Sanctions serve as a crucial tool of foreign policy by allowing countries to exert pressure on other nations to change specific behaviors or policies without resorting to military action. These measures often include economic restrictions, trade barriers, or diplomatic isolation aimed at influencing the targeted regime's actions. Through sanctions, the international community can address issues such as human rights abuses, nuclear proliferation, or acts of aggression. While effective in some cases, sanctions can also have unintended consequences, affecting civilian populations and potentially leading to further conflict.