Ashley Ray

CFR Staff

Ashley Ray

Associate Director, Council of Councils

Ashley Ray is the associate director of the Council of Councils Initiative at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Before joining CFR, she worked in foreign assistance and higher education. She holds a master's degree in international relations from the George Washington University and a master's degree in history from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. 

Most Recent

Iran

The Islamic Republic’s Power Centers
Who calls the shots in Iran on economic policy, security, and domestic calls for reform? A look at the government’s organization chart indicates how complicated the answer is.

by CFR Editors January 9, 2026

Climate Change

Paris to Kyoto: The History of UN Climate Agreements
International efforts, such as the Paris Agreement, aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But experts say countries aren’t doing enough to limit dangerous global warming.

by Lindsay Maizland and Clara Fong January 9, 2026 Renewing America

Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s Freedoms: What China Promised and How It’s Cracking Down
Beijing has tightened its grip on Hong Kong in recent years, dimming hopes that the financial center will ever become a full democracy.

by Lindsay Maizland and Clara Fong December 15, 2025

Top Stories on CFR

Russia

Putin’s Real Worry About Trump’s Venezuela Intervention
The U.S. capture of Maduro has obvious global pros and cons for Russia. Its impact on Russian oil revenues and the country’s “shadow fleet” could be most important of all.

by Stephen Sestanovich January 14, 2026

Immigration and Migration

A Guide to the Countries on Trump’s Travel Ban List
The White House’s growing travel ban is now shutting down immigrant visa processing indefinitely for seventy-five countries, including Brazil, Iran, Russia, and Somalia, among several others.  

by Mariel Ferragamo January 14, 2026

 

The 10 Best and 10 Worst U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions Link

with James M. Lindsay via CFR January 13, 2026