NATO
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

NATO Looks to Asia
The transatlantic alliance is debating how significant a role it wants to play in deterring Chinese ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.

Expert Brief by David Sacks May 30, 2024

Taiwan

Why China Would Struggle to Invade Taiwan
Although China’s ambition to gain control of Taiwan is clear, doing so through force would prove enormously difficult and costly.

Interactive by David Sacks January 10, 2024

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

What Is NATO?
The alliance is bolstering its military deterrent in Europe amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has expanded to include Finland and Sweden.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters March 18, 2024

Mexico

Mexico

Mexico’s Historic Elections

Podcast
Ulises Ruiz/AE/AFP/Getty Images
The President’s Inbox discusses the state of Mexico’s democracy ahead of Sunday’s vote, and the potential effects of the results.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Andrés Rozental May 28, 2024 The President’s Inbox

Mexico

What to Know About Mexico’s Elections
Against a backdrop of widespread violence, a record number of voters will look to elect Mexico’s first woman president in a June election that polls predict will go to Claudia Sheinbaum.

Expert Brief by Shannon K. O'Neil May 24, 2024 Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy

Shannon K. O'Neil

Mexico

A Reset for America and Mexico? Link

with Shannon K. O'Neil via Foreign Affairs May 27, 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Previewing the AI for Good Summit Link

via Council of Councils May 28, 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

How to Govern AI

Podcast
Kat Duffy, a senior fellow for digital and cyberspace policy at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the capacity of the U.S. government to lead in creating a framework for regulating artificial intelligence (AI). 

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Kat Duffy February 13, 2024 The President’s Inbox

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

What Is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence breakthroughs promise unprecedented opportunity but also economic, political, and social disruption. Experts say AI needs oversight to ensure the changes it engenders are for the better.

Backgrounder by Noah Berman December 27, 2023

North Korea

North Korea

A Stronger Trilateral Response
With renewed support from Russia and China, there are fears that a North Korean crisis is coming. In light of this, the trilateral security relationship among the United States, Japan, and South Korea has reached a new level of cooperation.

Blog Post by Sue Mi Terry May 28, 2024 Asia Unbound

Asia

The Coming North Korean Crisis and How Washington Can Prevent It Link

with Sue Mi Terry via Foreign Affairs May 16, 2024

Northeast Asia

Is This Nascent Trilateral Relationship the Best Possible Answer to China? Link

with Sue Mi Terry and Max Boot via Washington Post May 27, 2024

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa Is Poised for a Shake-Up
The provincial and national elections on May 29 come amid waning support for the ruling African National Congress thirty years after South Africa transitioned to democracy.

Expert Brief by Michelle Gavin May 23, 2024

 

South Africa’s Quest to Retake the Moral High Ground Link

via Foreign Affairs August 2, 2024

South Africa

Mutual Suspicion Grates U.S.-South Africa Relations
Tensions in the U.S.-South Africa relationship only heighten as both countries head towards national elections. 

Blog Post by Michelle Gavin May 3, 2024 Africa in Transition

Taiwan

Taiwan

What to Expect From Lai’s Presidency
In his inaugural address, Taiwan’s new president Lai Ching-te signaled broad continuity on cross-strait issues. China, however, is likely to respond with increased pressure. 

Blog Post by Rush Doshi and David Sacks May 21, 2024 Asia Unbound

Taiwan

Why China Would Struggle to Invade Taiwan
Although China’s ambition to gain control of Taiwan is clear, doing so through force would prove enormously difficult and costly.

Interactive by David Sacks January 10, 2024

Taiwan

Why China-Taiwan Relations Are So Tense
Differences over Taiwan’s status have fueled rising tensions between the island and the mainland. Taiwan has the potential to be a flash point in U.S.-China relations.

Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland February 8, 2024

Events
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Middle East and North Africa

Oil and National Security: U.S.-Middle East Relations

Play
Steven Cook discusses the modern history of U.S. involvement in the Middle East and how economic interests, including secure access to oil reserves, continue to influence U.S. priorities in the region today. In a preview of his forthcoming book The End of Ambition: America’s Past, Present, and Future in the Middle East, he provides his vision for the future of U.S.-Middle East relations and what that could mean for U.S. energy security and global trade.  

Virtual Event with Steven A. Cook and Helima Croft May 29, 2024

Ukraine

Ukraine’s Economic Recovery: Remarks and a Conversation with Penny Pritzker

Play
U.S. Special Representative Penny Pritzker discusses ongoing Ukraine recovery and reconstruction efforts, having just returned from three trips to Ukraine in six weeks, including joining the Secretary of State in mid-May. She outlines U.S. priorities for supporting Ukraine in advance of the Ukraine Recovery Conference on June 11-12 in Berlin.

Event with Penny Pritzker and Michael Froman May 28, 2024

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Play
Panelists review the humanitarian situation in Gaza and discuss U.S. policy options to address the crisis.  

Virtual Event with James Eugene McGoldrick, Kate Phillips-Barrasso, David M. Satterfield and Ethan Bronner May 24, 2024

Hong Kong

The Trial of Jimmy Lai and the Future of Hong Kong

Play

Virtual Event with James B. Cunningham, Caoilfhionn Gallagher and Elliott Abrams May 23, 2024

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Experts in the News

Michael B.G. Froman
Link

Froman: There Is a Regional Realignment Going On Amid the Israel-Hamas War

Via CNBC Squawk Box May 29, 2024

Sheila A. Smith
Link

Smith: This Is a Very Difficult Time for China, Japan, and South Korea to Find Common Ground

Via Bloomberg Daybreak Asia May 26, 2024

David J. Scheffer
Link

Scheffer: ICC Warrants Can Diminish an Indicted Individual's Political Power

Via CBS News May 21, 2024

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Explainers

South China Sea
China’s Maritime Disputes
South China Sea
China’s Maritime Disputes
Timeline by Beina Xu, Eleanor Albert, Lindsay Maizland and Clara Fong
Disputes between China and its neighbors, including the Philippines and Vietnam, in the South China Sea have intensified in recent decades. This timeline traces the recent developments.
The Push to Conserve 30 Percent of the Planet: What’s at Stake?
Energy and Environment The Push to Conserve 30 Percent of the Planet: What’s at Stake?
Article by Lindsay Maizland
What Is Avian Flu?
Public Health Threats and Pandemics What Is Avian Flu?
Backgrounder Redesign by Mariel Ferragamo
Why Fentanyl Is a Huge Foreign Policy Problem
United States Why Fentanyl Is a Huge Foreign Policy Problem
Article by Mariel Ferragamo and Diana Roy
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Expert Spotlight

Jennifer Nuzzo
Jennifer Nuzzo

Senior Fellow for Global Health

Health Public Health Threats and Pandemics Health Policy and Initiatives

Will Freeman
Will Freeman

Fellow for Latin America Studies

Americas Latin America Democracy

Robert E. Rubin
Robert E. Rubin

Chairman Emeritus; Former Secretary of the U.S. Treasury

Wall Street Week 01/26/2024

Offsite Via Bloomberg January 26, 2024

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Featured Publications

Colombia

From Peril to Partnership
Paul J. Angelo provides the first headlining case studies of Plan Colombia and the Mérida Initiative.

Book by Paul J. Angelo March 8, 2024 Latin America Studies Program

Political History and Theory

The World That Wasn’t

A dramatic and powerful new perspective on the political career of Henry Wallace—a perspective that will forever change how we view the making of U.S. and Soviet foreign policy at the dawn of the Cold War.

Book by Benn Steil January 9, 2024 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies

Radicalization and Extremism

God, Guns, and Sedition
A riveting exploration of the current state of far-right terrorism in the United States—and recommendations to stop its rise.

Book by Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware January 2, 2024 National Security and Defense Program

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