Truman believed that the U.S. should lead by example in promoting democracy and supporting nations that were democratic. He also believed that the U.S. should use diplomatic and economic tools to influence other nations' decisions, but not to use military force unless it was absolutely necessary to protect U.S. interests. Truman's foreign policy was centered on containment, which aimed to prevent the spread of communism, and he saw the promotion of democracy as a way to achieve this goal.
