THE US FOREIGN POLICY STRATEGY IN RESPONSE TO EBOLA VIRUS: THE CASE OF EBOLA VIRUS IN WEST AFRICA AS AMERICA'S NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT

This journal examines the United States Foreign Policy Strategy in dealing with the Ebola virus in West Africa as a national threat priority. The Ebola virus is the most deadly and dangerous infectious disease. This disease causes organ damage and bleeding in the sufferer's body. The increasing number of transmissions of the Ebola virus in West Africa, especially Liberia, Guniea, and Sierra Leone, is of concern to the United States. In the historical record, West Africa is a conflict area that has many radical and terrorist movements. With the Ebola virus situation that continues to develop, the countries affected by the Ebola virus experience economic, security and ideological instability. In this case, the United States has concerns because of the potential that can be used as a gap for the development of radical and terrorist movements. Some experts also said that the Ebola virus could potentially be used as a form of weapon and a threat to bioterrorism. In order to complete the data in this study, primary data is used by using library research data collection techniques that utilize data from libraries, books, journals, articles, print media, electronic media and websites. This study uses a descriptive-analytical approach to collect and analyze data. The analysis in this study uses the theory of national security and the policy-making process to determine the goals of the United States in its foreign policy response to the Ebola virus in West Africa as a national security threat. The United States and several parties have been actively making foreign policies for the Ebola virus. In this case, it aims to limit the development of the number of transmissions of the Ebola virus and minimize the potential dangers that threaten the national security of the United States.