A curated selection of FP’s must-read stories.
Editors' Picks
List of Editors' Picks articles
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A soldier stands in a field with bare trees behind him. He holds a large winged drone up as he launches it against a cloudy dramatic sky. The Air Battle That Could Decide the Russia-Ukraine War
Kyiv’s front-line drone superiority has been slipping away as Moscow’s forces adapt.
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About two dozen birds fly against a hazy brown sky near tall, narrow distillation towers and flares. The tallest flare, at the center of the photo, has a plume of flame billowing from its top. Why Oil Sanctions No Longer Work
Oil sanctions have failed to deliver results with Iran and Russia. It would be a mistake to try them with China.
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A member of the Peoples Armed Police stands guard in front of the European Delegation in Beijing on April 6, 2023. Europe and China’s Tepid Anniversary
When European and Chinese leaders meet in Beijing, relations will be strained.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump participate in a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. Trump Has Leverage With Syria’s Neighbors—Here’s How He Should Use It
U.S. pressure on Israel and Turkey could help stabilize Syria.
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Former U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on July 15. Mike Waltz Gears up for a New Role at the U.N.
Diplomats in New York are debating the meaning of the former national security advisor’s pledge to “make the U.N. great again.”
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A mural of Trump beside a painting of a MADE IN CHINA stamp. The U.S. Can No Longer Stave Off Competition From China
Beijing dominates global trade. But it couldn’t turn that into a geopolitical advantage—until Trump 2.0.
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Xi and Trump walk side by side. How Strong Is China’s Rare-Earth Card?
Washington is making big moves, but Beijing has a powerful hand.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) meets with U.S. President Donald Trump (L) during Pope Francis’s funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Can Trump Be Sold on Supporting Ukraine?
A changeable president seems to be turning against Putin.
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With his back turned to the camera, Trump stands points at a crowd of people wearing hard hats and reflective safety vests. Behind Trump and the crowd is a massive American flag that seems to cover an entire wall. Trump Embraces State Capitalism
The level of U.S. government economic intervention under Trump 2.0 is off the charts.
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Trump and Putin Trump’s Ukraine Shift Sends the Right Signal to Putin
But there won’t be peace without additional pressure on the Kremlin.
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U.S. President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on July 14. There’s Less to Trump’s Ukraine Shift Than Meets the Eye
Europe will buy unspecified weapons for Ukraine, and Russia gets a long reprieve from sanctions.
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The wrecked bodies of cars are strewn about a bridge beneath a hazy blue sky, some on the cracked road, others leaning on the barrier fence. Sheets of metal cover large potholes on the road. Washington Can Keep Sudan’s Civil War From Getting Worse
A concerted diplomatic push is needed to allay a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.
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Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer walks past an EU flag as he arrives with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for their meeting inside 10 Downing Street, in central London, on April 24, 2025. Britain Is Failing to Become European Again
The Starmer government’s hopes of restoring relations with Europe have mostly remained just that.
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio gives a media briefing during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, on July 11. Why Rubio’s Asia Visit Was a Total Bust
ASEAN leaders will have noticed Washington’s increasing preoccupation with the Middle East and Western Hemisphere.
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A hand holds a small glass bottle. Rich Countries Stockpiling Critical Minerals Is Not a Plan
Remember the 1973 oil shock?