Ratification of convention key to U.S. soft power leadership

Additionally, ratification of the Convention will soften the United States’ image and signal much needed goodwill to the international community.¹¹⁰ It has been noted that “[a]nti-Americanism has increased in recent years, and the U.S.’ soft power—its ability to attract others by the legitimacy of U.S. policies and the values that underlie them—is in decline as a result.”¹¹¹ Commitment to the Convention, which engages much of the international community, would be emphasized by U.S. ratification.¹¹² It also allows other states to place their trust in the U.S. and thus its actions on the seas. This is essential for the United States to maintain its legitimacy and ultimate leverage in the international arena.¹¹³