The utility of the United Nations to the United States as an instrument of foreign policy can too easily be underestimated. Over the years since its founding in 1945, the United Nations has been more or less a servant of American interests. The most spectacular examples were the official UN authorization and sponsorship of intervention in the “troubled spots” of the world with an international peacekeeping force. Consider this fact: The United States provides an average quarter of the UN budget.

Many Americans feel the United Nations does not give good value for the investment. But any evaluation of the United Nations must take into account the purpose for which the United States sought to create it: power without diplomacy. In many cases, a victory of the United Nations is a victory of the United States. In recent years, however, with the growing position of China and some other countries in international diplomacy, the United States can no longer control UN decisions as it did before. But the United Nations will continue to function as a useful instrument of American foreign policy.

美 国利用联合国作为其外交政策的工具很容易被低估。联合国自1945年成立以来，或多或少地成了美国利益的服务工具。最典型的事例是，在联合国正式授权和操办下，国际维和部队可以对世界上的“麻烦”地区进行干预。你得考虑这样一个事实，美国给联合国提供的经费占了联合国总预算的1／4。

许多美国人认为，联合国没有对这种投资予以良好的回报。但是，对联合国的任何评价都必须考虑到美国所追求的目的，即不使用外交手段的力量。很多事例表明，联合国的胜利就是美国的胜利。然而，由于中国以及其他一些国家近年来国际外交地位的提高，美国再也无法像以前那样控制联合国的决策。当然，联合国作为美国外交政策的有效工具，将继续发挥这样的作用。