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As Trump weighs whether to join Israel’s bombing campaign of Iran, some have questioned if the president has the authority to involve the U.S. military in this conflict.
Majid Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters
The United States maintains an extensive military footprint in the Middle East, including a number of naval assets and permanent U.S. bases. Washington’s presence has allowed it to respond to regional threats, including the Yemen-based Houthi rebels and escalating Israel-Iran tensions.
G7 Summit
Next week’s summit comes at a critical moment as tensions persist over Ukraine’s role in the alliance, the U.S. force posture in Europe, and the group’s long-term future.
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
The alliance continues to bolster its military deterrent in Europe amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and has expanded its membership in recent years.
Ending the Russia-Ukraine war demands a shift in strategy from the Trump administration—one that compels Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate by coupling sustained pressure with pragmatic dialogue. A carefully crafted framework agreement is the key to breaking the deadlock and advancing a durable peace.
United States
The Global Fragility Act (GFA) serves as a blueprint for smart U.S. funding to prevent and end conflict, and bipartisan congressional leaders advocate reauthorization of the 2019 law.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
USAID is a foremost tool of U.S. soft power, administering what experts say is vital humanitarian aid worldwide each year. The Trump administration says the agency is not aligned with its priorities, putting USAID’s future in doubt.
Panelists discuss the history of U.S. foreign aid and examine its effectiveness in promoting global stability, fostering economic development, and projecting U.S. soft power worldwide, as well as potential approaches for restructuring the system moving forward.
**This is a virtual meeting through Zoom. 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 virtual meeting will be posted on the CFR website.
This meeting is presented by RealEcon: Reimagining American Economic Leadership, a CFR initiative of the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies.
Iran
Steven Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Operation Rising Lion, Israel’s attacks on Iran’s senior military leadership and on its nuclear infrastructure.
It’s too soon to tell how exactly the current wave of Israeli strikes could transform the region, but one thing is clear: Israel’s actions have fundamentally reshaped the security landscape of the Middle East.
Iran’s nuclear program and missile arsenal—particularly reports of a growing enriched uranium stockpile—garnered increased international scrutiny before becoming the primary targets of an attack by Israel in June.
U.S. Military
The deployment of federal troops in Los Angeles has sparked concerns among some legal experts about the future of civilian-military relations in the United States. Two CFR experts weigh in on the potential implications.
America’s oldest military service turns 250 on Saturday. If you see an active duty, former, or retired member of the Army, wish their service a happy birthday.
The future of defense strategy requires restructuring forces for modern threats, focusing deployments on critical regions, accelerating tech integration, reforming procurement and budgets, revitalizing the industrial base, and investing in top talent.
Currency
There is too much talk about the dollar’s role as a reserve currency and too little talk about expectations of exceptional returns. Reserve accumulation hasn’t driven the financing of the U.S. current account deficit in recent years.
Strategic Initiatives
Securing Ukraine’s Future
Timely, informed analysis and practical policy recommendations for both the public and policymakers.
General John W. Vessey Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention and Director of the Center for Preventive Action
RealEcon
Assessing the role of the U.S. in the international economy and what's at stake for the American people.
Distinguished Fellow, Director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, and Director of the CFR RealEcon Initiative
Events
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender addresses the current state of the U.S. economy and outlines the administration’s upcoming economic prioritiesThis meeting is presented by RealEcon: Reimagining American Economic Leadership, a CFR initiative of the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies.If you wish to attend 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 hybrid meeting will be posted on the CFR website.
Ilia Delio, founder of the Center for Christogenesis and a Franciscan sister of Washington, DC, and Noreen Herzfeld, the Nicholas and Bernice Reuter professor of science and religion at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, discuss how religious worldviews and spiritual traditions can inform global AI policy and explore the role of faith leaders in shaping inclusive, ethical, and internationally responsible governance of artificial intelligence.
Panelists discuss what to expect from the upcoming NATO Summit at The Hague amid an uncertain geopolitical and political environment.
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 hybrid meeting will be posted on the CFR website.
CFR experts discuss Israel's strikes against Iran's nuclear program, Iran's possible response, and further implications for the region, including the potential for war.
The video and transcript of this media briefing will be posted on the CFR website.
Please join the Zoom event at least five minutes before the start of the presentation by using the below details:
Media Briefing: Israel, Iran, and What Comes Next for the Region
Zoom Webinar ID: 834 3522 4861
Passcode: 783613
Explainers
How Vaccines Changed the World
Vaccination campaigns have nearly eradicated some of the most deadly and transmissible diseases. In a rising tide of vaccine hesitancy, however, outbreaks are cropping up again.
Expert Spotlight
Matthew P. Goodman
Distinguished Fellow, Director of the Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, and Director of the CFR RealEcon Initiative
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In this compelling, conversational memoir, Cohen recounts a dramatic life of striving for a better world from Washington, DC, to Beijing, offering vital first-hand insights from the study and practice of Sino-American relations. In the early 1960s, when Americans were not permitted to enter China, he met with émigrés in Hong Kong and interviewed them on Chinese criminal procedure. After economic reform under Deng Xiaoping, Cohen’s knowledge of Chinese law took on a new importance as foreign companies began to pursue business opportunities. Helping China develop and reconstruct its legal system, he made an influential case for the roles of Western law and lawyers. Cohen helped break political barriers in both China and Taiwan, and he was instrumental in securing the release of political prisoners in several countries. Sharing these experiences and many others, this book tells the full story of an unparalleled career bridging East and West.
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