China
CFOTO/Future Publishing/Getty Images

China

China’s Looming Auto Export Dominance
China’s unprecedented capacity to produce more than half of global demand for cars is poised to reshape global supply chains, and could add to protectionist pressures in the United States and elsewhere.

Blog Post by Brad W. Setser December 8, 2024 Follow the Money

China

Europe Should Emulate Biden’s Restrictions on Chinese Smart Cars
Europe’s planned tariffs on electric vehicles from China miss the bigger threat: Beijing could turn smart cars into weapons of cyber warfare.

Blog Post by Liza Tobin October 22, 2024 Asia Unbound

China

U.S.-China Economic Relations

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Jay Shambaugh discusses U.S.-China macroeconomic engagement and dialogue with Chinese leadership on overcapacity and economic imbalances. The C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics brings the world's foremost economic policymakers and scholars to address members on current topics in international economics and U.S. monetary policy. This meeting series is presented by RealEcon: Reimagining American Economic Leadership, a CFR initiative of the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies. This meeting is also part of CFR’s China Strategy Initiative. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Virtual Event with Jay C. Shambaugh, Matthew P. Goodman and Rush Doshi July 10, 2024 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies

Syria

Syria

Russia’s Debacle in the Changing Middle East

Louai Beshara/AFP/Getty Images
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s exile in Russia is a strategic challenge for Moscow, but the Kremlin’s influence in the region should not be downplayed yet.

Expert Brief by Thomas Graham December 10, 2024 Europe Program

Syria

What’s Next for Syria?

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CFR experts discuss the latest news out of Syria, including what the fall of Bashar al-Assad means for the future of the country and the wider region.

Virtual Event with Elliott Abrams, Steven A. Cook, Ray Takeyh and Elise Labott December 9, 2024 Middle East Program

Syria

After Fall of Assad Dynasty, Syria’s Risky New Moment
The swift collapse of Syria’s regime brings a humiliating end to Russia’s and Iran’s sway and opens the door for greater Turkish influence. But the Islamist movement that seized power has yet to show its full intentions.

Expert Brief by Steven A. Cook December 8, 2024 Middle East Program

Iran

Syria

What to Know About HTS, Hezbollah, and Iran in Syria
The ascendance of Sunni Islamist rebels in Syria should be viewed with great caution by Western powers, but the Assad regime’s collapse disables a critical node in Iran’s regional proxy network.

Expert Brief by Bruce Hoffman December 9, 2024 National Security and Defense Program

Syria

A More Dangerous Iran After Assad’s Ouster?

The Bashar al-Assad regime’s rapid collapse deals a heavy blow to Iran’s “axis of resistance” and its ability to project power in the region, and it raises fears Iran will focus more on developing its nuclear program.

Expert Brief by Ray Takeyh December 8, 2024 Middle East Program

Syria

Turkey’s Role in Syria’s Civil War
Turkey opposes the Assad regime, but the fall of the government could disrupt Ankara’s aims to reverse refugee flows and defeat Kurdish forces in Syria’s north.

Expert Brief by Henri J. Barkey December 6, 2024

Climate Change

Energy and Climate Policy

The Dirty Energy Powering AI

Podcast
What powers artificial intelligence (AI)? As global electricity use is surging, with unprecedented demand coming from an increase in data centers, AI’s dependence on fossil fuels presents a serious issue for the planet. In the United States, data center power usage is on track to double by 2030, largely due to the proliferation of AI technology. But while the application of AI shows potential to mitigate climate problems through modeling or predicting weather events, will its power grab stall the clean energy transition?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra and Varun Sivaram December 3, 2024 Why It Matters

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Can U.S. Tech Giants Deliver on the Promise of Nuclear Power?
Nuclear power has been a stagnant U.S. energy source for decades, but it could be primed for a technology-driven renaissance amid the growing artificial intelligence boom.

Expert Brief by David M. Hart October 22, 2024 Energy Security and Climate Change Program

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence Priorities for the Next Administration
The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has been breathtaking, and American firms are leading the way in showing the potential of a new AI-propelled world. But rivals like China are gaining ground, with major consequences for the U.S. economy and security.

Expert Brief by Sebastian Elbaum and Adam Segal November 26, 2024 Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program

Democracy

South Korea

President Yoon’s Impeachment?
CFR’s Sheila A. Smith spoke with Dr. Duyeon Kim with the Center for a New American Security, who is based in Seoul, to get her assessment of the fallout of President Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law. 

Blog Post by Sheila A. Smith and Duyeon Kim December 9, 2024 Asia Unbound

South Korea

Meeting with Governor Rhee Chang Yong of the Bank of Korea

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Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang Yong discusses monetary policy in South Korea and the implications of reshaping global value chains. The C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics brings the world’s foremost economic policymakers and scholars to address members on current topics in international economics. This meeting series is presented by the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies.

Virtual Event with Rhee Chang Yong and Richard H. Clarida October 21, 2024 C. Peter McColough Series on International Economics

South Korea

The U.S.–South Korea Alliance
In seventy years, the U.S.-South Korea alliance has evolved from a patron-client relationship to a global comprehensive strategic alliance.

Timeline by Scott A. Snyder and Jennifer Ahn December 1, 2023

Lebanon

Lebanon

A Rough Guide to War-Torn Lebanon
An array of domestic and foreign powers are vying for influence in Lebanon, including the Lebanese Armed Forces, Hezbollah, Israel, Iran, Syria, and the United States.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters December 3, 2024

Israel

The Gaza Lessons of 2006
Israel must act firmly to enforce the Lebanon agreement or it will collapse within months--and only Israel can be expected to enforce it.

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams November 27, 2024 Pressure Points

 

Lebanon’s Day After Link

via Foreign Affairs November 22, 2024

Events
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United States

Watchlist 2025: Safeguarding the World's Most Vulnerable Nations

Play
David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), presents the new IRC Emergency Watchlist report, highlighting the countries at highest risk of humanitarian crises in 2025 and examining where the international community has made progress or fallen short. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Virtual Event with David Miliband and Morgan Brennan December 11, 2024

United States

U.S. Health and Its Global Implications

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In a special event copresented by the Council on Foreign Relations and The Lancet, panelists discuss priorities for improving public health in the United States and abroad. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website. Members may bring a guest to this event.

Virtual Event with Rebecca Bunnell, Victor J. Dzau, Mona Hanna, Christopher J. Murray, John Monahan, Thomas J. Bollyky and Richard Horton December 10, 2024

Ukraine

A Conversation With Former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine

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Dmytro Kuleba discusses Ukraine’s strategic position in the war with Russia, and evaluates how the incoming Donald Trump administration might influence Ukraine’s international relations and policies. This meeting is part of the Council Special Initiative on Securing Ukraine’s Future and is part of the Wachenheim Program on Peace and Security. The program is made possible by the generous support of the Sue and Edgar Wachenheim Foundation. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Virtual Event with Dmytro Kuleba and Paula J. Dobriansky December 9, 2024

Syria

Media Briefing: What's Next for Syria After Assad

Play
CFR experts discuss the latest news out of Syria, including what the fall of Bashar al-Assad means for the future of the country and the wider region.

Virtual Event with Elliott Abrams, Steven A. Cook, Ray Takeyh and Elise Labott December 9, 2024 Middle East Program

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Experts in the News

Michael B.G. Froman
Link

Froman: Collapse of Assad Regime Is Big Loss for Russia and Iran

Via CNBC Squawk Box December 9, 2024

Steven A. Cook
Link

Cook: Syria Is in Danger of Becoming a Failed State

Via CNN December 9, 2024

Max Boot
Link

Boot: Trump’s Meetings With Macron and Zelenskyy Are Unprecedented

Via MSNBC December 8, 2024

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Explainers

Health
How Geography, Race, and Income Shape U.S. Life Expectancy
Health
How Geography, Race, and Income Shape U.S. Life Expectancy
Article by Thomas J. Bollyky, Laura Dwyer-Lindgren, Ali H. Mokdad and Chloe Searchinger
The differences in U.S. life expectancy are so large it’s as if the population lives in ten separate Americas instead of one.
Crisis in Sudan: War, Famine, and a Failing Global Response
Sudan Crisis in Sudan: War, Famine, and a Failing Global Response
Immersive_article_layout by Mariel Ferragamo and Sabine Baumgartner
Guantánamo Bay: Twenty Years of Counterterrorism and Controversy
Terrorism and Counterterrorism Guantánamo Bay: Twenty Years of Counterterrorism and Controversy
Article by Jonathan Masters
Europe’s Migration Dilemma
Immigration and Migration Europe’s Migration Dilemma
Immersive_article_layout by Kali Robinson, Diana Roy and Sabine Baumgartner
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Expert Spotlight

Gordon M. Goldstein
Gordon M. Goldstein

Adjunct Senior Fellow

Technology and Innovation Cybersecurity U.S. Foreign Policy

David J. Scheffer
David J. Scheffer

Senior Fellow

International Law Human Rights International Organizations

Sheila A. Smith
Sheila A. Smith

John E. Merow Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Studies

Japan Defense and Security Asia

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Featured Publications

Religion

If You Will It
Hundreds of thousands of young Jews have drifted away from the American Jewish community and many more may follow. This book explains to Jewish parents, donors, and organizations how Jewish education, Jewish summer camping, and time spent in Israel can revive and strengthen Jewish identity.

Book by Elliott Abrams October 8, 2024 Middle East Program

United States

Reagan
Son of the Midwest, movie star, and mesmerizing politician—America’s fortieth president comes to three-dimensional life in this gripping and profoundly revisionist biography.

Book by Max Boot September 10, 2024

Asia

Lost Decade

Robert D. Blackwill and Richard Fontaine evaluate the limitations of the Pivot to Asia and offer a compelling vision for the future of U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific.

Book by Robert D. Blackwill and Richard Fontaine June 11, 2024 Asia Program

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