Most governments employ some form of diplomacy to advance their security and commercial interests. They do this by establishing and staffing embassies around the world, by participating in regional and international bodies, and by using media to spread their messages. Those countries with the most trade (job opportunities for their citizens) are typically those with the most embassies. In 2016, the U.S. had embassies in almost every country, closely followed by China. Click here to see embassy networks by country (Lowy Institute).
Excerpted from What Should Governments Do for Us?