It's Debatable
Intervention or Restraint? A Washington debate on pressing issues for policymakers.
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Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hold a banner of his portrait outside the Justice and Development Party headquarters after polls closed in Turkey's elections in Ankara. What Does Turkey’s Election Mean for the World?
Erdogan’s strong first-round showing could mean five more years of headaches for Washington and NATO.
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U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen delivers a keynote address at the American Bankers Association's (ABA) 2023 Washington Summit on March 21, 2023. Is Decoupling Destabilizing the Global Economy?
Major speeches from Janet Yellen and Jake Sullivan double down on Biden’s strategy of linking U.S. national security with economic policy.
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Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, sit atop a tank in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, on April 20, 2023. When Fighting Is More Rational Than Peacemaking
Sudan’s power struggle is a textbook case of the credible commitment problem in international relations.
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Finnish military personnel install the Finnish national flag at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Will Finland’s NATO Accession Make a Difference?
One of the alliance’s long-awaited new members has joined, but it won’t necessarily bring Europe closer to strategic autonomy.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping meet in Moscow. What Does Xi’s Visit to Russia Mean for the World?
China’s embrace of Russia seems politically risky but Beijing is also benefiting economically and emerging as the dominant power.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (L) at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on March 9. Does the United States Have More Leverage Over Israel Than It Thinks?
The beleaguered Netanyahu government needs Washington’s backing on Iran—but unpopular judicial reforms and casual talk of ethnic cleansing could imperil it.
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Supporters of Mali's military government wave flags of Russian during a pro-junta and pro-Russia rally in Bamako on May 13, 2022. Why Can’t the World Agree on Ukraine?
Combatting the West’s strategic narcissism with some strategic empathy would be a good start.
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U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to the press after arriving at Hagerstown Regional Airport in Hagerstown, Maryland, on Feb. 4, 2023. Is the U.S. Reaction to China’s Spy Balloon Overdue or Overblown?
Beijing’s botched high-altitude surveillance has provoked a backlash among Biden administration officials and the American public.
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The U.S. Abrams tanks, the German Leopard and the AHS Krab, a 155 mm NATO-compatible self-propelled tracked gun-howitzer seen at a training ground in Poland on Sept. 21, 2022. Will Tanks Turn the Tide for Ukraine?
Germany and the United States are sending Leopards and M1 Abrams tanks—but Washington’s desired endgame is still a mystery.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson attend a joint press conference in Ankara, Turkey, on Nov. 8, 2022. Is Turkey a Crucial or Corrosive NATO Ally?
Erdogan’s foot-dragging on Sweden and Finland is causing headaches for Western leaders.
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People holding candles form a large, glowing peace sign at night in a grand plaza. Will 2023 Be More Peaceful Than 2022?
This year saw Russia invade Ukraine, China’s Xi Jinping secure a third term, and Iranians take to the streets. What will 2023 look like?
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U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during the Leaders Session at the Africa Leaders Summit on Dec. 15, 2022 in Washington, DC. Are Autocratic Allies Damaging U.S. and EU Credibility?
From Equatorial Guinea’s leverage over Washington to Qatar’s scandal in Brussels, small resource-rich states are flexing their diplomatic muscle.
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Mehrdad Minavand of Iran in action during the World Cup first round match against the United States at the Stade Gerland in Lyon, France on June 21, 1998. Iran won the match 2-1. A U.S.-Iranian Standoff at the World Cup—and Beyond
Off the playing field, Iran’s protests and ongoing uranium enrichment have heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
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Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate J.D. Vance greet supporters during the rally on Nov. 7 in Vandalia, Ohio. Will U.S. Midterm Results Affect Washington’s Foreign Policy?
A Republican-led House could mean a more hawkish stance on China and less aid for Ukraine—or more of the same.
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U.S. President Joe Biden (C) flanked by Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (L) on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Madrid, on June 29. Is Biden’s National Security Strategy a Match for a Chaotic World?
The long-awaited document leaves more questions than answers about the White House’s approach to global crises.