The U.S. plans to stop commenting on the fairness, integrity and legitimacy of foreign elections, a major shift away from a decadeslong practice of promoting democratic elections abroad, writes The Wall Street Journal.

A new instruction, delivered in a Thursday memorandum signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, orders statements on foreign elections to focus on congratulating the winning candidate and "avoid opining on the fairness or integrity of an electoral process, its legitimacy, or the democratic values of the country in question".

The State Department should only make public statements about foreign elections if "there is a clear and compelling U.S. foreign policy interest to do so," according to the memo, which cited the "the administration`s emphasis on national sovereignty". A copy of the order was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

The move continues a realignment of foreign-policy tools under President Trump that has included dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the parent agency of the Voice of America, as well deep personnel cuts at the State Department.

The aim, at least in part, is to signal the U.S. is less interested in pressuring foreign governments to make internal reforms, such as allowing competitive elections, that has been a hallmark of U.S. foreign policy under both parties since the Cold War. Trump has criticized U.S. intervention abroad, arguing for a more pragmatic approach that plays down what he describes as failed efforts to spread U.S. values to other countries.