |website=CSCE |access-date=February 15, 2019 |language=en |date=March 8, 2016}}</ref> The law expresses the sense of Congress that the [[Belarus]]ian authorities should not receive various types of non-humanitarian financial aid from the U.S. It also calls for the President to report to Congress on arms sales by Belarus to state sponsors of [[terrorism]] and on the personal wealth and assets of senior Belarus officials.<ref name="CSCE" /> President Bush said in his signing statement of October 20, 2004, "will work with our allies and partners to assist those seeking to return Belarus to its rightful place among the Euro-Atlantic community of democracies."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bush |first1=George W. |title=Statement on the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 (Text Only) |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2004/10/text/20041020-14.html |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |access-date=February 14, 2019}}</ref>

In June 2006, President Bush issued executive order to freeze the US assets of hard-line Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and nine other individuals deemed obstacles to democracy in the former Soviet republic. "There is simply no place in a Europe whole and free for a regime of this kind", Bush said in a letter to the US Congress announcing his executive order, which affects assets held in the United States or by US financial institutions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aaj.tv/english/world/bush-slaps-sanctions-on-belarus-officials/|title=Bush slaps sanctions on Belarus officials|publisher=AAJ.TV|date=June 19, 2006|access-date=May 25, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On December 8, 2006, the [[United States House of Representatives]] passed, and (following Senate enactment) on January 12, 2007, President Bush signed into law, the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2006, a statute amending and updating the act.<ref>{{cite web |title=H.R. 5948 – 109th Congress (2005–2006): Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2006 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/5948 |website=www.congress.gov |access-date=February 14, 2019 |date=January 12, 2007}}</ref>

===Czech Republic===
{{Main|Czech Republic–United States relations}}

President Bush enjoyed a strong relationship with [[President of the Czech Republic]] [[Václav Havel|Vaclav Havel]]. On January 30, 2003, Havel signed ''[[The letter of the eight]]'' supporting the U.S. led [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref name="auto1">{{cite news |title=Full text of letter written by eight European leaders |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/full-text-of-letter-written-by-eight-european-leaders-1.459198 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=January 30, 2003}}</ref> Havel also deployed Czech forces in the [[Iraq War]] as part the [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|Coalition forces]] in May 2003.<ref>{{cite news|title=Parliament approves withdrawal of most Czech troops from Iraq in 2008|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/05/europe/EU-GEN-Czech-Iraq.php|access-date=December 21, 2015|agency=The Associated Press|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=December 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518003014/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/05/europe/EU-GEN-Czech-Iraq.php|archive-date=May 18, 2008}}</ref>

Havel's successor [[Václav Klaus]], also deployed Czech forces in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|U.S. led coalition War in Afghanistan]] in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mise.army.cz/errmsg/errorNoNews.html|title=Špatná zpráva|website=www.mise.army.cz|access-date=May 25, 2020|archive-date=February 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225032244/http://www.mise.army.cz/errmsg/errorNoNews.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Denmark===
{{Main|Denmark–United States relations}}
[[File:President George W. Bush and Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen hold a joint press conference.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Danish Prime Minister [[Anders Fogh Rasmussen]], July 2005]]

President Bush and Danish Prime Minister [[Anders Fogh Rasmussen]] enjoyed a strong friendship. Denmark with Rasmussen, deployed forces to the [[War in Afghanistan|U.S.-led war in Afghanistan]] in 2001 as part of [[NATO]] forces in the [[International Security Assistance Force]]. Rasmussen strongly supported the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 Iraq War]] and was one of the signatories of [[The letter of the eight]] on January 30, 2003.<ref name="auto1"/> As in most European countries he faced considerable opposition, both in the parliament and in the general population. Subsequent opinion polls suggested the Danish population's opinion was split on the issue. One vocal protester managed to get into the Danish parliament during the period before the war, where he poured red paint on the prime minister while yelling "Du har blod på dine hænder" (literally: "You have blood on your hands"). A member of the Danish parliament for the socialist [[Red–Green Alliance (Denmark)|Red-Green Alliance]], [[Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil]], stated that it was a reaction she might have made under the circumstances, although she later denounced such behaviour. Denmark was one of only five countries to take part in the actual invasion operations (the others being the [[United States|U.S.]], [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Poland]] and [[Australia]]) though the contingent mainly consisted of two minor warships and staff and radio units that were never involved in actual combat. In the months after the initial phase of the war, Danish troops participated in the [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|multi-national force stationed in Iraq]]. Approximately 550 [[Dancon/Irak|Danish troops were stationed in Iraq]] from 2004 and into 2007, first at "Camp Dannevang" and later at "Camp Einherjer", both near [[Basra]]. When the contingent of troops left around August 2007, it was not replaced and Denmark shifted its focus to non-military support around Baghdad. The official reason provided is that the Iraqi government should now be able to handle security in the Basra area. Critics of Rasmussen argued that the withdrawal was motivated by decreasing domestic support for the war.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/worldlatest/story/0,,-6430163,00.html|title=World news and comment from the Guardian – The Guardian|work=the Guardian|access-date=April 19, 2015|location=London}}</ref>

===France===
{{Main|France–United States relations}}
[[File:Chirac Bush 20020526-2 paris1-515h.jpg|thumb|President Bush and French President [[Jacques Chirac]], May 2002]]

France with President [[Jacques Chirac]] deployed French forces to NATO's [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|U.S. led-coalition war in Afghanistan]] in 2001,<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.lepoint.fr/actualites-monde/2009-02-11/chronologie-de-l-engagement-francais-en-afghanistan/1648/0/316138 Chronologie de l'engagement français en Afghanistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201021218/http://www.lepoint.fr/actualites-monde/2009-02-11/chronologie-de-l-engagement-francais-en-afghanistan/1648/0/316138 |date=December 1, 2009}}, [[Le Point]], 11 Février 2009</ref> but relations with France became strained after Chirac emerged as a leading voice against Bush and [[Tony Blair]] in 2003 during the organization and deployment of American and British forces participating in a [[Coalition of the willing|military coalition]] to [[List of deposed politicians|forcibly remove]] the government of [[Iraq]] controlled by the [[Ba'ath Party]] under the leadership of [[Saddam Hussein]]. Despite British and American pressure, Chirac threatened to veto, at that given point, a resolution in the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] that would authorise the use of military force to rid [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|Iraq of alleged weapons of mass destruction]], and rallied other governments to his position. "Iraq today does not represent an immediate threat that justifies an immediate war", Chirac said on March 18, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/09/26/764561501/jacques-chirac-french-president-who-opposed-u-s-iraq-war-is-dead-at-86|title=Jacques Chirac, French President Who Opposed U.S. Iraq War, Is Dead At 86|publisher=www.npr.org|date=September 26, 2019|access-date=May 24, 2020}}</ref> French foreign minister [[Dominique de Villepin]] acquired much of his popularity for his speech against the war at the United Nations (UN).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foreignpolicy.org.tr/documents/villepin_140203_p.htm |title=Statement by Dominique de Villepin to the UNSC |publisher=Foreignpolicy.org.tr |date=February 14, 2003 |access-date=November 5, 2010 |archive-date=December 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224193413/http://foreignpolicy.org.tr/documents/villepin_140203_p.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Germany===
{{Main|Germany–United States relations}} 
[[File:Bush and Schröder.jpg|thumb|President Bush and German Chancellor [[Gerhard Schröder]], October 2001]]
[[File:George W. Bush and Angela Merkel.jpg|thumb|President Bush and German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]], November 2007]]

German Chancellor [[Gerhard Schröder]] sent forces to [[Afghanistan]] as part of [[NATO]] operations of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|U.S. led war in Afghanistan]] because due to Germany having a long experience with [[terrorism]] itself, Schröder declared solidarity with the United States after the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/nov/07/afghanistan.terrorism4|title=German troops to join war effort|work=The Guardian|date=November 6, 2001|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref>  When Schröder left office, Germany had 2,000 troops in Afghanistan, the largest contingent from any nation other than the United States, UK, France, Canada and after two years Afghanistan.

However, relations with Germany became strained, after Schröder later spoke out strongly against the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] and refused any military assistance in that enterprise.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/aug/06/iraq.johnhooper|title=German leader says no to Iraq war|publisher=www.theguardian.com|date=August 5, 2002|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> Schröder's stance caused political friction between the US and Germany, in particular because he used this topic for his 2002 election campaign. Schröder's stance set the stage for alleged anti-American statements by members of the SPD. The parliamentary leader of the SPD, [[Ludwig Stiegler]], compared Bush to [[Julius Caesar]] while Schröder's Minister of Justice, [[Herta Däubler-Gmelin]], likened Bush's foreign policy to that of [[Adolf Hitler]]. Schröder's critics accused him of enhancing, and campaigning on, anti-American sentiments in Germany. After his 2002 re-election, Schröder and Bush rarely met and their animosity was seen as a widening political gap between the US and Europe. Bush stated in his memoirs that Schröder initially promised to support the Iraq war but changed his mind with the upcoming German elections and public opinion strongly against the invasion, to which Schröder responded saying that Bush was "not telling the truth".<ref>{{cite web|last=Khan|first=Adnan R.|url=http://www.macleans.ca/2010/11/24/schroder-bush-dust-up|title=The Schröder-Bush dust-up – World|publisher=Macleans.ca|date=November 24, 2010|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref> When asked in March 2003 if he were at all self-critical about his position on Iraq, Schröder replied, "I very much regret there were excessive statements" from himself and former members of his government (which capitalised on the war's unpopularity).<ref>[[John Vinocur]] (March 5, 2003), [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/05/news/news-analysis-schroeder-is-edging-closer-to-blair-views.html Schroeder is edging closer to Blair views] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005152440/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/05/news/news-analysis-schroeder-is-edging-closer-to-blair-views.html |date=October 5, 2017}} ''The New York Times''.</ref>

===Italy===
{{Main|Italy–United States relations}}
[[File:President George W. Bush shakes hands with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Italian Prime Minister [[Silvio Berlusconi]], October 2005]]

President Bush enjoyed a strong relationship with Italian Prime Minister [[Silvio Berlusconi]]. Italy, with Berlusconi in office, became a solid ally of the United States due to his support in deploying Italian troops in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] and the [[Iraq War]] following the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] in the [[war on terror]]. On January 30, 2003, Berlusconi signed ''[[The letter of the eight]]'' supporting [[Preparations for 2003 invasion of Iraq|US. policy on Iraq]].<ref name="auto1"/>

Berlusconi, in his meetings with [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|United Nations Secretary-General]] [[Kofi Annan]] and President Bush, said that he pushed for "a clear turnaround in the Iraqi situation" and for a quick handover of sovereignty to the government chosen by the Iraqi people.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41722-2004May20.html|title=The Italian Connection|last=Roberts|first=Roxanne|date=May 2004|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Italy had some 3,200 troops deployed in Southern Iraq, the third largest contingent there after the American and British forces.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Middle East Wars: The United States in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts [5 volumes]: The United States in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts|last=Tucker|first=Spencer C.|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2010|isbn=9781851099481|pages=609}}</ref> When [[Romano Prodi]] became Prime Minister, Italian troops were gradually withdrawn from Iraq in the second half of 2006 with the last soldiers leaving the country in December of that year.

===NATO===
{{Further|NATO}}

In November 2002, at a [[2002 Prague summit|NATO summit]] Bush stated "Our NATO alliance faces dangers very different from those it was formed to confront. Yet, never has our need for collective defense been more urgent. The Soviet Union is gone, but freedom still has enemies. We're threatened by terrorism, bred within failed states, it's present within our own cities. We're threatened by the spread of chemical and biological and nuclear weapons which are produced by outlaw regimes and could be delivered either by missile or terrorist cell. For terrorists and terrorist states, every free nation is a potential target, including the free nations of Europe".<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/docu/speech/2002/s021120f.htm|title=Remarks by the President of the United States, George W. Bush to the Atlantic Student Summit|date=November 20, 2002|access-date= May 21, 2020}}</ref>

Bush then stated "To meet all of this century's emerging threats from terror camps in remote regions to hidden laboratories of outlaw regimes, NATO must develop new military capabilities. NATO forces must become better able to fight side by side. Those forces must be more mobile and more swiftly deployed. The allies need more special operations forces, better precision strike capabilities, and more modern command structures. Few NATO members will have state-of-the-art capabilities in all of these areas; I recognize that. But every nation should develop some. Ours is a military alliance, and every member must make a military contribution to that alliance. For some allies, this will require higher defense spending. For all of us, it will require more effective defense spending, with each nation adding the tools and technologies to fight and win a new kind of war".<ref name=autogenerated2 />

Bush then stated "The United States proposes the creation of a NATO response force that will bring together well-equipped, highly ready air, ground and sea forces from NATO allies – old and new. This force will be prepared to deploy on short notice wherever it is needed. A NATO response force will take time to create and we should begin that effort here in Prague. Yet, security against new threats requires more than just new capabilities. Free nations must accept our shared obligations to keep the peace. The world needs the nations of this continent to be active in the defense of freedom; not inward-looking or isolated by indifference. Ignoring dangers or excusing aggression may temporarily avert conflict, but they don't bring true peace".<ref name=autogenerated2 />

===Poland===
{{Main|Poland–United States relations}}
[[File:JKaczyński and GBush 2006.JPG|thumb|President Bush and Polish Prime Minister [[Jarosław Kaczyński]], 2007]]

President Bush enjoyed a strong relationship with Poland, As well as Poland deploying its forces in supporting the global [[war on terror]], [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Operation Enduring Freedom]] in Afghanistan, and [[Polish involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq|coalition efforts in Iraq]] (where [[Multinational Division Central-South|Polish contingent was one of the largest]]). Polish Prime Minister [[Leszek Miller]]'s government, together with President Kwaśniewski, made a decision in March 2003 to join the [[coalition of the willing]] and deploy Polish troops to Iraq, targeting at overthrowing Saddam Hussein's government. Leszek Miller was also a co-signatory of "[[The letter of the eight|the letter of 8]]", signed by eight European prime ministers, supporting the US position on Iraq.<ref name="auto1"/> Already in 2002 Miller gave permission to the U.S. government to run a [[Black site|secret CIA prison]] at [[Stare Kiejkuty (base)|Stare Kiejkuty military training center]], three hours North of Warsaw. Years later he is facing accusations of acting anti-constitutionally by having tolerated the imprisonment and torture of prisoners.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.worldcrunch.com/rss/world-affairs/exclusive-inside-a-secret-cia-prison-in-the-polish-countryside/scandal-torture-prisoners-black-sites-szymany/c1s10876/ | title=Exclusive: Inside A Secret CIA Prison In The Polish Countryside | publisher=Worldcrunch/Sueddeutsche | date=February 8, 2013 | access-date=February 12, 2013}}</ref>

===Russia===
{{Main|Russia–United States relations}}
[[File:Vladimir Putin 22 July 2001-3.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]], July 2001]]

A planned missile defense system in Eastern Europe poses no threat to Russia, Bush, said April 1, 2008, responding to concerns that the U.S. might use interceptor missiles for offensive purposes. His comments came before he left [[Kyiv]] for a [[2008 Bucharest summit|NATO summit]] in [[Bucharest]], [[Romania]], that is expected to highlight divisions over the plan. Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] and Bush failed to resolve their differences over U.S. plans for the planned missile defense system based in Poland and the Czech Republic, on their meeting in the Russian [[Black Sea]] resort of [[Sochi]] on April 6, 2008, but said they had agreed a "strategic framework" to guide future U.S.-Russian relations, in which Russia and the U.S. said they recognized that the era in which each had considered the other to be a "strategic threat or enemy" was over. Before leaving April 1, 2008, for [[Bucharest]], Bush told that Russia will not be able to veto [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]'s or [[Ukraine]]'s inclusion into [[NATO]]. Bush said that both countries should be able to take part in [[Enlargement of NATO|NATO's Membership Action Plan]], which is designed to help aspiring countries meet the requirements of joining the alliance. Bush added that Ukraine already contributes to NATO missions, specifically in [[Iraq]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Kosovo]]. Ukraine also has demonstrated a commitment to democracy. Bush denied that the United States might ease off on membership plans for Ukraine and Georgia if Russia acquiesces on the missile shield.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/01/bush.nato/index.html|title=Bush: Missile shield no threat to Russia|access-date=April 1, 2008|date=April 1, 2008|publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/06/bush.putin/index.html|title=Bush, Putin disagree on missile defense|access-date=April 6, 2008|date=April 6, 2008|publisher=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408050408/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/06/bush.putin/index.html|archive-date=April 8, 2008}}</ref>

===Spain===
{{Main|Spain–United States relations}}
[[File:Bush aznar Crawford 2003.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Spanish Prime Minister [[José María Aznar]], February 2003]]

Spanish Prime Minister [[José María Aznar]] actively supported Bush in the [[war on terror]]ism by first deploying Spanish forces in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|U.S.-led coalition War in Afghanistan]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ejercito.mde.es/ingles/mexterior/index_afganistan.html |title=Ejército de Tierra español |publisher=Ejercito.mde.es |date=December 1, 2001 |access-date=July 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103050500/http://www.ejercito.mde.es/ingles/mexterior/index_afganistan.html |archive-date=January 3, 2010}}</ref>  Aznar then met with Bush in a private meeting before [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] to discuss the situation of in the [[United Nations Security Council]]. The Spanish newspaper ''[[El País]]'' leaked a [[Bush–Aznar memo|partial transcript of the meeting]]. Aznar actively encouraged and supported the Bush administration's foreign policy and the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, and was one of the signatories of [[The letter of the eight]] defending it on the basis of secret intelligence allegedly containing evidence of the Iraqi government's nuclear proliferation. Aznar then deployed Spanish forces to the [[Iraq War]] as part of [[Multi-National Force – Iraq]] coalition forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/18/sprj.irq.spain/|title=Spain: No combat role in Iraq war|publisher=www.cnn.com|date=March 18, 2003|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> The majority of the Spanish population, including some members of Aznar's [[People's Party (Spain)|Partido Popular]], were against the war.

After the [[2004 Spanish general election|Spanish general election in 2004]], in which the Spanish socialists received more votes than expected as a result, besides other issues, of the government's handling of the [[2004 Madrid train bombings]], [[José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero]] succeeded Aznar as Prime Minister. Before being elected, Zapatero had opposed the American policy in regard to [[Iraq]] pursued by Aznar. During the electoral campaign Zapatero had promised to withdraw the troops if control in [[Iraq]] was not passed to the [[United Nations]] after June 30 (the ending date of the initial Spanish military agreement with the multinational coalition that had overthrown [[Saddam Hussein]]). On April 19, 2004, Zapatero announced the withdrawal of the 1300 Spanish troops in [[Iraq]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/04/18/espana/1082303152.html|title=elmundo.es – Zapatero anuncia la retirada inmediata de las tropas de Irak|website=www.elmundo.es}}</ref>

The decision aroused international support worldwide, though the American Government claimed that the terrorists could perceive it as "a victory obtained due to 11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings". [[John Kerry]], then [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic party]] candidate for the American presidency, asked Zapatero not to withdraw the Spanish soldiers. Some months after withdrawing the troops, the Zapatero government agreed to increase the number of Spanish soldiers in [[Afghanistan]] and to send troops to [[Haiti]] to show the Spanish Government's willingness to spend resources on international missions approved by the UN.

===United Kingdom===
{{Main|United Kingdom–United States relations}}
[[File:Bush and Blair at Camp David.jpg|thumb|President Bush and British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]], March 2003]]

President Bush and British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] enjoyed a strong relationship. On September 20, 2001, during his [[September 2001 George W. Bush speech to a joint session of Congress|address to a joint session of congress]], President Bush declared "America has no truer friend than Great Britain".<ref name="auto6"/> Blair deployed British forces to NATO's [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|war in Afghanistan]], second only to the US in sending forces. Blair then took the lead (against the opposition of France, Canada, Germany, China, and Russia) in advocating the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]] in 2003 and Blair was also one of the signatories of [[The letter of the eight]] on January 30, 2003.<ref name="auto1"/>
Again Britain under Blair was second only to the US in sending forces to Iraq. Both sides wound down after 2009, and withdrew their last troops in 2011. President Bush and Prime Minister Blair provided sustained mutual political and diplomatic support and won votes in Congress and parliament against their critics at home.<ref>Shawcross (2004) ch 2</ref>

==Greater Middle East==

===Afghanistan===
{{Further|United States invasion of Afghanistan|War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)}}
{{Main|Afghanistan–United States relations}}
[[File:President George W. Bush addresses the media at the Pentagon on Sept. 17, 2001.jpg|thumb|President Bush addressing the media at the Pentagon, September 17, 2001]]

In his [[September 2001 George W. Bush speech to a joint session of Congress|address to a joint session of congress]] on September 20, 2001, President Bush condemned [[Osama bin Laden]] and his organization [[Al-Qaeda]], and issued an ultimatum to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, where bin Laden was operating, to "hand over the terrorists, or{{nbsp}}... share in their fate".<ref name="auto6"/>

On October 7, 2001, the [[United States invasion of Afghanistan|US led a NATO invasion of Afghanistan]], instigating the [[War on terror|global war on terror]] and what became the early phase of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|US led-coalition War in Afghanistan]]. President Bush confirmed the strikes in his address to the nation, Bush stated that "Taliban military sites and terrorist training grounds would be targeted". "Food, medicine and supplies would be dropped to the starving and suffering men, women and children of Afghanistan".<ref name="www_australianpolitics_com8">{{cite web|url=http://www.australianpolitics.com/news/2001/01-10-07.shtml|title=australianpolitics.com|access-date=September 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902122616/http://www.australianpolitics.com/news/2001/01-10-07.shtml|archive-date=September 2, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> NATO forces scoured the region for 9/11 alleged mastermind Osama Bin Laden and his terrorist network Al-Qaeda and drove the fundamentalist Islamic Taliban regime, which was sheltering and providing sanctuary for Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda, from power. However once Bin Laden left Afghanistan and took up sanctuary in Pakistan, Bush said that he was "not that concerned about him" as the Al-Qaeda leader continued to plot attacks against America.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-oct-14-na-osama14-story.html |title=Bush 'Not Concerned' About Bin Laden in '02 |date=October 14, 2004 |author=Reynolds, Maura |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref>

The main goals of the war were to defeat the [[Taliban]], drive [[al-Qaeda]] out of Afghanistan, and capture key al-Qaeda leaders. In December 2001, the Pentagon reported that the Taliban had been defeated,<ref name=taliband>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/11/world/nation-challenged-military-campaign-taliban-defeated-pentagon-asserts-but-war.html |access-date=June 23, 2009 |date=December 11, 2001 |author1=Shanker, Tom |author2=Eric Schmitt |newspaper=The New York Times |title=A Nation Challenged; Military Campaign; Taliban Defeated, Pentagon Asserts, but War Goes On |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225062850/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/11/world/nation-challenged-military-campaign-taliban-defeated-pentagon-asserts-but-war.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> but cautioned that the war would go on to continue weakening Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders.<ref name=taliband/> Later that month the UN had installed the [[Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan|Afghan Transitional Administration]] chaired by [[Hamid Karzai]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/isaf.cfm |title=Fact Sheet: International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan |publisher=[[Center for Defense Information]] |date=February 14, 2002 |access-date=September 1, 2008 |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225062850/http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/isaf.cfm |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4673026.stm |title=More Dutch troops for Afghanistan |work=BBC News |date=February 3, 2006 |access-date=September 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225062850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4673026.stm |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the U.S. under the Bush administration supported the new government of Karzai by maintaining a high level of troops to establish the authority of his government as well as combat [[Taliban insurgency]]. Both Afghanistan and the United States resumed diplomatic ties in late 2001. In 2002, based on [[UNICEF]] figures, [[Nicholas Kristof]] reported that "our invasion of Afghanistan may end up saving one million lives over the next decade" as the result of improved healthcare and greater access to humanitarian aid.<ref>Kristof, Nicholas D., [https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/01/opinion/a-merciful-war.html "A Merciful War"], ''The New York Times'', February 1, 2002. "Now aid is pouring in and lives are being saved on an enormous scale. UNICEF, for example, has vaccinated 734,000 children against measles over the last two months, in a country where virtually no one had been vaccinated against the disease in the previous 10 years. Because measles often led to death in Afghanistan, the vaccination campaign will save at least 35,000 children's lives each year{{nbsp}}... Heidi J. Larson of UNICEF says that if all goes well, child and maternal mortality rates will drop in half in Afghanistan over the next five years. That would mean 112,000 fewer children and 7,500 fewer pregnant women dying each year."</ref>

Efforts to kill or capture al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden failed as he escaped a [[Battle of Tora Bora|battle]] in December 2001 in the mountainous region of [[Tora Bora]], which the Bush administration later acknowledged to have resulted from a failure to commit enough U.S. ground troops.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/12/AR2006061200843.html |title=U.S. Concludes bin Laden Escaped at Tora Bora Fight |access-date=September 6, 2015 |date=April 17, 2002 |newspaper=The Washington Post |first1=Barton |last1=Gellman |first2=Thomas E. |last2=Ricks}}</ref> It was not until May 2011, two years after Bush left office, that bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces under the Obama administration. [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]], Bin laden's second-in-command, took charge of al-Qaeda until he was [[Killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri|killed]] in a targeted drone strike under the Biden administration.

Despite the initial success in driving the Taliban from power in Kabul, by early 2003 the Taliban was regrouping, amassing new funds and recruits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0508/p01s02-wosc.html?related |title=Taliban Appears To Be Regrouped and Well-Funded |access-date=September 1, 2008 |date=May 8, 2003 |work=The Christian Science Monitor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225062850/http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0508/p01s02-wosc.html?related |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The 2005 failure of [[Operation Red Wings]] showed that the Taliban had returned.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://go.bloomberg.com/political-capital/2014-01-09/gates-bombs-away-in-memoir-and-how-the-green-lantern-drove-a-decision/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109153516/http://go.bloomberg.com/political-capital/2014-01-09/gates-bombs-away-in-memoir-and-how-the-green-lantern-drove-a-decision/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |title=Gates: Bombs Away in Memoir{{nbsp}}– How Green Lantern Drove a Decision |last1=Capaccio |first1=Tony |date=January 9, 2014 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> In 2006, the [[Taliban insurgency]] appeared larger, fiercer and better organized than expected, with large-scale allied offensives such as [[Operation Mountain Thrust]] attaining limited success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=285|title=World Cannot Give Up on Afghanistan, Coalition Officials Say|last=Garamone|first=Jim|date=June 28, 2006|publisher=[[United States Department of Defense]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060802215853/http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=285|archive-date=August 2, 2006|access-date=September 1, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5107816.stm |title=Frustrated Karzai toughens stance |access-date=September 1, 2008 |date=July 22, 2006 |work=BBC News |first=Alastair |last=Leithead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225062850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5107816.stm |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-19-taliban-afghanistan-cover_x.htm |title=Revived Taliban waging 'full-blown insurgency' |access-date=September 1, 2008 |date=July 22, 2006 |newspaper=USA Today |first=Paul |last=Wiseman}}</ref> As a result, in March 2007, the Bush administration deployed another more than 3,500 troops to Afghanistan to expand the fight against the Taliban.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/10/AR2007031001397.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=May 31, 2008 |last=Baker |first=Peter |date=March 11, 2007 |page=A11 |title=Additional Troop Increase Approved}}</ref>

In June 2004, United States Forces began [[Drone strikes in Pakistan]] during the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|administration]] of President Bush, along the [[Federally Administered Tribal Areas|Federal Tribal Areas]] against [[Taliban]] and [[Al-Qaeda]] militants.<ref name="The CIA's Silent War in Pakistan">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1900248,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914063431/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1900248,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2012|title=The CIA's Silent War in Pakistan|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=June 1, 2009|access-date=December 16, 2011|first1=Bobby|last1=Ghosh|first2=Mark|last2=Thompson}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-shifts-focus-to-killing-targets/2011/08/30/gIQA7MZGvJ_story.html|title=CIA shifts focus to killing targets|first1=Greg|last1=Miller|first2=Julie|last2=Tate|date=September 1, 2011|access-date=December 10, 2017|via=www.WashingtonPost.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126132531/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-shifts-focus-to-killing-targets/2011/08/30/gIQA7MZGvJ_story.html|archive-date=November 26, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Major criticisms started to emerge from international human rights organizations about the United States policy of detaining alleged Taliban and Al-Qaeda combatants and refusing to grant these detainees their rights as prisoners of war as detailed in the Geneva Conventions. Other allegations stated that numerous captured Taliban fighters possessed no link to either Al-Qaeda or the Taliban. Instead these fighters had the misfortune of being forcibly recruited into the Taliban military during the American invasion. The practice of impressment was systematic of the Taliban regime which would raid villages for able bodied men to serve on the front lines for a specific time period.

[[File:GW Bush and Hamid Karzai in Kabul 2006-03-01.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Afghan President [[Hamid Karzai]], March 2006]]

In 2005, the United States and Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership agreement committing both nations to a long-term relationship.<ref name=USGov>{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5380.htm#relations |title=U.S.-Afghan Relations |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |access-date=October 13, 2011}}</ref> On March 1, 2006, Bush along with his wife [[Laura Bush|Laura]] made a visit to Afghanistan where they greeted US soldiers, met with Afghan officials and later appeared at a special inauguration ceremony at the U.S. Embassy.<ref>Pajhwok Afghan News, [http://www.pajhwok.com/viewstory.asp?lng=eng&id=46619 US lawmakers laud Afghan progress under Karzai (December 6, 2007)]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

The United States under the Bush administration took the leading role in the overall [[Reconstruction in Afghanistan|reconstruction of Afghanistan]] by providing billions of dollars to the [[Afghan National Security Forces]], building national roads, government and educational institutions.

President Bush and his administration labelled the detainees as "[[unlawful combatant]]s" deemed to pose a threat to the U.S. or to have information about terrorist structures, plans and tactics. The administration has said that such detainees can be held for "as long as necessary". Critics claim that anyone accused of a crime has a [[right to a fair trial]] and question whether people like [[Abdul Salam Zaeef|Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef]], the former [[Taliban]] ambassador to Pakistan, can be called an "unlawful combatant". In the case of Zaeef, they claim he cannot be a "combatant" because he was crippled during the Soviet occupation and that he wasn't "unlawful" because he was ambassador of his country. The Bush administration and its supporters claim that the war against America by Al-Qaeda is ongoing, that it is unconventional, and that the "battlefield" extends into the U.S. itself.<ref name=HRW20040109>{{cite web |url=https://www.hrw.org/legacy/english/docs/2004/01/09/usdom6917.htm |title=United States: Guantanamo Two Years On |date=January 9, 2004 |publisher=Human Rights Watch |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/5QRC5V?OpenDocument |title=Guantanamo Bay: Overview of the ICRC's work for internees |date=January 30, 2004 |publisher=International Committee of the Red Cross |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref> According to the declassified April 2006 [[National Intelligence Estimate]], "United States-led counterterrorism efforts have seriously damaged the leadership of Al-Qaeda and disrupted its operations; however, we judge that al-Qa'ida will continue to pose the greatest threat to the Homeland and US interests abroad by a single terrorist organization. We also assess that the global jihadist movement—which includes Al-Qaeda, affiliated and independent terrorist groups, and emerging networks and cells—is spreading and adapting to counterterrorism efforts."

On September 6, 2006, President Bush confirmed, for the first time, that the [[CIA]] had held "high-value detainees" for interrogation in secret prisons around the world.<ref>{{cite news|first=Don|last=Gonyea|author-link=Don Gonyea|title=Bush Concedes CIA Ran Secret Prisons Abroad|date=September 6, 2006|publisher=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5776968|access-date=February 22, 2010}}</ref> He also announced that fourteen [[Al-Qaeda]] senior captives, including [[Khalid Sheikh Mohammed]], were being transferred from CIA custody, to military custody, at [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]] and that these fourteen captives could now expect to face charges before Guantanamo military commissions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/06/washington/06bush_transcript.html|title=President Bush's Speech on Terrorism|work=The New York Times |date=September 6, 2006|access-date=May 24, 2020}}</ref>

Although the Bush administration released over 100 detainees and authorized military tribunals for the rest, the legal framework governing them has been slow in the making.  According to [[Human Rights Watch]], as of January 2004, "the public still [did] not know who the detainees are, what they [had] allegedly done, and whether and when they will be charged with crimes or released. There [had] been no hearings to determine the legal status of detainees and no judicial review—in short, no legal process at all."<ref name=HRW20040109/>  In February 2002 the United States began releasing several dozen detainees to their home countries, including many British and Pakistani nationals.  The British detainees were briefly investigated and cleared of any British charges within 24 hours of their arrival.

[[File:Karzai-Cheney-Bush-Rice-Musharraf at a dinner table in 2006.jpg|thumb|250px|President Bush sits with Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] and Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] as they host a working dinner at the [[White House]] with President [[Hamid Karzai]] (left) of the [[Afghanistan|Islamic Republic of Afghanistan]], and President [[Pervez Musharraf]], of the [[Pakistan|Islamic Republic of Pakistan]], September 27, 2006. White House photo by [[Eric Draper]].]]

The domestic political equation changed in the U.S. after the September 11, 2001, attacks, bolstering the influence of the [[Neoconservatism|neoconservative]] faction of the administration and throughout Washington. The conflict in Afghanistan, and the events that had launched the war, coincided with a reassessment of foreign policy by the administration, which President Bush articulated in his first [[2002 State of the Union Address|State of the Union Address]] on January 29, 2002. Previously, September 11 had underscored the threat of attacks from terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda, as opposed to [[Nation state|nation-states]], and U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan targeted the ruling Taliban militia for having harbored al-Qaeda sponsor Osama bin Laden. Now speaking of an "[[axis of evil]]" comprising [[Iran]], [[North Korea]], and [[Iraq]] in his address to Congress, Bush claimed that he was preparing to open a new front in the U.S. global "war on terrorism".<ref name=autogenerated4>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1790537.stm |title=Full text: State of the Union address |date=January 30, 2002 |work=BBC News |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref>

===Bahrain===
{{Main|Bahrain–United States relations|Bahrain–United States Free Trade Agreement}}
[[File:Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa et Bush.jpg|thumb|President Bush and King [[Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa]] of Bahrain, November 2004]]

President Bush designated Bahrain a [[Major non-NATO ally]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bahrain Joins Iran in Opposing Strike|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/bahrain-joins-iran-in-opposing-strike|access-date=July 7, 2012|newspaper=[[Fox News]]|date=August 18, 2002|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> President Bush signed the [[Bahrain–United States Free Trade Agreement]] into law on January 11, 2006.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Reuters|title=Bahrain Pact Signed by Bush|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/12/politics/12trade.html|work=The New York Times|date=January 12, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Statement on H.R. 4340, 'U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act' (January 11, 2006)|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/01/20060111.html|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|access-date=July 22, 2014}}</ref> The FTA was implemented on August 1, 2006, and will reduce certain barriers of trade between the two countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statement of USTR Susan C. Schwab Regarding Entry Into Force of the U.S. -Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (July 2006) |url=http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/archives/2006/july/statement-ustr-susan-c-schwab-regarding-entr |website=Office of the United States Trade Representative |access-date=July 22, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803104934/http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/archives/2006/july/statement-ustr-susan-c-schwab-regarding-entr |archive-date=August 3, 2014}}</ref>

===Egypt===
{{Main|Egypt–United States relations}}
[[File:Hosni Mubarak with George W. Bush.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Egyptian President [[Hosni Mubarak]], June 2002]]

President Bush enjoyed relations with Egypt under President [[Hosni Mubarak]], However, later on Egyptian–American relations have become a little tense. This is due to a great extent to the Egyptian unwillingness to send troops to Afghanistan and Iraq in peace stabilization missions. Egypt strongly backed the U.S. in its war against international terrorism after the September 11 attacks of 2001 but refused to send troops to Afghanistan during the war and after it. Egypt also opposed U.S. military intervention of March 2003 in Iraq<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/31/iraq.egypt.mubarak.reut/|title=CNN.com – Mubarak warns of '100 bin Ladens' – Mar. 31, 2003|website=www.cnn.com|access-date=June 26, 2017}}</ref> through their membership in the [[African Union]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldrevolution.org/article/453|title=African Union summit opposed to war in Iraq|last=O'Brien|first=Fiona|date=February 6, 2003|website=The World Revolution|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040107002835/http://www.worldrevolution.org/article/453|archive-date=January 7, 2004|access-date=June 26, 2017}}</ref> and the [[Arab League]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2882851.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} Middle East {{!}} Arab states line up behind Iraq|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=March 25, 2003|access-date=June 26, 2017}}</ref> continued to oppose U.S. occupation of the country after the war and further refused to comply with U.S. requests to send troops to the country even under a UN umbrella.

President Mubarak spoke out against the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], arguing that the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] should have been resolved first. He also said the war would cause "100 [[Osama bin Laden|Bin Ladens]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/31/iraq.egypt.mubarak.reut/ |title=Mubarak warns of '100 bin Ladens' |date=March 31, 2003 |access-date=January 29, 2011 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> However, as president he did not support an immediate US withdrawal from Iraq because he believed it would probably lead to chaos.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-04-09-egypt-comments_x.htm |title=Mubarak: "U.S withdrawal would hurt Iraq" |date=April 9, 2006 |work=USA Today |access-date=January 29, 2011}}</ref>

The issue of participation in the post-war construction efforts in Iraq has been controversial in Egypt and in the Arab world as a whole. Opponents say that the war was illegal and it is necessary to wait until Iraq has legal representative government to deal with it. On the other hand, supporters of participation argued that the responsibility to protect Iraqis and to help them in time of crisis should prevail and guide the Egyptian action in [[Iraq]], despite the fact that the Iraqis do not agree.

US officials quoted in ''[[USA Today]]'' described Egyptian security and military as having shared "valuable intelligence" and providing other "useful counterterrorism assistance", in the 1980, 90s and "particularly in the decade since the 9/11 attacks". Under President Hosni Mubarak and his intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, the U.S. has had "an important partnership" in counterterrorism.<ref name=Hall>{{cite news|last=Hall|first=Mimi|title=Transition could weaken U.S. anti-terror efforts |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-02-04-terror04_ST_N.htm|access-date=October 10, 2013|newspaper=USA Today|date=February 4, 2011|author2=Richard Wolf}}</ref>

===Iran===
{{Main|Iran–United States relations#2001–05: Bush administration, first term|Iran–United States relations#2005–09: Bush administration, second term}}

In his [[2002 State of the Union Address]], Bush labeled [[Iran]] as a member of the "[[Axis of evil|Axis of Evil]]", where he stated "Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom".<ref name=sotu2002/> Bush also accused Iran of aiding terrorist organizations.<ref name="axis1">{{cite news|title=How Iran Entered the 'Axis'|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tehran/axis/map.html|access-date=November 15, 2017|publisher=PBS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120234029/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tehran/axis/map.html|archive-date=November 20, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2005, Bush issued Executive Order 13382 freezing the assets of individuals connected with Iran's nuclear program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Documents/whwmdeo.pdf|title=Executive Order 13382—Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters|publisher=www.treasury.gov|date=June 28, 2005|access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref> In 2006, Iran re-opened three of its nuclear facilities, potentially allowing it to begin the process of building a nuclear bomb.<ref name="weismans">{{cite news|last1=Weisman|first1=Steven|last2=Fathi|first2=Nazila|title=Iranians Reopen Nuclear Centers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/11/world/middleeast/iranians-reopen-nuclear-centers.html|access-date=November 15, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 11, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115143304/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/11/world/middleeast/iranians-reopen-nuclear-centers.html|archive-date=November 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> After the resumption of the Iranian nuclear program, many within the U.S. military and foreign policy community speculated that Bush might attempt to impose regime change on Iran.<ref name="shersh1">{{cite magazine|last1=Hersh|first1=Seymour M.|title=The Iran Plans|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/04/17/the-iran-plans|access-date=November 15, 2017|magazine=The New Yorker|date=April 17, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019090505/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/04/17/the-iran-plans|archive-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> This was evident in the [[Iran Freedom and Support Act]] legislation bill signed by President Bush on September 30, 2006, that appropriated $10 million and directed the [[President of the United States]] to spend that money in support of "pro-democracy groups" opposed to the [[Iran]]ian [[Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran|government]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Santorum challenges Obama, Bush on Iran funding|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/13/politics/truth-squad-iran/|access-date=July 20, 2015|agency=[[CNN]]|date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> Opponents claimed the bill was a first step towards a [[United States|US]]-led invasion of the country.<ref name="sheehan1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/06/04/con06170.html |title=Sheehan, Cindy. ''Mission Accomplished Day''. April 30, 2006. |access-date=July 4, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514080127/http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/06/04/con06170.html |archive-date=May 14, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[[Dennis Kucinich]] called the act a "steppingstone to war". [http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=42687  "Kucinich Speaks Out Against House Bill That Lays The Ground Work For War Against Iran"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604043127/http://kucinich.house.gov/news/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=42687 |date=June 4, 2010}}</ref>    In December 2006, the [[United Nations Security Council]] unanimously passed [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737|Resolution 1737]], which imposed sanctions on Iran in order to curb its nuclear program.<ref name="egootman1">{{cite news|last1=Gootman|first1=Elissa|title=Security Council Approves Sanctions Against Iran Over Nuclear Program|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/world/24nations.html|access-date=November 15, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 24, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115083202/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/24/world/24nations.html|archive-date=November 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

There has been much [[Iran and weapons of mass destruction|controversy surrounding]] Iran and its [[Nuclear program of Iran|nuclear program]] in the past few years. The controversy centers on the Iranian [[Enriched uranium|enrichment of uranium]]. Iran officials have stated that they are enriching the uranium to fuel civilian reactors as permitted under the [[Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons|Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]] and other international agreements, but the processes that Iran has been developing to reprocess and enrich uranium are also critical components for the development of a nuclear weapon.

Since there exists some circumstantial evidence that Iran, classified by the U.S. as a [[State Sponsors of Terrorism (U.S. list)|state sponsor of terrorism]], may have intentions of pursuing a weapons program, the Iranian nuclear program became a major foreign policy of the United States.<ref name=Iran-evidence>{{cite news
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/07/AR2006020702126.html|access-date=July 4, 2007|title=Strong Leads and Dead Ends in Nuclear Case Against Iran|newspaper=Washington Post|date=February 8, 2006|author=Linzer, Dafna}}</ref>

===Iraq===
{{Main|Iraq–United States relations}}
{{Further|2003 invasion of Iraq|Iraq War}}

Beginning with his [[2002 State of the Union Address|State of the Union Address]] on January 29, 2002, President Bush began publicly focusing attention on Iraq, which he labeled as part of an "[[axis of evil]]" allied with terrorists and posing "a grave and growing danger" to U.S. interests through possession of [[Weapon of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]].<ref name=sotu2002>{{cite web |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020129-11.html |date=January 29, 2002 |title=President Delivers State of the Union Address |access-date=June 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502151928/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020129-11.html |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |archive-date=May 2, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Iraq: The War Card |url=http://www.iwatchnews.org/accountability/iraq-war-card |publisher=The Center for Public Integrity |access-date=November 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225062850/http://www.iwatchnews.org/accountability/iraq-war-card |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Bush declared, "Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror." Announcing that he would possibly take action to topple the Iraqi government, he claimed, "The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax, and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons for over a decade."<ref name=autogenerated4 /> and claimed "This is a regime that has already used poison gas to murder thousands of its own citizens, leaving the bodies of mothers huddled over their dead children".<ref name=autogenerated4 /> and that "This is a regime that agreed to international inspections, then kicked out the inspectors". and that "This is a regime that has something to hide from the civilised world".<ref name=autogenerated4 />

In the latter half of 2002, CIA [[National Intelligence Estimate|reports]] contained assertions of [[Saddam Hussein]]'s intent of reconstituting nuclear weapons programs, not properly accounting for Iraqi [[Biological warfare|biological]] and [[Chemical warfare|chemical weapons]], and that some Iraqi missiles had a range greater than allowed by the UN sanctions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/reports/general-reports-1/iraq_wmd/Iraq_Oct_2002.htm |title=Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programs |date=October 2002 |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911171932/https://www.cia.gov/library/reports/general-reports-1/iraq_wmd/Iraq_Oct_2002.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB129/index.htm |title=CIA Whites Out Controversial Estimate on Iraq Weapons |publisher=The National Security Archive |date=July 9, 2004 |access-date=June 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623070452/http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB129/index.htm |url-status=live |archive-date=June 23, 2009}}</ref> Contentions that the Bush administration manipulated or exaggerated the threat and evidence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capabilities would eventually become a major point of criticism for the president.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/67019/the-first-casualty|title=The First Casualty|last1=Ackerman|first1=Spencer|date=June 30, 2003|magazine=[[The New Republic]]|access-date=November 17, 2019|last2=Judis|first2=John B.|issn=0028-6583}}</ref><ref>Hersh, Seymour M., "The Stovepipe", ''[[The New Yorker]]'', October 27, 2003.</ref>

Bush began formally making his case to the international community for an invasion of Iraq on September 12, 2002, in his address to the [[United Nations General Assembly]].<ref>George W. Bush, [https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/09/20020912-1.html "President's Remarks at the United Nations General Assembly:] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902071830/https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/09/20020912-1.html |date=September 2, 2017}} Remarks by the President in Address to the United Nations General Assembly, New York, New York", official transcript, press release, [[The White House]], September 12, 2002. Retrieved May 24, 2007.</ref>

In October 2002, Congress passed a legislation titled the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002|Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq]] signed by President Bush on October 16, 2002.<ref name="ResolutionText">[http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-107publ243/pdf/PLAW-107publ243.pdf Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002] ([[PDF]])</ref> authorizing the use of the [[United States Armed Forces]] against [[Saddam Hussein]]'s Iraq government.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-2.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021102072524/http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021002-2.html|archive-date=November 2, 2002|title=Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq|publisher=The Office of the President of the [[United States]]}}</ref>

On November 20, 2002, at a [[2002 Prague summit|NATO summit]] in [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]],  President Bush and [[President of the Czech Republic]] [[Václav Havel|Vaclav Havel]] held a joint news conference, where Bush stated "It's very important for our NATO nations as well as all free nations to work collectively to see to it that Saddam Hussein disarms", "However, should he choose not to disarm, the United States will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him and at that point in time, all our nations will be able choose whether or not they want to participate."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/11/20/prague.bush.nato/|title=Bush: Join 'coalition of willing'|date=November 20, 2002|publisher=CNN}}</ref>

In late 2002 and early 2003, Bush urged the United Nations to enforce Iraqi [[disarmament]] mandates, precipitating a [[Iraq disarmament crisis|diplomatic crisis]]. In November 2002, Hans Blix and [[Mohamed ElBaradei]] led UN weapons inspectors in Iraq, but were advised by the U.S. to depart the country four days prior to the U.S. invasion, despite their requests for more time to complete their tasks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-17-inspectors-iraq_x.htm |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title=U.S. advises weapons inspectors to leave Iraq |work=USA Today |date=March 17, 2003 |access-date=September 1, 2008}}</ref> The U.S. initially sought a [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] resolution authorizing the use of military force but dropped the bid for UN approval due to vigorous opposition from several countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldpress.org/specials/iraq/chapterVII.htm |title=Enforcement Measures under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter |access-date=September 1, 2008 |date=February 13, 2003 |work=[[United Nations Charter]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225062850/http://www.worldpress.org/specials/iraq/chapterVII.htm |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Bush administration's claim that the Iraq War was part of the [[war on terror]] had been [[Criticism of the war on terror|questioned and contested]] by political analysts.<ref>Williams, Shirley. "[https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,3604,1072390,00.html The seeds of Iraq's future terror]"</ref>

In his [[2003 State of the Union Address|State of the Union Address]] on January 28, 2003, President  Bush declared [[Saddam Hussein]] was the worst, and "a brutal dictator, with a history of reckless aggression, with ties to terrorism, with great potential wealth, will not be permitted to dominate a vital region and threaten the United States." In this context, Bush also said, "The [[United Kingdom|British]] government has learned that [[Saddam Hussein]] recently sought significant quantities of [[Yellowcake|uranium]] from [[Africa]]".<ref name="stateunion">{{cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030128-19.html|first=George W. |last=Bush|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|title=President Delivers 'State of the Union'|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|date=January 28, 2003}}</ref>

Although no agreement on authorizing force could be found within the [[United Nations Security Council]], the war was ultimately launched in March 2003, after Bush, in a speech on March 17, 2003, effectively had set out a declaration of his objectives as ''"assuring [the] national security"'' of the United States, and ''"no more poison factories, no more executions of dissidents, no more torture chambers and rape rooms"''. Bush also issued an ultimatum stating, "Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict, commenced at a time of our choosing."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030317-7.html |title=President Says Saddam Hussein Must Leave Iraq Within 48 Hours |date=March 17, 2003 |author=President Bush |publisher=Office of the Press Secretary |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:George W. Bush's statement on Iraq (March 17, 2003).webm|thumb|President Bush addresses the world about U.S. intentions regarding Saddam Hussein and Iraq, March 17, 2003]]
[[File:U.S. President George W. Bush's address to the nation on Iraqi use of force (March 19, 2003).webm|thumb|President Bush addresses the nation from the Oval Office, to announce the beginning of [[Iraq War|Operation Iraqi Freedom]], March 19, 2003]]

President Bush in his address to the nation from the Oval Office on March 19, 2003, officially announced the beginning of the invasion of Iraq, here he stated "On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war. These are opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign. More than 35 countries are giving crucial support from the use of naval and air bases, to help with intelligence and logistics, to the deployment of combat units. Every nation in this coalition has chosen to bear the duty and share the honor of serving in our common defense". The military action was dubbed "Operation Iraqi Freedom".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/oif-history.pdf | title=Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) History Brief | work=U.S. Department of Defense | date=May 8, 2013 | access-date=October 28, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017025024/https://nsarchive.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/oif-history.pdf | archive-date=October 17, 2015 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030319-17.html|title=President Bush Addresses the Nation|date=March 19, 2003|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref>

[[File:George W. Bush walks with Ryan Phillips to Navy One.jpg|thumb|upright|President Bush, with [[Naval flight officer|Naval Flight Officer]] Lieutenant Ryan Philips, after landing on the USS ''Abraham Lincoln'' prior to his [[Mission Accomplished speech]], May 1, 2003]]
[[File:US Navy 031127-F-5435R-006 President George W. Bush pays a surprise visit to Baghdad International Airport (BIAP).jpg|thumb|left|President Bush paying a surprise visit to [[Baghdad International Airport]], November 27, 2003]]

More than 20 nations (most notably the United Kingdom), designated the "[[Multi-National Force– Iraq|coalition of the willing]]" joined the United States<ref>{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Schifferes |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2862343.stm |title=US names 'coalition of the willing' |work=BBC News |date=March 18, 2003 |access-date=September 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225062850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2862343.stm |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> in invading Iraq. They launched the invasion on March 20, 2003. The Iraqi military was quickly defeated. The capital, [[Baghdad]], fell on April 9, 2003, which resulted in the overthrow of [[Saddam Hussein]]'s [[Ba'athist Iraq|Ba'athist]] regime 24 year rule. On May 1, Bush declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq. The initial success of U.S. operations increased his popularity, but the U.S. and allied forces faced a growing insurgency led by sectarian groups; Bush's "[[Mission Accomplished speech|Mission Accomplished]]" speech was later criticized as premature.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101031006/|title=Mission Not Accomplished|last=Monsivais|first=Pablo M.|date=October 6, 2003|magazine=Time|access-date=June 23, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225062850/http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101031006/|archive-date=February 25, 2008}}</ref> President Bush then appointed [[Paul Bremer]] Presidential Envoy to Iraq on May 9, 2003, and administrator of the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]], his appointment declared him subject to the "authority, direction and control" of Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]].<ref name=memoToBremer>{{cite web|url=http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/operation_and_plans/CPA_ORHA/Doc_128_CPA_Legal_Instruments.pdf|title=CPA legal instruments|work=[[Coalition Provisional Authority]]|author=[[Office of Legal Counsel]]|date=May 22, 2003|location=[[Washington, DC]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126160610/https://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/operation_and_plans/CPA_ORHA/Doc_128_CPA_Legal_Instruments.pdf|archive-date=November 26, 2011|access-date=February 28, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> On December 14, 2003, President Bush announced the capture of [[Saddam Hussein]], after U.S. forces captured him in [[Operation Red Dawn]] and said that Saddam would "face the justice he denied to millions. For the Ba'athist holdouts responsible for the violence, there will be no return to the corrupt power and privilege they once held".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/12/20031214-3.html|title=President Bush Addresses Nation on the Capture of Saddam Hussein Remarks by the President on the Capture of Saddam Hussein The Cabinet Room|date=December 14, 2003|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|access-date=May 21, 2020}}</ref> From 2004 until 2007, the situation in Iraq deteriorated further, with some observers arguing that there was a full-scale [[Iraqi civil war (2006–2008)|civil war in Iraq]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Colin Powell says Iraq in a 'civil war' |url=http://www.truth-out.org/archive/item/67163:colin-powell-says-iraq-in-a-civil-war |publisher=[[Truthout]] |date=November 28, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211072616/http://www.truth-out.org/archive/item/67163%3Acolin-powell-says-iraq-in-a-civil-war |archive-date=February 11, 2007 |access-date=February 17, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Bush's policies met with criticism, including demands domestically to set a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq. The 2006 report of the bipartisan [[Iraq Study Group]], led by [[James Baker]], concluded that the situation in Iraq was "grave and deteriorating". While Bush admitted there were strategic mistakes made in regards to the stability of Iraq,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article764622.ece |title=Bush: we went to war on faulty intelligence |work=[[The Times]] |location=UK |date=December 14, 2005 |access-date=June 23, 2009 |archive-date=February 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211072616/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article764622.ece |url-status=dead}}</ref> he maintained he would not change the overall Iraq strategy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/10/images/20061021_d-0072-515h.html |title=President George W. Bush speaks during a video teleconference with Vice President Dick Cheney, on screen, and military commanders |date=October 21, 2006 |access-date=September 1, 2008 |archive-date=February 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211072616/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/10/images/20061021_d-0072-515h.html |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |work=[[whitehouse.gov]] |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 21, 2006 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=at9X1Z7oilgY |title=Bush Reviews Iraq War Strategy as Violence Mounts (Update3) |access-date=September 1, 2008 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |archive-date=February 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211072616/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=at9X1Z7oilgY |url-status=dead}}</ref> According to [[Iraq Body Count project|Iraq Body Count]], some 251,000 Iraqis have been killed in the civil war following the U.S.-led invasion, including at least 163,841 civilians as of 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iraqbodycount.org/ |title=Iraq Body Count |access-date=September 18, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Bush al-Maliki handshake.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]], July 2006]]

In January 2005, free, democratic elections were held in Iraq for the first time in 50 years.<ref name="iraq votes">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/30/iraq.main/index.html |title=Sporadic violence doesn't deter Iraqi voters |publisher=CNN |date=January 31, 2005 |access-date=May 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225062850/http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/30/iraq.main/index.html |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> According to Iraqi National Security Advisor [[Mowaffak al-Rubaie]], "This is the greatest day in the history of this country."<ref name="iraq votes"/> Bush praised the event as well, saying that the Iraqis "have taken rightful control of their country's destiny".<ref name="iraq votes"/> This led to the election of [[Jalal Talabani]] as president and [[Nouri al-Maliki]] as Prime Minister of Iraq. A referendum to approve a constitution in Iraq was held in October 2005, supported by most [[Shia Islam|Shiites]] and many [[Kurds]].<ref>{{cite news |publisher=Fox News Channel |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/iraq-constitution-passes-in-referendum |title=Iraq Constitution Passes in Referendum |date=October 25, 2005 |access-date=May 31, 2008 |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=August 18, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818114650/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C173349%2C00.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2006, President Bush announced the death of [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]], the leader of [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq]], after U.S. forces killed him in an airstrike and stated that through his every action Zarqawi sought to defeat America and its coalition partners by turning Iraq into a safe haven for al-Qaeda. Bush also stated, "Now Zarqawi has met his end and this violent man will never murder again."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/nea/rls/67696.htm |title=Remarks by President Bush: Justice Delivered to the Most Wanted Terrorist in Iraq |publisher=2001-2009.state.gov|date=June 8, 2006|access-date=May 21, 2020}}</ref>

On January 10, 2007, Bush announced a [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007|surge of 21,500 more troops for Iraq]], as well as a job program for Iraqis, more reconstruction proposals, and $1.2{{nbsp}}billion (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|1.2|2007|r=1}}{{nbsp}}billion in {{Inflation-year|US}}) for these programs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16558652 |title=Admitting strategy error, Bush adds Iraq troops |work=[[NBC News]] |date=January 11, 2007}}</ref> On January 23, 2007, in the [[2007 State of the Union Address]], Bush announced "deploying reinforcements of more than 20,000 additional soldiers and Marines to Iraq".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/stateoftheunion2007.htm|title=George W. Bush Sixth Presidential State of the Union Address delivered 23 January 2007|publisher=www.americanrhetoric.com|access-date=May 20, 2020}}</ref> On May 1, 2007, Bush used his second-ever veto to reject a bill setting a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops,<ref>{{cite news |first1=Sheryl Gay |last1=Stolberg |author2=Zeleny, Jeff |title=Bush Vetoes Bill Tying Iraq Funds to Exit |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 1, 2007 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/washington/02policy.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818114650/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/washington/02policy.html |archive-date=August 18, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> saying the debate over the conflict was "understandable" but insisting that a continued U.S. presence there was crucial.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=CNN |date=March 19, 2008 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/18/bush.iraq/index.html |title=Bush on anniversary: War in Iraq must go on}}</ref>

[[File:Bush surge announcement jan 2007.jpg|thumb|upright|President Bush announces the new strategy on Iraq from the White House Library, January 10, 2007]]
[[File:Bush-anbar.jpg|thumb|right|President Bush and a group of high-ranking generals and advisers at [[Al Asad Airbase]] in Iraq, September 2007]]
[[File:POTUS George W. Bush with Prime Minister of Iraq, Part 2.webm|thumb|left|start=03:30|thumbtime=03:38|[[Bush shoeing incident|Bush "shoeing" incident]] in Baghdad, December 2008]]

In March 2008, Bush praised the Iraqi government's "bold decision" to launch the [[Battle of Basra (2008)|Battle of Basra]] against the [[Peace Companies|Mahdi Army]], calling it "a defining moment in the history of a free Iraq".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/03/28/iraq.main/index.html |title=Baghdad on lockdown as rockets, bombs fly |publisher=CNN |date=March 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818114650/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/03/28/iraq.main/index.html |archive-date=August 18, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He said he would carefully weigh recommendations from his commanding General [[David Petraeus]] and Ambassador [[Ryan Crocker]] about how to proceed after the end of the military buildup in the summer of 2008. He also praised the Iraqis' legislative achievements, including a pension law, a revised de-Baathification law, a new budget, an amnesty law, and a provincial powers measure that, he said, set the stage for the [[2009 Iraqi governorate elections|Iraqi elections]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/27/bush.iraq/index.html |title=Bush: Baghdad's move against Shiite militias a 'bold decision' |publisher=CNN |date=March 27, 2008 |archive-date=August 18, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818114650/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/27/bush.iraq/index.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> By July 2008, American troop deaths had reached their lowest number since the war began,<ref name="cuts-nyt">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/world/middleeast/01iraq.html |title=Citing Stability in Iraq, Bush Sees Troop Cuts |date=August 1, 2008 |access-date=August 3, 2008 |newspaper=The New York Times |author1=Myers, Steven Lee |author2=Sabrina Tavernise |archive-date=August 18, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818114650/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/world/middleeast/01iraq.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> and due to increased stability in Iraq, Bush announced the withdrawal of additional American forces.<ref name="cuts-nyt"/> During his last visit in Iraq in December 2008, Iraqi journalist [[Muntadhar al-Zaidi]] [[Bush shoeing incident|threw both of his shoes to Bush]] amid official press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7783325.stm Bush shoe-ing worst Arab insult] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530150415/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7783325.stm |date=May 30, 2012}}, BBC, December 16, 2008.</ref> Al-Zaidi yelled the strikes on Bush as "farewell kiss" and "for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq."<ref>{{cite news|title = Shoes thrown at Bush on Iraq trip|work = BBC News|date = December 14, 2008|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7782422.stm|access-date = December 15, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081215055005/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7782422.stm|archive-date = December 15, 2008|url-status = live|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

In March 2010, [[Center for Public Integrity]] released a report that President Bush's administration had made more than 900 false pretenses in a two-year period about alleged threat of Iraq against the United States, as his rationale to engage war in Iraq.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22794451 "Study: Bush led U.S. to war on 'false pretenses'"] . Retrieved on March 22, 2010</ref> Senior war crimes prosecutor [[Ben Ferencz|Benjamin B. Ferencz]] has suggested that Bush should be tried in the [[International Criminal Court]] for '269 war crime charges' related to the [[Iraq War]].<ref>Glantz, A.: "[http://us.oneworld.net/article/view/138319/1/ Bush and Saddam Should Both Stand Trial, Says Nuremberg Prosecutor] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401072801/http://us.oneworld.net/article/view/138319/1/ |date=April 1, 2013}}", OneWorld U.S., August 25, 2006. URL last accessed December 12, 2006.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Haas |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Haas (political scientist)|year=2008 |title=George W. Bush, War Criminal?: The Bush Administration's Liability for 269 War Crimes |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-36499-0}}
</ref>

[[File:President Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Iraq, Meets with Prime Minister Maliki in Baghdad.jpg|thumb|President Bush walks with Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]] at the [[Embassy of the United States, Baghdad|U.S. Embassy]] in [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]], June 13, 2006. During his unannounced trip to Iraq, President Bush thanked the Prime Minister, telling him, "I'm convinced you will succeed, and so will the world."]]

Criticism also came from the governments of many countries, notably from many on the [[United Nations Security Council]], who argued that the war broke international law.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldpress.org/specials/iraq/ |title=International Law: War in Iraq |author=Rachel S. Taylor |publisher=World Press |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref> (Article VI of the [[Constitution of the United States|U.S. Constitution]] states that "all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land" and that "all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution", while Article III states that the judicial power of the US Supreme Court extends to "all{{nbsp}}... Treaties made".  This makes a violation of international law also a violation of the "supreme Law of The Land" of America, and withholds immunity from government officials, including the president.)  See [[Governmental positions on the Iraq War prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq|Worldwide government positions on war on Iraq]] and [[United Nations Security Council and the Iraq War|The UN Security Council and the Iraq war]].  For its part, the U.S. administration soon presented a list of countries called the [[coalition of the willing]] which supported its position. A later aspect of the criticism has been the death toll in Iraq; over 100,000 Iraqi civilians and 4000 U.S. soldiers have been killed since the beginning of the war mainly during the ensuing [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–06)|insurgency]] and [[Civil war in Iraq (2006-07)|civil war]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iraqbodycount.org|title=Iraq Body Count|work=iraqbodycount.org}}</ref><ref>[http://icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx Operation Iraqi Freedom] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321080348/http://icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx |date=March 21, 2011}} iCasualties</ref> In 2004, public assertions by Bush's former [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]] [[Paul H. O'Neill|Paul O'Neill]] and [[counter-terrorism]] expert [[Richard A. Clarke|Richard Clarke]] raised questions about the credibility of the Bush administration's pre-war claims. Both presented evidence that questioned how focused the Bush administration was on combating [[Al-Qaeda]] (which was operating out of [[Afghanistan]], not Iraq) before September 11. Specifically, O'Neill presented classified and unclassified documents indicating that planning for a war with Iraq and the subsequent occupation began at the first [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] meeting and continued with each meeting. Clarke presented testimony and witnesses concerning how Bush and much of his cabinet tried to find excuses to attack Iraq immediately after September 11, such as associating it with September 11, claiming that [[Saddam Hussein]] possessed [[Weapon of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]], and claiming that Iraq posed an [[Self-defence in international law|imminent threat]], which implied that a war against Iraq would be legal by Article 51<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/chapter7.htm|title=Charter of the United Nations: CHAPTER VII|publisher=[[United Nations]]|access-date=July 4, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070710225549/http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/chapter7.htm |archive-date = July 10, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> of the [[Charter of the United Nations|U.N. Charter]].

Testimony at the [[9/11 Commission|National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States]] (ongoing during March 2004) has included claims of how much of the Bush administration's immediate post-9/11 emphasis on Iraq was appropriate and proportional to the overall picture of terrorism, especially in light of the administration's subsequent decision to pursue military action in Afghanistan first, the fact that organizations accused of 9/11 are in Afghanistan, not Iraq, and that no links have been found between these organizations and Saddam Hussein.  The commission's report is expected to be released before the presidential election.  On June 16, 2004, the USA's [[9/11 Commission]] filed an initial report on its findings, stating that it found "no credible evidence" of a "collaborative relationship" between pre-invasion [[Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda link allegations|Iraq and Al-Qaeda]] or of Iraqi involvement in the [[September 11 attacks|9/11 attacks]].

The inability of the U.S. to find [[Weapon of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]] in Iraq has led to greater domestic criticism of the administration's Iraq policy. Several of the statements that Bush and his administration made leading up to the war in Iraq, especially those involving claims of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, have been criticized as misleading or inaccurate. Particularly controversial was [[Niger uranium forgeries|Bush's claim]] in the [[2003 State of the Union Address]] that [[British intelligence agencies|British Intelligence]] had discovered that Iraq was seeking to buy [[uranium]] from Africa. Officials and diplomats disputed the evidence for this claim, especially after a document describing an attempted purchase from [[Niger]], which was presented to the United Nations Security Council by [[Colin Powell]], was found to be a forgery. This led to a public embarrassment for [[George Tenet]], the director of the CIA, as well as the [[Valerie Plame]] scandal. Much criticism on these issues has come from political opponents of Bush.  The Iraq war was a significant issue in the 2004 [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[United States presidential primary|primary]], including the campaigns of [[Howard Dean]], [[John Kerry]], [[Al Sharpton]], and [[Dennis Kucinich]].

However, State Department documents declassified in 2006 cite hundreds of [[Weapon of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]] found in Iraq. Nonetheless, it was soon quickly revealed that the particular weapons in question were WMD Saddam had obtained during the Iran-Iraq war, which had long since become stale and non-functional<ref name=ReportWMD>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,200499,00.html|title=Report: Hundreds of WMD Found in Iraq|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=June 22, 2006|access-date=July 4, 2007}}</ref>

On March 24, 2004, Bush joked about the weapons of mass destruction issue at the annual [[White House Correspondents' Association|White House Correspondents' Dinner]]. While showing slides of himself searching the [[Oval Office]], he joked, "those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere{{nbsp}}... nope, no weapons over there{{nbsp}}... maybe under here?"  Some found it tasteless of him to be joking about the issue. Others defended the joke as being in line with the self-deprecatory sort of humor that has come to be expected of presidents when they speak at that event.

On September 26, 2006, Bush declassified the key judgments of the April 2006 [[National Intelligence Estimate]].  The estimate, titled ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20060930220648/http://www.dni.gov/press_releases/Declassified_NIE_Key_Judgments.pdf Trends in Global Terrorism: Implications for the United States]'', states the following: "We assess that the Iraq jihad is shaping a new generation of terrorist leaders and operatives; perceived jihadist success there would inspire more fighters to continue the struggle elsewhere.  The Iraq conflict has become the 'cause celebre' for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of US involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement. Should jihadists leaving Iraq perceive themselves, and be perceived, to have failed, we judge fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on the fight."

On December 1, 2008, during an interview with [[ABC World News Tonight|ABC World News]], Bush stated "The biggest regret of all the presidency has to have been the intelligence failure in [[Iraq]]. A lot of people put their reputations on the line and said the [[Weapon of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]] is a reason to remove [[Saddam Hussein]]". "I think I was unprepared for war. In other words, I didn't campaign and say, 'Please vote for me, I'll be able to handle an attack'{{nbsp}}... I didn't anticipate war." and on early withdrawal of troops, "It was a tough call, particularly, since a lot of people were advising for me to get out of Iraq, or pull back in Iraq".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSN01511412|title=Bush calls flawed Iraq intelligence biggest regret|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=December 1, 2008 | first=Tabassum | last=Zakaria | date=December 1, 2008}}</ref>

On December 14, 2008, during a [[Press conference|joint press conference]] with Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]], Bush was [[Muntadhar al-Zaidi#Shoe throwing incident|publicly insulted]] when an Iraqi reporter threw his shoes at the President as Bush and al-Maliki were about to shake hands. The offender, later identified as television correspondent [[Muntadhar al-Zaidi|Muntadar al-Zeidi]],<ref name="AP">{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iTki_d652tvHLYQvaRlelGq64GoQD952T2IG0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216064734/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iTki_d652tvHLYQvaRlelGq64GoQD952T2IG0|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 16, 2008|title= Bush Notebook: Bush ducks shoes in Baghdad|publisher=The [[Associated Press]] |access-date=December 15, 2008}}</ref> leapt from his chair and quickly hurled first one shoe and then the other at the president, who was about 20 feet away. Bush successfully dodged both projectiles which were aimed at his head. Zeidi worked for [[Al-Baghdadia TV|Al-Baghdadia]] television, an Iraqi-owned station based in [[Cairo]].<ref name="AP"/> He was wrestled to the ground by security officials and then hauled away, moaning as they left the room. "So what if the guy threw a shoe at me?" Bush said, comparing the action to political protests in the United States.<ref name="AP"/> Al-Baghdadia's Baghdad manager told the [[Associated Press]] he had no idea what prompted his reporter to go on the attack.<ref name="AP"/> The Iraqi government has demanded an on-air apology from his employer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7783608.stm|title= Iraq rally for Bush shoe attacker|work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=December 15, 2008 | date=December 15, 2008}}</ref>

===Israel===
{{Main|Israel–United States relations#George W. Bush administration (2001–2009)}}
[[File:Red Sea Summit in Aqaba.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Mahmoud Abbas]], President Bush, and [[Israel]]i Prime Minister [[Ariel Sharon]] after reading statement to the press during the closing moments of the Red Sea Summit in [[Aqaba]], [[Jordan]], June 4, 2003]]
[[File:Ehud Olmert and George Bush 2.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister [[Ehud Olmert]], May 2006]]

President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister [[Ariel Sharon]] established good relations in their March and June 2001 meetings. On October 4, 2001, shortly after the [[September 11 attacks]], Sharon accused the Bush administration of appeasing the Palestinians at Israel's expense in a bid for Arab support for the US anti-terror campaign. The White House said that the remark was unacceptable. Rather than apologize for the remark, Sharon said that the United States failed to understand him. Also, the United States criticized the Israeli practice of [[Targeted killings by Israel Defense Forces|assassinating]] Palestinians believed to be engaged in terrorism, which appeared to some Israelis to be inconsistent with the US policy of pursuing [[Osama bin Laden]] "dead or alive".

In 2003, in the middle of the [[Al-Aqsa Intifada|Second Intifada]] and a sharp economic downturn in Israel, the US provided Israel with $9 billion in conditional loan guarantees made available through 2011 and negotiated each year at the US–Israel Joint Economic Development Group.

President Bush noted in an April 14, 2002, Memorandum which came to be called "the Bush [[Road map for peace|Roadmap]]" (and which established the parameters for subsequent Israel-Palestinian negotiations) the need to take into account changed "realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centers", as well as Israel's security concerns, asserting that "It is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be full and complete return to the [[1949 Armistice Agreements|armistice]] lines of 1949."<ref>[[Elliott Abrams]], ''Tested by Zion: The Bush Administration and the Arab-Israeli Conflict'' (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013)', pp. 105ff.</ref> He later emphasized that, within these parameters, details of the borders were subjects for negotiations between the parties.

Bush had maintained a desire to resume the peace process in [[Israel]], and had openly proclaimed his desire for a [[State of Palestine|Palestinian state]] to be created before 2005. He outlined a [[road map for peace]] in cooperation with Russia, the [[European Union]], and the [[United Nations]], which featured compromises that had to be made by both sides before Palestinian statehood could become a reality.

One particular proposal was his insistence on new Palestinian leadership; a stance that saw the appointment of the first ever [[Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Prime Minister]] on April 29, 2003. Bush had denounced [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] leader [[Yasser Arafat]] for continued support of violence and militant groups. The road map for peace stalled within months after more violence and the resignation of the new Palestinian Prime Minister, [[Mahmoud Abbas]].{{citation needed|date=August 2011}}

By the end of 2003, neither side had done what was outlined in the plan. In April 2004 Bush announced that he endorsed Israeli Prime Minister [[Ariel Sharon]]'s plan to disengage from the [[Gaza Strip]] but retain Jewish settlements in the [[West Bank]].  He also announced agreement with Sharon's policy of denying the [[right of return]]. This led to condemnation from Palestinian President [[Yasser Arafat]], Arab and European governments<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,11538,1195710,00.html |title=Blair condemns Israel and opens rift with US |date= April 20, 2004 |author=Ewen MacAskill, Patrick Wintour |work=The Guardian |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref> and was a major departure from previous U.S. foreign policy in the region. Egyptian President [[Hosni Mubarak]] commented Bush's policies had led to an 'unprecedented hatred' of Arabs for the U.S.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,3604,1197102,00.html |title=Arab ally snubs Bush amid 'unprecedented hatred' for US |date=April 21, 2004 |author=Ewen MacAskill, Suzanne Goldenberg |work=The Guardian |access-date=September 16, 2012}}</ref>

During the [[2006 Lebanon War]], On July 14, 2006, the US Congress was notified of a potential sale of $210 million worth of jet fuel to Israel. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency noted that the sale of the JP-8 fuel, should it be completed, will "enable Israel to maintain the operational capability of its aircraft inventory", and that "The jet fuel will be consumed while the aircraft is in use to keep peace and security in the region".<ref>{{cite web|title=Defense Security Cooperation Agency news release |date=July 14, 2006 |quote=Transmittal No. 06-40 |url=http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2006/Israel_06-40.pdf |publisher=Dsca.mil |access-date=November 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327050219/http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2006/Israel_06-40.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2009}}</ref> It was reported on July 24 that the United States was in the process of providing Israel with "[[bunker buster]]" bombs, which would allegedly be used to target the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah guerilla group and destroy its trenches.<ref>[http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L24887074.htm "Israel to get U.S. 'bunker buster' bombs – report"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060808023724/http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L24887074.htm |date=August 8, 2006 }}, [[Reuters]], July 24, 2006</ref>

American media also questioned whether Israel violated an agreement not to use cluster bombs on civilian targets. Although many of the cluster bombs used were advanced M-85 munitions developed by [[IMI Systems|Israel Military Industries]], Israel also used older munitions purchased from the US. Evidence during the conflict, hitting civilian areas, although the civilian population had mostly fled. Israel asserts that civilian damage was unavoidable, as Hezbollah ensconced itself in highly populated areas. Simultaneously, indiscriminate Hezbollah rocket fire turned many of its northern towns into virtual ghost towns, in violation of international law. Many bomblets remained undetonated after the war, causing hazard for Lebanese civilians. Israel said that it had not violated any international law because cluster bombs are not illegal and were used only on military targets.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5286352.stm |title=US probes Israel cluster bomb use|access-date=August 29, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829211915/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5286352.stm |archive-date=August 29, 2006}}</ref>

On July 15, 2006, the United Nations Security Council again rejected pleas from Lebanon that it call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The Israeli newspaper ''Haaretz'' reported that the US was the only member of out the 15-nation UN body to oppose any council action at all.<ref name="DN 2006-07-17">{{cite news|url=http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/17/1423239 |publisher=Democracy Now! |title=Headlines for July 17, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060802090436/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06%2F07%2F17%2F1423239 |archive-date= August 2, 2006}}</ref>

On July 19, 2006, the Bush administration rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire.<ref name="2006-07-19">{{cite news|url=http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/19/1345246 |publisher=Democracy Now! |title=Headlines for July 19, 2006 |date=July 19, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060802091511/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06%2F07%2F19%2F1345246 |archive-date= August 2, 2006}}</ref> Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] said that certain conditions had to be met, not specifying what they were. [[John Bolton]], US Ambassador to the United Nations, rejected the call for a ceasefire, on the grounds that such an action addressed the conflict only superficially: "The notion that you just declare a ceasefire and act as if that is going to solve the problem, I think is simplistic."<ref name="DN 2006-07-20">{{cite news|url=http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/20/1434244 |publisher=Democracy Now! |title=Headlines for July 20, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060802092136/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06%2F07%2F20%2F1434244 |archive-date= August 2, 2006}}</ref>

On July 26, 2006, foreign ministers from the US, Europe, and the Middle East that met in Rome vowed "to work immediately to reach with the utmost urgency a ceasefire that puts an end to the current violence and hostilities". However, the US maintained strong support for the Israeli campaign, and the conference's results were reported to have fallen short of Arab and European leaders' expectations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rome talks yield no plan to end Lebanon fighting |date=July 26, 2006 |work=Reuters |url=http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-07-26T185440Z_01_L26848349_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-MEETING.xml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060710034338/http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=topNews |archive-date=July 10, 2006}}</ref>

After the [[2006 Lebanon War|2006 Lebanon war]] ended, President Bush said that Hezbollah was responsible for starting the war, and that the group suffered a defeat at the hands of Israel.<ref name=bushspeech>{{cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/08/20060814-3.html|title=President Discusses Foreign Policy During Visit to State Department|date=August 14, 2006|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|access-date=July 13, 2008}}</ref> He dismissed claims of victory by Hezbollah leaders, asking: "how can you claim victory when at one time you were a state within a state, safe within southern Lebanon, and now you're going to be replaced by a Lebanese Army and an international force?"<ref name=bushspeech /> In his 2010 memoir, ''[[Decision Points]]'', Bush wrote that Israel had weakened Hezbollah and secured its northern border, but that Israel's "shaky military performance" cost it international credibility. He also said that Israel "mishandled its opportunity", and that some of the sites it attacked were of "questionable military value".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=194538|title=Abbas was ready to back Olmert deal, Bush memoir says|author=Hilary Leila Krieger|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=November 9, 2010|access-date=November 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110230454/http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=194538|archive-date=November 10, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2008, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that the U.S. vetoed Israeli Prime Minister [[Ehud Olmert]]'s plan to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities the previous May.<ref>{{cite web|last=Steele|first=Jonathan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/sep/25/iran.israelandthepalestinians1|title=Israel asked US for green light to bomb nuclear sites in Iran|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=September 25, 2008|access-date=June 21, 2017}}</ref>

===Jordan===
{{Main|Jordan–United States relations|Jordan–United States Free Trade Agreement}}
[[File:President George W. Bush and King Abdullah of Jordan hold a joint press conference in the Oval Office.jpg|thumb|President Bush and King [[Abdullah II of Jordan]], September 2001]]

On September 28, 2001, President Bush signed the [[Jordan–United States Free Trade Agreement]] and it was the first [[free trade agreement]] (FTA) the United States signed with an Arab country (and the fourth FTA overall behind [[Israel]], [[Canada]], and [[Mexico]]).<ref name="bessma">{{cite journal|last=Momani |first=Bessma |title=A Middle East Free Trade Area: Economic Interdependence and Peace Considered |journal=The World Economy |date=November 2007 |volume=30 |issue=11 |pages=1682–1700 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-9701.2007.01036.x |s2cid=155053491 |url=http://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/~bmomani/WE-%20MEFTA.pdf |access-date=June 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311234338/http://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/~bmomani/WE-%20MEFTA.pdf |archive-date=March 11, 2012}}</ref>  However, [[Abdullah II of Jordan|King Abdullah]] advised Washington against the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 Iraq War]], but later allegedly gave the invading coalition some degree of covert and tacit support, despite the overwhelming opinion of his own public.<ref>Rick Fawn and Raymond Hinnebusch ''The Iraq Causes and Consequences War'' (US, Colorado: [[Lynne Rienner Publishers]]:2006, p. 143)</ref> The Jordanian government publicly opposed the war against Iraq. The King stressed to the United States and European Union that a diplomatic solution, in accordance with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1284|1284]] (1999) and [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1409|1409]] (2002), was the only appropriate model for resolving the conflict between Iraq and the UN.<ref>Rick Fawn and Raymond Hinnebusch ''The Iraq Causes and Consequences War'' (US, Colorado: [[Lynne Rienner Publishers]]:2006, p. 144)</ref> In August 2002 he told the Washington Post that an attempt to invade Iraq would be a "tremendous mistake" and that it could "throw the whole area into turmoil".<ref>G. Kessler and P. Slevin, "Abdullah: Foreign Oppose Attack; Jordanian King to Urge Bush to Focus on Peace in Mideast, Not Invasion of Iraq", ''The Washington Post'', August 1, 2002</ref>

===Kuwait===
{{Main|Kuwait–United States relations}}

Kuwait was the only major regional ally that supported the U.S.-led [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 Invasion of Iraq]], because Kuwait had hostility towards Saddam's Iraq stemmed from the events surrounding the first Persian [[Gulf War]]. The public appeared to consider Saddam to be as much of a threat in 2003 as he was in the past, and were particularly interested in attempts to repatriate many Kuwaiti citizens who had disappeared during the Gulf War, and were presumably languishing in Iraqi jails up until Saddam's fall from power.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24537-2003Jan21.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=August 29, 2017 }}</ref> Kuwait also allowed the U.S. to launch the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] from the U.S. military bases stationed in Kuwait.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/18/sprj.irq.deployment/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030306123221/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/02/18/sprj.irq.deployment/index.html|url-status=live|archive-date=March 6, 2003|title=U.S. has 100,000 troops in Kuwait 'Ready to conduct an operation'|publisher=CNN|date=February 18, 2003|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> However, Kuwait did not deploy forces to the [[Iraq War]]. In 2004, President Bush designated Kuwait as a [[Major non-NATO ally]]<ref>{{cite news|title=US tightens military relationship with Kuwait|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/APAB/lib00581,1006A9E4C0DAF1EC.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129174958/http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/APAB/lib00581,1006A9E4C0DAF1EC.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2013|access-date=July 7, 2012|date=January 15, 2004|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}{{subscription required}}</ref>

===Lebanon===
{{Main|Lebanon–United States relations}}

President Bush stated Lebanon "can serve as a great example (to other countries) of what is possible" in the Middle East".<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://editorials.voa.gov/a/a-41-2006-04-20-voa3-83106407/1479667.html|title=Bush On U.S. – Lebanon Relations|publisher=Voice of America|date=April 19, 2006|access-date=May 25, 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

In April 2006, following a meeting at the White House with Lebanese Prime Minister [[Fouad Siniora|Fuad Siniora]], Mr. Bush said that the United States "strongly supports a free and independent and sovereign Lebanon".<ref name="auto"/> He recalled the 2005 [[Cedar Revolution]], in which hundreds of thousands of Lebanese protested against and forced the withdrawal of Syrian troops from their country.<ref name="auto"/>

Prime Minister Siniora stated "We took great joy in seeing the Cedar Revolution. We understand that the hundreds of thousands of people who took to the street to express their desire to be free required courage, and we support the desire of the people to have a government responsive to their needs and a government that is free, truly free."<ref name="auto"/>

President Bush recalled Lebanon's "great tradition" of serving "as a model of entrepreneurship and prosperity".<ref name="auto"/> He also called for a full investigation into the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister [[Rafic Hariri]], which helped spur the Cedar Revolution.<ref name="auto"/>

Prime Minister Siniora said the United States "has been of great support" to Lebanon, which has gone through "major changes" in the past year-and-a-half"<ref name="auto"/> and that "Lebanon has really been committing itself that we want the change to happen to in a democratic and a peaceful manner, but at the same time, to really stay course on course; that we are there to meet the expectations of the people to have a united, liberal, free country, and, at the same time, prosperous economy.{{nbsp}}... The United States has been of great support to Lebanon. I am really convinced that President Bush and the United States will stand beside Lebanon to have Lebanon stay as a free, democratic, united, and sovereign state."<ref name="auto"/>

"Out of the tough times [Lebanon] has been through", said President Bush, "will rise a state that shows that it's possible for people of religious difference to live side-by-side in peace; to show that it's possible for people to put aside past histories to live together in.{{nbsp}}... peace and hope and opportunity."<ref name="auto"/>

===Libya===
{{Main|Libya–United States relations}}

After its public announcement on December 19, 2003, Libya announced its intention to rid itself of WMD and MTCR-class missile programs. the Gaddafi government cooperated with the U.S., the U.K., the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]], and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons toward these objectives. Libya also signed the IAEA Additional Protocol and has become a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention.<ref name="auto5">{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/libya/forrel-us.htm|title=U.S.-Libyan Relations|publisher=www.globalsecurity.org|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref>

In recognition of these actions, the U.S. under the Bush administration began the process of normalizing relations with Libya. The U.S. terminated the applicability of the [[Iran and Libya Sanctions Act]] to Libya and President Bush signed an Executive Order on September 20, 2004, terminating the national emergency with respect to Libya and ending IEEPA-based economic sanctions. This action had the effect of unblocking assets blocked under the Executive Order sanctions. Restrictions on cargo aviation and third-party code-sharing have been lifted, as have restrictions on passenger aviation. Certain export controls remain in place.<ref name="auto5"/>

U.S. diplomatic personnel reopened the U.S. Interest Section in Tripoli on February 8, 2004. In the same month, the U.S. State Department lifted the 23-year travel ban on Libya. The U.S. Interest Section was upgraded to a U.S. Liaison Office on June 28, 2004, and to a full embassy on May 31, 2006. The establishment in 2005 of an American School in Tripoli demonstrates the increased presence of Americans in Libya, and the continuing normalization of bilateral relations. Libya re-established its diplomatic presence in Washington with the opening of an Interest Section on July 8, 2004, which was subsequently upgraded to a Liaison Office in December 2004 and to a full embassy on May 31, 2006.<ref name="auto5"/>

On May 15, 2006, the [[United States Department of State|US State Department]] announced its intention to rescind Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in recognition of the fact that Libya had met the statutory requirements for such a move: it had not provided any support for acts of international terrorism in the preceding six-month period, and had provided assurances that it would not do so in the future.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} On June 30, 2006, the U.S. rescinded Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.<ref name = "Schwartz 2007">{{Cite journal | last = Schwartz | first = Jonathan B. | year = 2007 | title = Dealing with a 'Rogue State': The Libya Precedent | journal = [[American Journal of International Law]] | volume = 101 | number = 3 | pages = 553–580 | doi = 10.1017/S0002930000029791 | jstor = 4492935 | s2cid = 141633095}} See p.{{nbsp}}553.</ref> In July 2007, Mr. Gene Cretz was nominated by President Bush as ambassador to Libya.  The Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. Senate held Cretz's confirmation hearing on Wednesday, September 25, 2008.  The Libyan government satisfied its responsibility and paid the remaining amount of money it owed (total of $1.5 billion) to the victims of several acts of terrorism on Friday, October 31, 2008. That same year, the United States and Libya also signed a bilateral Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation.<ref name="auto4">{{cite journal|last=Dolan|first=Bridget M.|title=Science and Technology Agreements as Tools for Science Diplomacy|journal=Science & Diplomacy|date=December 10, 2012|volume=1|issue=4|url=http://www.sciencediplomacy.org/article/2012/science-and-technology-agreements-tools-for-science-diplomacy}}</ref>

===Morocco===
{{Main|Morocco–United States relations|Morocco–United States Free Trade Agreement}}
[[File:President George W. Bush talks with His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco in the Oval Office.jpg|thumb|President Bush and King [[Mohammed VI of Morocco]], April 2002]]

In the 21st century, both countries have become close allies in the global "war on terror". Morocco was among the first Arab and Islamic states to denounce the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States and declare solidarity with the American people in fighting terrorism.<ref name="StateNotes1">[https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5431.htm#relations U.S. Department of State. Background Note: Morocco.] Accessed March 29, 2010.</ref> After the [[September 11 attacks]], Morocco has been instrumental in supporting the United States. For example, King Mohammed VI presided over a mass service in support of the victims of the September 11 attacks. Additionally, security cooperation between the two countries is well developed. King Mohammed VI collaborates with U.S. intelligence and security officials in providing intelligence and preventing [[2002 Strait of Gibraltar terror plot|terrorist attacks in the Straits of Gibraltar]]. In January 2004, during the Bush administration, Morocco was designated a [[major non-NATO ally]] as a reward for its collaboration.<ref>{{cite news|title=US rewards Morocco for terror aid|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3776413.stm|access-date=July 7, 2012|newspaper=[[BBC News]]|date=June 4, 2004}}</ref> Morocco remains one of America's oldest and closest allies, a status affirmed by Morocco's zero-tolerance policy towards [[Al-Qaeda]] and their affiliated groups. Morocco also assisted the U.S. [[Central Intelligence Agency]] with questioning al-Qaeda members captured in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere

Morocco also plays a pivotal role in the [[Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Initiative]] to contain [[Salafi movement|Salafist]] groups in the Saharan and in the Sahel regions of West Africa.<ref name="Rosenblum, Jennifer 2008, p. 340">Rosenblum, Jennifer & Zartman, William. "The Far West of the Near East" in ''The Foreign Policies of Arab States'', Korany & Dessouki eds. New York: American University in Cairo Press, 2008, p. 340</ref> Likewise, when [[Casablanca]] was the victim of [[2003 Casablanca bombings|terrorist bombings]] on May 16, 2003, the U.S. government offered Morocco the full resources of its military and intelligence community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moroccanamericantrade.com/relations.cfm |title=Morocco - U.S. Relations |access-date=October 26, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051026151806/http://www.moroccanamericantrade.com/relations.cfm |archive-date=October 26, 2005 }}</ref> Furthermore, the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] has utilized Morocco as a source for recruiting [[Arabic]]-speaking [[Espionage|spies]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122253014 |last=Whitelaw |first=Kevin |title=Risky Business: U.S. Must Rely on Foreign Spies |work=National Public Radio |date=January 5, 2010 |access-date=January 11, 2010 }}</ref>

The United States and Morocco signed a [[Morocco–United States Free Trade Agreement|Free Trade Agreement]] (FTA) on June 15, 2004, which went into effect on January 1, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/morocco-fta|title=Morocco Free Trade Agreement |website=[[Office of the United States Trade Representative|United States Trade Representative]] |language=en|access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/morocco-fta/final-text|title=Final Text {{!}} United States Trade Representative|website=ustr.gov|language=en|access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref> The Kingdom of Morocco submitted an official statement on the matter for a U.S. House of Representatives congressional hearing in June 2007. It read, in part, "Morocco is pleased to see that the United States has over the last several years very substantially increased its engagement in the Maghreb. Morocco is a longtime partner of the United States and our experience with your great nation over the last two centuries has persuaded us that there is much that we can accomplish together. The FTA between Morocco and USA is a great opportunity for US companies to increase their market shares".<ref>[http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/35873.pdf Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives. "U.S. Policy Challenges in North Africa"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213215438/http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/35873.pdf |date=December 13, 2012}} Serial No. 110-76, June 6, 2007, p. 23. Accessed March 21, 2010</ref> The FTA also stipulates broad labor protections for both countries, with a dual focus on transparency, and maintaining said protections while promoting economic growth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/agreements/fta/morocco/asset_upload_file118_3819.pdf|title=FTA Preamble}}</ref> The explicitly defined protections laid out in the Labor section of the agreement are essentially the general rights promoted by the International Labor Organization in their 1998 [https://www.ilo.org/declaration/thedeclaration/textdeclaration/lang--en/index.htm declaration]; however, the Labor section also provides a framework by which the countries may cooperate to extend labor rights further. The developments listed as potentially pursuable include the establishment of "social safety net programs",  regulation of "working conditions", and "timely" creation of "labor market statistics".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/agreements/fta/morocco/asset_upload_file118_3819.pdf|title=Labor Section}}</ref> In 2008, U.S. direct investment in Morocco was about 7%, and U.S. aid to Morocco was about 4%.<ref name="Rosenblum, Jennifer 2008, p. 340"/> In 2017, US direct investment in Morocco had risen to 21.4%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.portal.santandertrade.com/establish-overseas/morocco/foreign-investment|title=Morocco: Foreign Investment}}</ref>

===Oman===
{{Main|Oman–United States relations|Oman–United States Free Trade Agreement}}

On November 15, 2004, the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] notified the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] of its intent to sign a [[trade agreement]] with the [[Middle East]]ern [[List of Muslim states and dynasties|Sultanate]] of [[Oman]]. On January 19, 2006, the two countries signed the [[Oman–United States Free Trade Agreement|U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement]] (OFTA), which was part of the Bush administration's strategy to create a [[U.S.–Middle East Free Trade Area|US - Middle East Free Trade Area]] (MEFTA) by 2013.

On June 29, 2006, the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] passed OFTA by a vote of 60–34,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/s3569 |title=S. 3569 (109th) |access-date=November 28, 2016 |author=109th Congress (2006) |date=June 26, 2006 |work=Legislation |publisher=GovTrack.us |quote=United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act}}</ref> the fewest "aye" votes in the Senate of any trade bill other than [[Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement|CAFTA]]. On July 20, 2006, the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] passed OFTA by a vote of 221–205, with 7 abstentions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/hr5684 |title=H.R. 5684 (109th) |access-date=November 28, 2016 |author=109th Congress (2006) |date=June 26, 2006 |work=Legislation |publisher=GovTrack.us |quote=United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act}}</ref> For procedural reasons, the Senate took a second vote on September 19, 2006, and the bill's implementing bill was passed 62–32, with 6 abstentions.<ref>[http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00250 Senate roll call vote] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060922220222/http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00250 |date=September 22, 2006}}</ref> In all, the Senate approved the bill 63–37, since all senators voted either "aye" or "nay" in one of the two votes.

President Bush signed the bill into law on September 26, 2006.<ref>[http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=908497 Kuwait News Agency story] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195909/http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=908497 |date=September 27, 2007}}</ref>
And on December 29, 2008, signed the proclamation to implement the agreement with effective date of January 1, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/12/20081229-2.html|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|title=To Implement the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement}}</ref>

===Qatar===
{{Main|Qatar–United States relations}}

President Bush visited Qatar in June 2003, where he met with Emir [[Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani]]. then Visited [[United States Central Command|U.S. Central Command]] headquarters and addressed U.S. military personnel, becoming the first U.S. president to visit the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidentialrhetoric.com/speeches/06.05.03.html |title=George W. Bush – Remarks to Troops – Sayliyah, Qatar |publisher=Presidential Rhetoric |date=June 5, 2003 |access-date=February 13, 2012}}</ref>

===Saudi Arabia===
{{Main|Saudi Arabia–United States relations}}
[[File:Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah and George W. Bush.jpg|thumb|President Bush and Saudi [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|Crown Prince Abdullah]], April 2002. Saudi Arabia is a [[Saudi Arabia–United States relations|key U.S. ally]] in the Middle East.]]

President Bush had close and strong relations with senior members of the [[House of Saud|Saudi royal family]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Henderson|first=Simon|title=The Long Divorce; How the U.S.-Saudi relationship grew cold under Barack Obama's watch.|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/04/19/the-long-divorce-saudi-arabia-obama/|work=April 19, 2016|date=April 19, 2016 |publisher=[[Foreign Policy]]|access-date=April 25, 2016}}</ref>  Saudi Arabia engaged the Washington, D.C., [[lobbying]] firm of [[Squire Patton Boggs|Patton Boggs]] as registered foreign agents in the wake of the public relations disaster when knowledge of the identities of suspected hijackers became known. They also hired the PR and lobbying firm [[Qorvis]] for $14 million a year. Qorvis engaged in a PR frenzy that publicized the "9/11 Commission finding that there was 'no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded [Al Qaeda]'—while omitting the report's conclusion that 'Saudi Arabia has been a problematic ally in combating Islamic extremism.'"<ref name="Putting Lipstick on a Dictator">{{cite magazine|last=Kurlantzick|first=Joshua|title=Putting Lipstick on a Dictator|magazine=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]|date=May 7, 2007|url=https://www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/2007/05/extreme_makeover.html|access-date=August 22, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/02/world/middleeast/02lobby.html?scp=1&sq=arab%20lobby&st=cse|work=The New York Times|first=Eric|last=Lichtblau|title=Arab Uprisings Put U.S. Lobbyists in Uneasy Spot|date=March 1, 2011}}</ref>

According to at least one journalist ([[John R. Bradley]]), the ruling Saudi family was caught between depending for military defense on the United States, while also depending for domestic support on the [[Wahhabism|Wahhabi]] religious establishment, which as a matter of religious doctrine "ultimately seeks the West's destruction", including that of its ruler's purported ally—the US.<ref name=bradley-expo-213
>{{cite book|last=Bradley|first=John R.|title=Saudi Arabia Exposed : Inside a Kingdom in Crisis|url=https://archive.org/details/saudiarabiaexpos00brad|url-access=registration|date=2005|publisher=Palgrave
|page=[https://archive.org/details/saudiarabiaexpos00brad/page/213 213]
|isbn=9781403964335|quote=The ruling Al-Saud family has long sought{{nbsp}}... to be the ally of the West, especially of the United States, while both influencing it and keeping its corrupting influences at bay, and simultaneously backing a Wahhabi establishment it relies on to remain in power but which also ultimately seeks the West's destruction}}</ref> During the [[Iraq War]], Saudi Foreign Minister Prince [[Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud|Saud Al-Faisal]], criticized the U.S.-led invasion as a "colonial adventure" aimed only at gaining control of Iraq's natural resources.<ref name=AL-AHRAM>{{cite news|last1=Bradley|first1=John|title=Waiting in the shadows|url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/693/re3.htm|access-date=October 24, 2014|agency=AL-AHRAM|issue=June 3–9, 2004|archive-date=September 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913144134/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/693/re3.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> But at the same time, Bradley writes, the Saudi government secretly allowed the US military to "essentially" manage its air campaign and launch special operations against Iraq from inside Saudi borders, using "at least three" Saudi air bases.<ref name=bradley-expo-210-1>{{cite book|last=Bradley|first=John R.|title=Saudi Arabia Exposed : Inside a Kingdom in Crisis|url=https://archive.org/details/saudiarabiaexpos00brad|url-access=registration|date=2005|publisher=Palgrave
|pages=[https://archive.org/details/saudiarabiaexpos00brad/page/210 210–11]
|isbn=9781403964335|quote=[the Gulf War was] aimed only at gaining control of Iraq's natural resources. While that argument could be made quite strongly by anyone else, it is a bit rich coming from any member of the Al-Saud family. During the Iraq war, Saudi Arabia secretly helped the United States by allowing operations from at least three air bases, permitting special forces to stage attacks from Saudi soil, and providing cheap fuel. The American air campaign against Iraq was essentially managed from inside Saudi borders, where military officers operated a command center and launched refueling tankers, F-16 fighter jets, and sophisticated intelligence-gathering flights.}}</ref>

The two nations cooperated and shared information about [[al-Qaeda]] (Alsheikh 2006) and leaders from both countries continue to meet to discuss their mutual interests and bilateral relations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saudi-US Economic Relations 3 Riyadh|url=http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1630334|work=May 16, 2017|publisher=[[Saudi Press Agency]]|access-date=May 19, 2017}}</ref>

Saudi Arabia and the U.S. are strategic allies,<ref>{{cite news | title=How strained are US-Saudi relations? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36083990 |work=[[BBC News]]| date=April 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Old friends US and Saudi Arabia feel the rift growing, seek new partners |url=https://asiatimes.com/2016/05/old-friends-us-and-saudi-arabia-feel-the-rift-growing-seek-new-partners/ |work=[[Asia Times Online|Asia Times]]| date=May 2, 2016}}</ref>

===Syria===
{{Main|Syria–United States relations}}

Bush expanded economic sanctions on Syria.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bush expands sanctions on Syria |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7244088.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=February 16, 2008 |date=February 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822122622/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7244088.stm |archive-date=August 22, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2003, Bush signed the [[Syria Accountability Act]], which expanded sanctions on Syria. In May 2004, a new comprehensive set of economic sanctions were enacted under the Bush administration by Executive Order 13338.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Documents/13338.pdf.|title=Executive Order 13338—Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Syria|publisher=www.treasury.gov|date=May 13, 2004|access-date=May 14, 2020}}</ref> Overall, There were a total of seven of executive orders enacted by President Bush to implement sanctions on Syria, which include Executive Orders 13315, 13224, 13382, 13338, 13399, 13441, and 13460. These sanctions are imposed on certain Syrian citizens or entities due to their participation in terrorism, acts of public corruption, or their destabilizing activities in Iraq and Lebanon.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

In early 2007, the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury Department]], acting on a June 2005 [[executive order]], froze American bank accounts of Syria's Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Electronics Institute, and National Standards and Calibration Laboratory. Bush's order prohibits Americans from doing business with these institutions suspected of helping spread [[weapon of mass destruction|weapons of mass destruction]]<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-29109026_ITM "U.S. Treasury moves to clamp down on Syrian entities accused of spreading weapons"]. Registration required. January 4, 2007. Retrieved June 23, 2009. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515002136/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-29109026_ITM |date=May 15, 2011}}</ref> and being supportive of terrorism.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 30, 2003 |access-date=May 31, 2008 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rm/2003/25778.htm |title=Syria and Terrorism |publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref> Under separate executive orders signed by Bush in 2004 and later 2007, the Treasury Department froze the assets of two Lebanese and two Syrians, accusing them of activities to "undermine the legitimate political process in Lebanon" in November 2007. Those designated included: Assaad Halim Hardan, a member of Lebanon's parliament and current leader of the Syrian Socialist National Party; Wi'am Wahhab, a former member of Lebanon's government (Minister of the Environment) under Prime Minister Omar Karami (2004–2005); Hafiz Makhluf, a colonel and senior official in the Syrian General Intelligence Directorate and a cousin of Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]]; and Muhammad Nasif Khayrbik, identified as a close adviser to Assad.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/world/20071105-1349-terroreconomy.html |title=Administration announces sanctions to combat Syrian influence on Lebanon |work=[[U-T San Diego]] |agency=Associated Press |date=November 6, 2007 |access-date=September 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709231554/http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/world/20071105-1349-terroreconomy.html |archive-date=July 9, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===United Arab Emirates===
{{Main|United Arab Emirates–United States relations}}
[[File:George W. Bush and Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.jpg|thumb|President Bush and UAE President [[Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan]] at Abu Dhabi International Airport, January 2008]]

According to [[Richard A. Clarke]], then US National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection and Counter-terrorism and a contributor in the [[9/11 Commission Report]], the UAE is the United States best counter-terrorism ally in the Gulf.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf|title=9/11 Commission Report|publisher=9/11 Commission Report|page=138}}</ref> According to previous US ambassador to UAE [[Richard G. Olson]], Deputy Commander of the UAE Armed Forces [[Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan]] structured the UAE Armed forces to be closely aligned with the US military.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces is the only Arab country to commit military troops for humanitarian aid missions in the US-led [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]] when it deployed its forces of 170 soldiers serving in Tarin Kowt province in March 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7319193.stm |title=Afghan 'trust' in Arab troops |work=BBC News |date=March 29, 2008 |access-date=July 5, 2010}}</ref>

==Oceania==

===Australia===
{{Main|Australia–United States relations|Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement}}
[[File:Bush-Howard 2001 review.jpg|thumb|left|President Bush and Australian Prime Minister [[John Howard]] on September 10, 2001. Howard was in Washington during the [[September 11 attacks]].]]
[[File:Bush-Howard 2006 shake.jpg|thumb|right|upright|250px|alt=Photograph of Bush shaking hands with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, during the State Arrival Ceremony held for the Prime Minister on the South Lawn of the White House, May 2006|President Bush and Australian Prime Minister [[John Howard]], May 2006]]

President Bush and Australian Prime Minister [[John Howard]] maintained a strong friendship. Following the [[September 11 attacks]], in which eleven Australian citizens were also killed, there was an enormous outpouring of sympathy from Australia for the United States. Prime Minister Howard became one of Bush's strongest international supporters, and supported the United States in the [[United States invasion of Afghanistan|invasion of Afghanistan]] in 2001 by invoking the [[ANZUS]] treaty and the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]] in 2003, by deploying Australian forces in both wars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/great-australian-foreign-policy-speeches-howard-911-and-us-alliance|title=Great Australian foreign policy speeches: Howard on 9/11 and the US alliance|publisher=www.lowyinstitute.org|date=August 15, 2014|access-date=May 21, 2020}}</ref>

In 2004 the Bush administration "fast tracked" [[Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement|a free trade agreement with Australia]]. ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'' called the deal a "reward" for Australia's contribution of troops to the Iraq invasion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040803-1.html|title=President Bush Signs U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement|date=August 3, 2004|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|access-date=April 28, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/15/1089694452858.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |title=US House approves free trade pact |date=July 15, 2004}}</ref>

===New Zealand===
{{Main|New Zealand–United States relations}}
[[File:Clark-Bush.jpg|thumb|right|President Bush and New Zealander Prime Minister [[Helen Clark]], March 2007]]

Relations with New Zealand under the Bush administration improved and became increasingly closer especially after Prime Minister [[Helen Clark]] visited the White House on March 22, 2007.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0703/S00409.htm | work=Scoop Independent News |title= President Bush Welcomes NZ PM Clark to Oval Office| date=March 22, 2007}}</ref> Following the 9/11 attacks, Prime Minister Clark contributed New Zealand military forces to the War in Afghanistan.

==Sub-Saharan Africa==
{{Further|Africa–United States relations}}

''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' stated that Africa is the "triumph of American foreign policy" and is the "Bush Administration's greatest achievement".<ref name="Geldof">{{cite magazine |first=Bob |last=Geldof |author-link=Bob Geldof |date=May 3, 2008 |title=The Healer |magazine=Time |pages=38–39}}</ref><ref>Adewale Banjo, "US development diplomacy in Africa: From Bill Clinton to George W. Bush". ''African Journal of Political Science and International Relations'' 4.4 (2010): 140-149</ref><ref>Nicolas Van de Walle, "US policy towards Africa: The Bush legacy and the Obama administration". ''African Affairs'' 109.434 (2010): 1-21 https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adp065</ref>

===Humanitarian aid===
President Bush worked to reduce the [[HIV/AIDS]] epidemics in Africa, stop the spread of [[malaria]], and rebuild broken nations from their genocidal pasts.  One of the most notable programs initiated by Bush is the [[President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief|PEPFAR]] (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) Program, which was a commitment of $15 billion over five years (2003–2008) from the United States to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.  As of September 2007, the program estimated that it had supported the provision of antiretroviral treatment to approximately 1,445,500 people, mostly in Africa.  Alternate Delegate to the United Nations [[Kelly Craft]] advised the US Ambassador to the UN on US engagement in Africa.<ref name="CraftBoard">{{cite web | title = Board of Trustees Members – Kelly Knight Craft | url = http://www.uky.edu/Trustees/members/craft.html | publisher = [[University of Kentucky]] | access-date = August 8, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170719031848/http://www.uky.edu/Trustees/members/craft.html | archive-date = July 19, 2017}}</ref><ref name="bbc">{{cite news | title = Trump nominates Kelly Knight Craft as the next ambassador to Canada | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40268013 | access-date = August 9, 2017 | publisher = [[BBC]] | date = June 15, 2017}}</ref><ref name=GDT070913>{{Cite news | url = http://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/news/local_news/bush-nominates-knight-for-un/article_534a5449-9612-55c9-83bc-c8990eb6bbd5.html | title = Bush nominates Knight for UN | last = Ellis | first = Ronnie | date = September 13, 2007 | newspaper = [[Glasgow Daily Times]] |url-access=subscription | access-date = June 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318165743/https://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/news/local_news/bush-nominates-knight-for-un/article_534a5449-9612-55c9-83bc-c8990eb6bbd5.html |archive-date=March 18, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Craft also gave a speech to the [[UN General Assembly]] on the investment the U.S. and other nations were making to fight [[HIV/AIDS in Africa]] and malaria in Africa, and promote development there.<ref name="courier">{{cite web|url=https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/uk-alumna-kelly-craft-confirmed-us-ambassador-united-nations|title=UK Alumna Kelly Craft Confirmed as US Ambassador to United Nations|date=August 7, 2019|website=UKNow|author=Lindsey Piercy}}</ref><ref name="auto10">{{Cite web|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2019/04/08/trump-nominee-united-nations-ambassador-kelly-craft-deep-ties-kentucky-republican-gop-politics/3341766002/|title=How Trump's pick for UN ambassador has deep ties to Kentucky Republican politics|first=Matt|last=Mencarini|website=The Courier-Journal}}</ref>

Bush also initiated programs that put more than 29 million of Africa's poorest children into schools.<ref name="Geldof"/> Bush provided "huge overt support" in [[Liberia–United States relations|Liberia]] to stabilize the country, and increasingly effective aid and trade backing good governance have helped improve health and provide education, skills, and jobs on the continent.<ref name="Geldof"/>  He also supported agricultural independence in Africa, reducing Chinese mercantilism on the continent that had been overwhelming the farmers. [[Benin]]ese cotton farmers urged him to "stand fast on his opposition to the pork-belly politics of the farm bill that is winding its disgraceful way through Congress" on his last visit to Africa.  Finally, he was steadfast in changing the Doha round of [[World Trade Organization]] talks so it will favor the poor in Africa.<ref name="Geldof"/>

===Sudan/Darfur conflict===
{{Main|Sudan–United States relations}}
{{Further|War in Darfur}}

On October 13, 2006, President Bush signed the [[Darfur Peace and Accountability Act]] imposing sanctions against people responsible for [[genocide]] and war crimes in [[Sudan]].<ref name="auto3">{{cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/president-bush-signs-darfur-peace-and-accountability-act|title=President Bush signs Darfur Peace and Accountability Act|publisher=ReliefWeb|date=October 14, 2006|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> It enables the Bush administration to deny Sudan's government access to oil revenues.<ref name="auto3"/> Furthermore, to the signing of the law, Bush signed another executive order that confirms the existing sanctions but eases some on parts of southern Sudan. It also includes exceptions to facilitate the flow of [[humanitarian aid]] to Darfur. On the other side the order toughens some [[International sanctions|sanction]]s, including a provision that bars any American from engaging in oil-related transactions in Sudan. The order comes as the Bush administration's new special envoy for Sudan, [[Andrew Natsios]], began a trip to Sudan, where he plans to meet with government officials and visit war-torn Darfur.

In response to the Government of Sudan's continued complicity in unabated violence occurring in Darfur, Bush imposed new economic sanctions on Sudan in May 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan/bush-tightens-sanctions-on-sudan-over-darfur-idUSN2828019420070530|title=Bush tightens sanctions on Sudan over Darfur|publisher=www.reuters.com|date=May 29, 2007|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> These sanctions blocked assets of Sudanese citizens implicated in the Darfur violence, and also sanctioned additional companies owned or controlled by the Government of Sudan. Sanctions continue to underscore U.S. efforts to end the suffering of the millions of Sudanese affected by the crisis in Darfur. Sudan has often accused the U.S. of threatening its [[territorial integrity]] by supporting referendums in the [[South Sudan|South]] and in Darfur.

===Zimbabwe===
{{Main|United States–Zimbabwe relations}}

In March 2003, President Bush issued an executive order, where he imposed targeted sanctions on the Government of Zimbabwe, including financial and [[Visa (document)|visa]] measures, sanctions against selected individuals including Zimbabwean President [[Robert Mugabe]] and 76 other high-ranking government officials, a ban on transfers of defence items and services, and a suspension of non-humanitarian government-to-government assistance.<ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/03/07/zimbabwe.us.sanctions.reut/|title=U.S. imposes sanctions on Mugabe|publisher=CNN|date=March 7, 2003|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref> "Over the course of more than two years, the government of Zimbabwe has systematically undermined that nation's democratic institutions, employing violence, intimidation, and repressive means including legislation to stifle opposition to its rule", Bush said in the order.<ref name="auto2"/> Bush also said the situation in Zimbabwe "endangers the southern African region" and threatens to undermine democratic reforms throughout the continent.<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="Rice">{{cite web| url=http://foreign.senate.gov/testimony/2005/RiceTestimony050118.pdf| title=Rice Testimony | access-date=March 26, 2006 | url-status=dead | page=4| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060325002023/http://foreign.senate.gov/testimony/2005/RiceTestimony050118.pdf | archive-date=March 25, 2006 }}</ref> Despite strained political relations, the United States continued as a leading provider of humanitarian assistance to the people of Zimbabwe, providing about $400,000,000 in humanitarian assistance from 2002 to 2007, most of it being food aid. In January 2005, Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] of the Bush administration identified Zimbabwe as one of the states in [[outposts of tyranny]]<ref name="Rice"/> due to the Zimbabwean Government of Robert Mugabe's increased assault on human rights and the rule of law.

In July 2008, President Bush signed another executive order to widen the sanctions against individuals and organizations in Zimbabwe associated with what he calls the "illegitimate" regime of President Robert Mugabe after the controversial [[2008 Zimbabwean general election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna25845845|title=Bush expands sanctions against Zimbabwe|work=NBC News|date=July 25, 2008|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of international presidential trips made by George W. Bush]]
* [[List of international trips made by Colin Powell as United States Secretary of State]]
* [[List of international trips made by Condoleezza Rice as United States Secretary of State]]
* [[Condoleezza Rice's tenure as Secretary of State]]
** ''[[Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War]]'' by Robert M. Gates
* [[Tony Blair|Foreign policy of Tony Blair]]
* [[Views on the 2003 invasion of Iraq]]
* [[International relations since 1989]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Main|Bibliography of George W. Bush}}
* Adler, Rachel. "Bureaucratic Politics and Mixed Policy Signals: US Foreign Policy for China during the George W. Bush Administration". in ''Bush Administration'' (2009). [https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1450537 online]
* Berggren, D. Jason, and Nicol C. Rae. "Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush: Faith, foreign policy, and an evangelical presidential style." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 36.4 (2006): 606-632 [https://www.sjsu.edu/people/jennifer.rycenga/courses/RelS191F12/s1/EvangelicalPresidentialStyle.pdf online].
* Burke, John P. "The Contemporary Presidency: Condoleezza Rice as NSC advisor: a case study of the honest broker role". ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 35.3 (2005): 554–575.
* Daalder, Ivo H. and James M. Lindsay, eds. ''America Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy'' (Brookings Institution Press, 2003).
* Deyermond, Ruth. "Disputed Democracy: The Instrumentalisation of the Concept of Democracy in US-Russia Relations during the George W. Bush and Putin Presidencies" ''Comillas Journal of International Relations'' 3 (2015): 28–43. [https://revistas.comillas.edu/index.php/internationalrelations/article/download/5626/5808#page=39 online]
* Eckersley, Robyn. "Ambushed: the Kyoto Protocol, the Bush Administration's Climate Policy and the Erosion of Legitimacy". ''International Politics'' 2007 44(2–3): 306–324. {{ISSN|1384-5748}}
* Green, Michael J. ''By more than providence: Grand strategy and American power in the Asia Pacific since 1783'' (Columbia UP, 2017)  pp 482–517. [https://cup.columbia.edu/book/by-more-than-providence/9780231180429 online]
* Greene, John Robert. ''The Presidency of George W. Bush'' (University Press of Kansas, 2021), scholarly survey of his presidency
*  Grondin, David; and David Charles-Philippe, eds. ''Hegemony or Empire?: The Redefinition of US Power under George W. Bush'' (2016) [https://www.amazon.com/Hegemony-Empire-Redefinition-Power-George/dp/0754647749/ excerpt]
* Han, Sanghyun. "What is Behind the China Rule in 2007: Motivations for the Bush Administration's Export Control Policy Against China." ''The Korean Journal of International Studies'' 19.3 (2021): 303–338. [https://scholar.archive.org/work/3e4mtce7vngvjlw2jztfmb7dqy/access/wayback/https://www.kjis.org/journal/download_pdf.php?doi=10.14731/kjis.2021.12.19.3.303 online]
* Hancock, Jan. "Human rights narrative in the George W. Bush Administrations". ''Review of International Studies'' 37.2 (2011): 805–823.
* Hadley, Stephen J., et al. eds. ''Hand-Off: The Foreign Policy George W. Bush Passed to Barack Obama'' ( Rowman & Littlefield Publishers/Brookings Institution Press. 2023) {{ISBN|978-0-8157-3977-7}} [https://www.amazon.com/Hand-Off-Foreign-Policy-George-Passed/dp/081573977X/ excerpt]
* Hendrickson, Ryan C., and Kristina Spohr Readman, "From the Baltic to the Black Sea: Bush's NATO Enlargement". ''White House Studies''. (2004) 4#3 pp: 319+. 
* {{cite book |last=Jentleson |first=Bruce W. |title=American Foreign Policy: The Dynamics of Choice in the 21st Century |url=https://archive.org/details/americanforeignp00jent |url-access=registration |edition=Second |year=2003 |publisher=Norton |isbn=9780393979343 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last=Kagan |first=Robert |title=Of Paradise and Power: America and Europe in the New World Order |url=https://archive.org/details/ofparadisepower000kaga |url-access=registration |year=2003|publisher=Knopf Doubleday Publishing |isbn=9781400034185 |ref=none}}
* Kim, Mikyoung. "Ethos and Contingencies: A Comparative Analysis of the Clinton and Bush Administrations' North Korea Policy". ''Korea and World affairs'' 31.2 (2007): 172–203.
* Lindsay, James M. "George W. Bush, Barack Obama and the future of US global leadership". ''International Affairs'' 87.4 (2011): 765–779.
* Marsden, Lee. "Bush, Obama and a faith-based US foreign policy". ''International Affairs'' 88.5 (2012): 953–974. [https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/40664/4/Accepted_manuscript.pdf online]
*{{cite book |last=Moens |first=Alexander |title=The Foreign Policy Of George W. Bush: Values, Strategy and Loyalty |year=2004|ref=none}}
* Murray, Donette; David Brown; and Martin A. Smith. ''George W. Bush's foreign policies: principles and pragmatism'' (Routledge. 2018); a British analysis
* Oliver, James. "Pragmatic Fathers and Ideological Suns: Foreign Policy in the Administrations of George H.W. Bush and George W Bush". ''White House Studies'' 7 (2007): 203+.
* Pham, J. Peter. "The development of the United States Africa command and its role in America's Africa policy under George W. Bush and Barack Obama". ''Journal of the Middle East and Africa'' 5.3 (2014): 245–275. [https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/20150107_The_Development_of_AFRICOM.pdf online]
* Roberts, Guy. ''U.S. Foreign Policy and China: Bush's first term'' (2014). [https://www.amazon.com/US-Foreign-Policy-China-Routledge/dp/1138379336 excerpt]
* Smith, Jean Edward. ''Bush'' (2016), a scholarly biography of George W. Bush. [https://www.amazon.com/Bush-Jean-Edward-Smith/dp/1476741204/ excerpt]
* Strozeski, Josh, et al. "From Benign Neglect to Strategic Interest: the Role of Africa in the Foreign Policies of Bush 41 and 43". ''White House Studies'' 2007 7(1): 35–51. 
* Thompson, Alexander. "Why Did Bush Bypass the UN in 2003? Unilateralism, Multilateralism And Presidential Leadership". ''White House Studies'' 11.4 (2011). [https://politicalscience.osu.edu/faculty/athompson/Thompson_WhiteHouseStudies_Proofs.pdf online]
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Zelizer|editor1-first=Julian E.|title=The Presidency of George W. Bush: A First Historical Assessment|date=2010|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=9780691134857|ref=none}}

===Middle East and terrorism===
* Al-Qahtani, Fawaz. "Continuity and change in United States’ foreign policy towards Gulf region after the events of September 11, 2001: A comparative vision between the Bush and Obama administrations." ''Review of Economics and Political Science'' 4.1 (2019): 2-19. [https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/REPS-10-2018-006/full/html online]
* Aslam, M. W. "Operation Iraqi Freedom: prudence and the 'great power responsibility' to deliberate". ''Journal of Power'' 3.3 (2010): 427–444.
* {{cite journal |last=Britton |first=Gregory |title=September 11, American 'Exceptionalism', and the War in Iraq |journal=Australasian Journal of American Studies |volume=25 |year=2006 |pages=125–141 |ref=none}}
* Condit, Celeste Michelle. ''Angry public rhetorics: Global relations and emotion in the wake of 9/11'' (U of Michigan Press, 2018).
* {{cite journal |last=Dalby |first=Simon |title=Geopolitics, Grand Strategy, and the Bush Doctrine |journal=Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies Working Papers |location=Singapore |volume=90 |year=2005 |url=http://www.idss.edu.sg/publications/WorkingPapers/WP90.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625063534/http://www.idss.edu.sg/publications/WorkingPapers/WP90.pdf |archive-date=June 25, 2008 |ref=none}}
* Desch, Michael C. "Bush and the Generals". ''Foreign Affairs'' 2007 86(3): 97–108. {{ISSN|0015-7120}} Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]
* Dolan, Chris J., Tom Lansford, and Patrick Hayden. ''In war we trust: the Bush doctrine and the pursuit of just war'' (Routledge, 2018).
* Freedman, Lawrence. ''A choice of enemies: America confronts the Middle East'' (Hachette, 2009) PP. 373–511.
* Freedman, Robert O. "George W. Bush, Barack Obama and the Arab-Israeli Conflict from 2001 to 2011". in ''Israel and the United States'' (Routledge, 2018) pp.&nbsp;36–78.
* Fusman, Alfred. "US Presidential discourse, September 11–20, 2011: the birth of the war on terror". ''Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies'' 12#34 (2013): 126–151. [http://jsri.ro/ojs/index.php/jsri/article/viewFile/668/577 online]
* Ghazvinian, John. ''America and Iran: A history, 1720 to the present'' (Simon and Schuster, 2020) pp.&nbsp;417–470.
* Gordon, Michael R., and Bernard E. Trainor. ''The endgame: The inside story of the struggle for Iraq, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama'' (Pantheon, 2012).
* Hartenian, Larry. ''George W Bush administration propaganda for an invasion of Iraq: The absence of evidence'' (Routledge, 2021).
* Kitfield James. ''War & Destiny: How the Bush Revolution in Foreign and Military Affairs Redefined American Power'' (2005) [https://www.amazon.com/War-Destiny-Revolution-Military-Redefined/dp/1574889591/  excerpt]
* Kraybill, Jeanine E., and Raul Madrid Jr. "The Rhetoric of Crisis: George W. Bush during the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars." ''American Communication Journal'' 21.1 (2019). [http://www.ac-journal.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Kraybill-.pdf online]
* LaFeber, Walter. "The Bush Doctrine" ''Diplomatic History'' 26#4 (2002) pp 543–558, https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-7709.00326 "We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them."
* {{cite journal |last=Pressman |first=Jeremy |title=Power without Influence: The Bush Administration's Foreign Policy Failure in the Middle East |journal=International Security |volume=33 |issue=4 |year=2009 |pages=149–179 |doi=10.1162/isec.2009.33.4.149 |s2cid=57564733 |ref=none}}
* Rubin, Gabriel. "George W. Bush: Policy Selling and Agenda-Setting After 9/11." in ''Presidential Rhetoric on Terrorism under Bush, Obama and Trump: Inflating and Calibrating the Threat after 9/11'' (2020) pp: 55–80. [https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1168&context=justice-studies-facpubs online]
* Saiya, Nilay. "Onward Christian Soldiers: American Dispensationalists, George W. Bush and the Middle East". ''Holy Land Studies'' 11.2 (2012): 175–204. [https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/233571547.pdf online]
* Sayle, Timothy Andrews, et al., eds. ''The Last Card: Inside George W. Bush's Decision to Surge in Iraq'' (Cornell University Press, 2019), includes primary sources
* Shipoli, Erdoan A. "Securitization of Islam in US Foreign Policy: The Bush Administration." in ''Islam, Securitization, and US Foreign Policy'' (Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2018) pp.&nbsp;167–210.
* Singh, Robert S. "The Trump, Bush, and Obama doctrines: A comparative analysis." in ''The Trump doctrine and the emerging international system'' (Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2021) pp.&nbsp;319–353.
* Tomiak, M. K. "Did 9/11 Really Bring About a Revolution in American Foreign Policy?" ''Security Studies'' 102 (2006). online
* [[Bob Woodward|Woodward, Bob]]. ''Plan of Attack'' (2003), [https://www.amazon.com/dp/074325547X excerpt and text search]
* {{cite book |title=The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 |last=Wright|first=Lawrence |year=2006 |publisher=Knopf |url=https://archive.org/details/loomingtoweralqa00wrig|url-access=registration |isbn=978-0-375-41486-2 |author-link=Lawrence Wright}}
* Wright, Steven. ''The United States and Persian Gulf Security: The Foundations of the War on Terror'' (2007).
* Zoughbie, DE. ''Indecision Points: George W. Bush and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict'' (MIT Press, 2014), [https://www.amazon.com/Indecision-Points-Israeli-Palestinian-International-2015-01-16/dp/B01K0TS8SG/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=indecision+points&qid=1619371192&sr=8-1]

===Historiography and memory===
* {{cite journal |last=Ambrosius |first=Lloyd E. |title=Woodrow Wilson and George W. Bush: Historical Comparisons of Ends and Means in Their Foreign Policies |journal=Diplomatic History |volume=30 |issue=3 |year=2006 |pages=509–543 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-7709.2006.00563.x |ref=none}}
* Bahador, Babak, Jeremy Moses, and William Lafi Youmans. "Rhetoric and recollection: Recounting the George W. Bush administration's case for war in Iraq". ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' 48.1 (2018): 4-26. [http://journals.mountaintopuniversity.edu.ng/Journalism/Rhetoric%20and%20Recollection%20Recounting%20the%20George%20W.%20Bush%20Administration%E2%80%99s%20Case%20for%20War%20in%20Iraq.pdf online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116064919/http://journals.mountaintopuniversity.edu.ng/Journalism/Rhetoric%20and%20Recollection%20Recounting%20the%20George%20W.%20Bush%20Administration%E2%80%99s%20Case%20for%20War%20in%20Iraq.pdf |date=November 16, 2021 }}
* Berggren, D. Jason, and Nicol C. Rae. "Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush: Faith, Foreign Policy, and an Evangelical Presidential Style". ''Presidential Studies Quarterly''. 36#4 2006. pp 606+.
* Brands, Hal, and Peter Feaver. "The case for Bush revisionism: Reevaluating the legacy of America's 43rd president." ''Journal of Strategic Studies'' 41.1-2 (2018): 234–274. [https://halbrands.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/12___20___2017_The-case-f.pdf online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205194639/https://halbrands.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/12___20___2017_The-case-f.pdf |date=February 5, 2022 }}
* Gregg II, Gary L. and Mark J. Rozell, eds. ''Considering the Bush Presidency'' Oxford University Press, 2004. 210 pp. British perspectives
* Haar, Roberta. "Explaining George W. Bush's adoption of the neoconservative agenda after 9/11". ''Politics & Policy'' 38.5 (2010): 965–990.
* {{cite journal|author-link=David Halberstam |last=Halberstam |first=David |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/08/halberstam200708 |title=The History Boys |journal=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |year=2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919045657/http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/08/halberstam200708 |archive-date=September 19, 2008 |ref=none}} Halberstam's final essay ("debunks the Bush administration's wild distortion of history")
* {{cite journal |last=Leffler |first=Melvyn P. |year=2013 |title=The Foreign Policies of the George W. Bush Administration: Memoirs, History, Legacy |journal=Diplomatic History |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=190–216 |doi=10.1093/dh/dht013 |ref=none}}; historiography
* Leffler, Melvyn P. "9/11 in retrospect: George W. Bush's grand strategy, reconsidered". ''Foreign Affairs'' (2011): 33–44. [http://www.sppm.tsinghua.edu.cn/eWebEditor/UploadFile/20111123043221787.doc online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116061255/http://www.sppm.tsinghua.edu.cn/eWebEditor/UploadFile/20111123043221787.doc |date=November 16, 2021 }}
* Murray, Donette, David Brown, and Martin A. Smith. ''George W. Bush's Foreign Policies: Principles and Pragmatism'' (Routledge, 2017). [https://www.amazon.com/George-Bushs-Foreign-Policies-Contemporary/dp/0415486610/ excerpt]
* Peleg, Ilan. ''The legacy of George W. Bush's foreign policy: Moving beyond neoconservatism'' (Routledge, 2018) [https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-George-Bushs-Foreign-Policy/dp/0367097222/ excerpt].
* Yongtao, Liu. "Discourse, Meanings and IR Studies: Taking the Rhetoric of 'Axis of Evil' As a Case". ''CONfines de relaciones internacionales y ciencia política'' 6.11 (2010): 85–106. [http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1870-35692010000100005 online]
* {{cite book |last=Wright |first=Steven |title=The United States and Persian Gulf Security: The Foundations of the War on Terror |publisher=Ithaca Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-86372-321-6 |ref=none}}

===Primary sources===
* {{cite book |author-link=George W. Bush |last=Bush |first=George W. |title=The George W. Bush Foreign Policy Reader: Presidential Speeches |editor-first=John W. |editor-last=Dietrich |year=2005 |ref=none}} [https://www.amazon.com/George-Bush-Foreign-Policy-Reader/dp/0765615568/ excerpt]
* Bush, George W. ''[[Decision Points]]'' (2010) [https://www.amazon.com/Decision-Points-George-W-Bush/dp/0307590615/ excerpts]
* Cheney, Dick. ''In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir'' (2011) [https://www.amazon.com/My-Time-Personal-Political-Memoir/dp/1439176191/ excerpt]
* Dietrich, John W. ed. ''The George W. Bush Foreign Policy Reader: Presidential Speeches with Commentary'' (Routledge, 2015). [https://www.amazon.com/George-Bush-Foreign-Policy-Reader/dp/0765615568/ excerpt]
* Rice, Condoleezza. ''No Higher Honor: A Memoir of My Years in Washington'' (2011) [https://www.amazon.com/No-Higher-Honor-Memoir-Washington/dp/030758786X/  excerpt]
* Rice, Condoleezza, and President George W. Bush. ''Hand-Off: The Foreign Policy George W. Bush Passed to Barack Obama'' (Brookings Institution Press, 2023).
* Rumsfeld, Donald. ''Known and Unknown: A Memoir'' (2011)

==External links==
{{George W. Bush}}
{{United States policy}}
{{Foreign policy of U.S. presidents}}

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