
Russia’s Security Agencies Are Both Terrifying and Incompetent
The ineptitude of the FSB sends a message about how powerful it is.

The Return of Containment
What the Cold War policy means for our current moment.

Why The Latest Cyberattack Was Different
The epic SolarWinds hack affecting thousands of government agencies and companies could mark the beginning of the end of the open internet.

The Friendlier Face of Putinism
Meet the often overlooked organization trying to reconnect Russia’s leader with the people—and secure Putin’s influence for years to come.

New House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Vows Pompeo Investigations Will Continue
Rep. Gregory Meeks, who took the gavel this week, also urged the State Department to reverse its decision to close the last two U.S. consulates in Russia.

Flawed Cybersecurity Is a Ticking Time Bomb for the Balkans
Cyberattacks in North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey reveal that government defenses are weak—and many NATO members are at risk.

Foreign Policy News Stories That Packed a Punch in 2020
From the tragedy of whistleblowers to imperiled nuclear talks to the State Department's struggle with diversity, here are some of our articles that had an outsized impact this year.

10 Conflicts to Watch in 2021
The world in 2021 will be haunted by the legacies of 2020: an ongoing pandemic, an economic crisis, Donald Trump’s divisive presidency—and new threats emanating from wars and climate change.

In 2020, Putin Raised the Stakes at Home and Abroad
Russia started the year with political uncertainty, then cemented Putin’s future, and ended the year by poisoning the main opposition figure—and future relations with the Biden administration.

How Arab Ties With Israel Became the Middle East’s New Normal
Though Israel remains opposed to Palestinian independence, 2020 marked the year of its acceptance in the region.

Bellingcat Can Say What U.S. Intelligence Can’t
Open-source investigations enable officials and lawmakers to discuss Russian skullduggery without exposing sources and methods of U.S. intelligence

Cyberattacks Are on the Decline
But as the Russian hack of the U.S. government shows, they are getting worse.

U.S. Set to Finally Sanction Turkey for Buying Russian Arms
Trump has long refused to penalize Ankara for acquiring advanced Russian air defense systems, but Congress is forcing his hand.

Document of the Week: Aid Donors Blast UNDP for Resisting Appeals to Fight Corruption
A dozen wealthy donor states press the United Nations Development Program to investigate allegations that funds were misappropriated from a Russia climate program it managed.

Forget Greenland, There’s a New Strategic Gateway to the Arctic
The Faroe Islands have a history of trading with everyone who will buy their fish. With growing tensions in the Arctic region, the islands are now receiving more attention from superpowers.

U.S. Diplomats and Spies Likely Targeted by Radio Frequency Energy, Long-Withheld Report Determines
A scientific study that was long kept under wraps by the State Department finally provides some—though not all—of the answers to mysterious health problems of American officials.