National interests are a foreign policy guiding principle

Solly Rakgomo | Monday October 19, 2026 06:00

It is an evident reality of international relations that “when states’ interests converge, cooperation takes place, and when states’ interests diverge, conflict takes place.” In international relations, what matters most is the national interest of states, which is a traditional concept but remains relevant in a globalised world. It largely drives foreign policy and determines the behavior of states even in the 21st century.

The national interests of states are the basic objectives and goals that states consider to be of utmost significance for their survival, security, and growth. States always pursue their national interests irrespective of their history, language, ideology or leadership.

From the realist perspective, national interests are considered to be the guiding principle of states’ foreign policies. Hans J. Morgenthau, a notable realist scholar, argued that national interest should be defined in terms of power and that states tend to pursue and secure their national interests.

Besides this, core national interests are non-negotiable and cannot be compromised by states. They are the building blocks of a state’s foreign policy. National interests determine cooperation and conflict amongst states. They include national security, economic growth, sustainable development, the protection of a state’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the well-being of citizens, and political stability.

They influence the foreign policy of every state and play a central role in international relations.

This illustrates the importance of national interests in the conduct of relations amongst states.

Therefore, they are of great significance and influence a state’s behavior.

National interests still matter in the era of unprecedented global interdependence because they determine foreign policies of different states.

They guide the state’s behaviour and explain alliance formation in international politics. Although the world has become so interconnected, states still pursue their interests in the first place.

States pursue their economic, security, defense, and public policies in accordance with their interests even in a world like a global village.

When cooperation amongst states serves their interest, they engage in trade and business partnerships with one another, while divergence of interests often leads to conflict. There is absolutely no doubt that even in a globalised world, states first prioritise their interests, and even doing so may lead to military confrontation at the end.

In the 21st century, the concept of national interest has not lost its significance. Instead, it has become more influential and pertinent in understanding contemporary politics.

Traditionally, national interest was only understood in military terms, with states primarily focusing on their national security and protecting themselves from any external aggression.

However, in the present era, states’ national interests are no longer confined to only military security; rather, the discourse of national interests has expanded and broadened.

Now, economic security, political stability, protection of sovereignty, technological supremacy, energy security, climate security, artificial intelligence, and space capabilities have expanded the discourse of national interests of states.

Therefore, understanding the meaning and changing nature of national interest in the 21st century has become imperative.

In a globalised world, interdependence has deepened significantly. Cooperation amongst states has become a common phenomenon. However, global cooperation does not mean that states have begun to compromise on their national interests. Instead, global cooperation occurs when states’ interests converge and fully align with their needs. Hence, global cooperation is the product of the fulfillment of states’ national interests.

It is evident that states act according to their national interests. They always put their national interests above all other priorities. They do not hesitate in taking urgent measures when their national interest is at risk.

This suggests that states’ national interests are non-negotiable and always remain states’ foremost priorities.

This also indicates that states’ foreign policy is influenced and driven by their national interests, irrespective of their geographical location, history, ideology, or leadership. As a result, national interests decide with whom a state maintains cordial relations and with whom it has strained ties, because when states’ interests converge, cooperation takes place, and when states’ interests diverge, conflict emerges. Consequently, national interests are still relevant and matter in the 21st century.