Those of the country itself. But, according to liberalism paradigm, those of all United Nations countries should also be taken into account.
Explanation:
Foreign policy is determined by interests, since it is precisely a direct form of expression of the interests of various states. Of course, the policies of various states are based on their interests, which, in turn, act as their conscious needs. The interest of the state expresses the need of the nation for survival and ensuring its security. States seek to act in the political arena based on their own interests. The interests realized by the state are expressed in the form of national interests. National interests implemented in domestic politics are expressed in the form of domestic political interests. National interests realized and protected in foreign policy are expressed as the state’s foreign policy interests.
National interest is the main category of the theory of political realism. From the standpoint of political realism, the interests of states in the ‘anarchist milieu’ conflict with the interests of other participants in international relations. Their clash leads to interstate conflicts, and often they can act as a source of war. The main goal of states in international politics is to ensure their own security in the international arena.
Advocates of the liberalism movement are opponents of political realism in the study of the category of national interest. Representatives of the liberal paradigm recognize the existence of objective national interests among states, but at the same time consider it completely unacceptable to base foreign policy solely on a national interest or to use a national interest as its analysis. Liberals believe that foreign policy should be much broader than simply protecting national interests. In making decisions, States must, first of all, be guided by internationally recognized norms of law and moral standards.
