United States | Council on Foreign Relations

The U.S. Vice President and Foreign Policy

Modern vice presidents can trace much of their political influence to the broad reforms that Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale made to the second-highest elected office in the late 1970s.

Backgrounder by Jonathan Masters Sep 22, 2016

Demographics of the U.S. Military

Deployed around the world, the armed forces are a pillar of U.S. power and influence abroad. But many civilians are unfamiliar with their composition. How much does the military resemble U.S. society?

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors Jul 13, 2020

Disinformation and Election 2020

Bret Schafer, media and digital disinformation fellow at the Alliance for Securing Democracy, an initiative of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, discusses disinformation and the threat of foreign interference in the upcoming election. Carla Anne Robbins, CFR adjunct senior fellow and former deputy editorial page editor at the New York Times, hosts the webinar.

Conference Call with Bret Schafer Aug 6, 2020

Middle East and North Africa

What Erdogan’s Struggles Mean for U.S.-Turkey Relations

An imprisoned opponent, dire economic conditions, and ongoing tensions with the United States all pose challenges to President Erdogan’s increasingly erratic leadership.

In Brief by Steven A. Cook October 27, 2021
United States

Colin Powell's American Life

Alone among US President George W. Bush’s senior advisers, Colin Powell did not push for the costly, ill-advised Iraq War, and it would be misreading history to hold him responsible for it. He remained a man of moderation and character to the end.

Article by Richard Haass October 21, 2021
Drug Policy

The U.S. Fentanyl Crisis: What to Know

The United States is being flooded with fentanyl-laced fake pills, exacerbating an opioid crisis already spiraling amid the pandemic.

In Brief by Claire Felter October 20, 2021

Experts in this Region

Caroline Bettinger-Lopez

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy (ON LEAVE)

James M. Lindsay

Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair

Manjari Chatterjee Miller

Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia

Yascha Mounk

Senior Fellow

Scott A. Snyder

Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy

Cybersecurity

Why the United States Should Have Invited Russia to Join the Counter-Ransomware Initiative

The Biden administration recently hosted a ransomware summit which excluded the Russian government. The United States should have done more to involve Russia in ransomware negotiations.

Blog Post by Oleg Shakirov October 19, 2021 Net Politics
Elections and Voting

Democracy and Reporting on Elections

Robert Griffin, research director for the Democracy Fund Voter Study Group, discusses voter demographics at the municipal, state, and federal level and what this tells us about civic engagement and i…

Webinar by Robert Griffin October 19, 2021 Local Journalists Webinars
United States

Colin Powell: An American Life

Colin Powell’s extraordinary career as a soldier-statesman provides a model for how to live one’s life in the public arena at a time few such models can be found.

Article by Richard Haass October 18, 2021

Colombia

U.S.-Colombia Relations

Over the two centuries since Colombia’s independence, the relationship between Washington and Bogota has evolved into a close economic and security partnership. But it has at times been strained by U.S. intervention, Cold War geopolitics, and the war on drugs.

Timeline by Diana Roy October 14, 2021
United States

Happy 246th Birthday to the US Navy!

The U.S. Navy marks 246 years of service.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay October 13, 2021 The Water's Edge
United States

Corporate Taxes in a Globalized World

A group of more than one hundred countries has agreed to a historic rewrite of global tax rules. Here’s what to know.

Backgrounder by Anshu Siripurapu October 12, 2021 Renewing America
United States

The Fed Should Peg Rates to Reality, Not to Its Stale Forecasts

Blog Post by Benn Steil and Benjamin Della Rocca October 8, 2021 Geo-Graphics
Trade

The Truth About Tariffs

Tariffs have been applied over the years to protect homegrown industries and target competitors who are seen as using unfair trade practices. They impose costs on both importers and exporters and had been in decline until the recent U.S.-China trade spat.

Backgrounder by Andrew Chatzky and Anshu Siripurapu October 8, 2021 Renewing America
United States

The U.S. War in Afghanistan Twenty Years On: Public Opinion Then and Now

Two decades after the start of Operation Enduring Freedom, Americans view the war very differently.

Blog Post by Anna Shortridge October 7, 2021 The Water's Edge
China

What’s Next for U.S. Trade With China?

This week, the Biden administration outlined its approach to trade with China. Here’s what to know.

In Brief by Jennifer Hillman and Alex Tippett October 7, 2021 Renewing America
Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Guantanamo Bay: Twenty Years of Counterterrorism and Controversy

The U.S. military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has generated intense debate for two decades, with enduring questions about national security, human rights, and justice.

Article by Jonathan Masters October 5, 2021
Haiti

Why Are Haitian Migrants Gathering at the U.S. Border?

The arrival of tens of thousands of Haitian migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border has generated domestic criticism from all sides that the Biden administration has poorly handled a cascading humanitarian crisis.

In Brief by Edward Alden and Alex Tippett October 1, 2021 Renewing America