Reaching out from foggy bottom: identifying US interests and priorities based upon the travels of the US secretary of state

The diplomatic efforts made by the US State Department may influence military and economic alliances, the likelihood of conflict, and peaceful mediation. To understand the diplomatic priorities and relationships of each administration and the US in general, this paper provides a quantitative analysis of the destinations of the secretary of State from 1953 until 2020. I contribute a new model of fourteen geographical regions and corresponding regional hegemons. Regional hegemons have been branded to be mediators between global and regional interests. The distinction between hegemons and non-hegemons impacts the substance of meetings. I conclude that secretaries are more likely to visit non-regional powers and that these visits are more likely to include the country’s political leaders and to be ceremonial. Analysis suggests an association between the secretary’s politicization and the likelihood of meeting high-level officials or political leaders. While most meetings are bilateral, the rate of such meetings has remained constant over the years. Through this investigation, opportunities may be found for future secretaries to foster new relationships while developing US policy.