Council on Foreign Relations

Global Climate Agreements: Successes and Failures

Introduction Over the last several decades, governments have collectively pledged to slow global warming. Despite intensified diplomacy, the world is already facing the consequences of climate cha…

by Lindsay Maizland and Clara Fong November 6, 2025 Renewing America

Climate Change

Global Climate Agreements: Successes and Failures

Introduction Over the last several decades, governments have collectively pledged to slow global warming. Despite intensified diplomacy, the world is already facing the consequences of climate cha…

by Lindsay Maizland and Clara Fong November 6, 2025 Renewing America

Health

How Tobacco Laws Could Help Close the Racial Gap on Cancer

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden promised that his administration would make a “historic effort” to reduce long-running racial inequities in health. Tobacco use—the leading cause of p…

by Olivia Angelino, Thomas J. Bollyky, Elle Ruggiero and Isabella Turilli February 1, 2023 Global Health Program

Health

How Tobacco Laws Could Help Close the Racial Gap on Cancer

by Olivia Angelino, Thomas J. Bollyky, Elle Ruggiero and Isabella Turilli February 1, 2023 Global Health Program

Conflict Prevention

Conflicts to Watch in 2026

The world continues to grow more violent and disorderly. According to CFR’s annual conflict risk assessment, American foreign policy experts are acutely concerned about conflict-related threats to U.S. national security and international stability that are likely to emerge or intensify in 2026. In this report, surveyed experts rate global conflicts by their likelihood and potential harm to U.S. interests and, for the first time, identify opportunities for preventive action.

Report by Paul B. Stares December 18, 2025 Center for Preventive Action

Conflict Prevention

Conflicts to Watch in 2026

Report by Paul B. Stares December 18, 2025 Center for Preventive Action

United States

Martin S. Indyk Memorial Lecture: A Conversation With President Bill Clinton

The Martin S. Indyk Memorial Lecture was established by CFR to honor Ambassador Martin S. Indyk’s legacy of public service, scholarship, and institution building, and to recognize his ideas and contributions that shaped U.S.-Middle East policy for decades. Ambassador Indyk was a CFR distinguished fellow and former U.S. ambassador to Israel. The lecture highlights critical issues in U.S. foreign policy that reflect his commitments to advancing durable pathways to peace and sustaining American diplomatic engagement. This inaugural lecture is held in collaboration with the Clinton Global 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.

Virtual Event with William J. Clinton, Richard Haass and Michael Froman December 10, 2025

United States

Martin S. Indyk Memorial Lecture: A Conversation With President Bill Clinton

Virtual Event with William J. Clinton, Richard Haass and Michael Froman December 10, 2025

3,779 Results for:

June 17, 2025

Iran

Israel Strikes Iran, With Steven Cook

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 mil…

Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the Tehran building housing Iran’s state broadcaster on June 16, 2025.

Podcast by James M. Lindsay and Steven A. Cook The President’s Inbox

January 28, 2025

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The Gaza Cease-Fire, With Steven Cook

Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how the Israel-Hamas cease-fire over Gaza came together, what th…

An Israeli man stands among a crowd while holding up an Israeli flag behind his head while holding a poster of an Israeli hostage by his mouth.

Podcast by James M. Lindsay and Steven A. Cook The President’s Inbox

September 3, 2024

Middle East and North Africa

A Wider Middle East War, With Steven Cook

Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the potential for a wider war in the Middle East as Iran vows to…

Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system over northern Israel on August 23, 2024. Jalaa Marey/AFP/Getty Images

Podcast by James M. Lindsay and Steven A. Cook The President’s Inbox

April 2, 2024

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The War in Gaza, With Steven A. Cook

Steven A. Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the state of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, the prospects fo…

Palestinians inspect damage at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on April 1, 2024, after Israeli troops withdrew.

Podcast by James M. Lindsay and Steven A. Cook The President’s Inbox

June 4, 2024

Middle East and North Africa

U.S. Policy in the Middle East, With Steven A. Cook

Steven A. Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the United States’ past, present, and future policy in the Mi…

Members of the U.S. military retire its ceremonial flags signifying the end of their presence in Iraq at the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center on December 15, 2011.

Podcast by James M. Lindsay and Steven A. Cook The President’s Inbox

November 12, 2024

Middle East and North Africa

Trump and the Middle East, With Steven A. Cook (Transition 2025, Episode 2)

Steven A. Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how Middle Eastern countries are reacting to former President…

A congratulatory billboard for U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump is displayed in Jerusalem on November 7, 2024. Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Podcast by James M. Lindsay and Steven A. Cook The President’s Inbox

December 5, 2023

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The Renewed Fighting in Gaza, With Steven Cook

Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the collapse of the temporary ceasefire in Gaza and the future o…

Israeli soldiers stand amid rubble in the northern Gaza Strip on November 8, 2023.

Podcast by James M. Lindsay and Steven A. Cook The President’s Inbox

April 16, 2024

Iran

Iran’s Attack on Israel, With Steven Cook and Ray Takeyh

Steven Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies at CFR, and Ray Takeyh, the Hasib J. Sabbagh senior fellow for Middle East studies at CFR, sit down with James M. L…

An Israeli missile defense system in Ashkelon, Israel, fires at incoming Iranian missiles and drones on April 14, 2024.

Podcast by James M. Lindsay, Steven A. Cook, and Ray Takeyh The President’s Inbox

October 8, 2024

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The Middle East Challenge, With Steven A. Cook and Amy Hawthorne (Election 2024, Episode 4)

Steven A. Cook, Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at CFR, and Amy Hawthorne, independent consultant on the Middle East, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the …

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike on Khiam, Lebanon, on October 4, 2024. Carl Court/Getty Images

Podcast by James M. Lindsay, Steven A. Cook, and Amy Hawthorne The President’s Inbox

August 22, 2023

Saudi Arabia

Israeli-Saudi Peace Deal, With Steven A. Cook

Steven A. Cook, the Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the ongoing negotiations to normalize relations between Israe…