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What Does the U.S. National Guard Do?The National Guard is a special part of the U.S. military that answers to both state governors and the president. While it began as a “strategic reserve,” the guard has grown into a pivotal partner in military operations.
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What Is Russia’s Wagner Group Doing in Africa?Russia’s Wagner Group has intervened in the affairs of several African countries, providing military and security support while expanding Moscow’s influence across the continent.
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How Much Aid Has the U.S. Sent Ukraine? Here Are Six Charts.Six graphics illustrate the extraordinary level of support the United States has provided Ukraine this past year in its war against Russian invaders.
Experts in this Topic
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Women This Week: Gender Based-Violence Escalating in PeruWelcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers April 29 to May 5.
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Home and Abroad Public Forum: U.S. Strategy and the War in UkrainePanelists will discuss U.S. policy toward the Ukraine war, including what the requirements and goals for peace talks should be, as well as appropriate levels of military and economic aid. This virtual meeting is open to all. We hope you will encourage your colleagues and friends to join the discussion. Please direct your network to sign up here. To join, please use the Zoom details below: Zoom Meeting ID: 875 8938 4677 Zoom Password: 050423 Upon connecting, you will be prompted to enter your name and email address. Please include your full first and last name (you may have to override the default entry that Zoom populates). Should you have questions or trouble connecting, please email [email protected] CFR’s Home and Abroad series explores issues at the nexus of U.S. domestic and foreign policy that affect America’s role in the world.
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Army of Some: Recruiting Trouble for the All-Volunteer ForceAll current U.S. military personnel have one thing in common: they volunteered. But falling recruitment has raised questions of national security, military readiness, and the health of U.S. society. Can the all-volunteer force handle a changing international security landscape?
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Ukraine’s Counteroffensive: Will It Retake Crimea?Ukraine remains intent on wresting Crimea back from Russia, but doing so would be difficult, and the peninsula could become a bargaining chip in future diplomatic talks.
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What Is NATO?The alliance is bolstering its military deterrent in Europe amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has expanded to include Finland.
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Revisiting America’s War of Choice in IraqWars are fought not only on the battlefield but also in domestic political debates and in histories written after the fact. In the case of the US invasion of Iraq 20 years ago, we are still in this final phase, seeking an elusive consensus about the war’s legacy.
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Ukraine Has Held Off Russia’s Invasion—So Far. Here’s How.Ukraine has withstood and repelled the mighty Russian military through Western support, Russian blundering, and its own resourcefulness. However, the circumstances could be changing.
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Ukraine: Conflict at the Crossroads of Europe and RussiaUkraine’s Westward drift since independence has been countered by the sometimes violent tug of Russia, felt most recently with Putin’s 2022 invasion.
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Japan Rearmed, With Sheila SmithSheila Smith, the John E. Merow senior fellow for Asia-Pacific studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the reasoning behind Japan’s new defense strategy and the Japanese government’s decision to double defense spending.
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German and U.S. Tanks Will Be Critical in Ukraine’s Next Phase Against RussiaThe main battle tanks that the United States and Germany have agreed to provide Ukraine will help its forces punch through Russian fortifications and retake lost territory.
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Young Professionals Briefing: The State of the U.S. Armed Forces in 2023CFR’s Military Fellows discuss the state of the U.S. armed forces, including defense priorities for 2023, U.S. deterrence in the face of escalating geopolitical tensions, military recruitment and retention efforts, and other non-combat operations. The CFR Young Professionals Briefing Series provides an opportunity for those early in their careers to engage with CFR. The briefings feature remarks by experts on critical global issues and lessons learned in their careers. These events are intended for individuals who have completed their undergraduate studies and have not yet reached the age of thirty to be eligible for CFR term membership.
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The West Is Sending Light Tanks to Ukraine. Will They Make a Difference?Ukraine is set to receive dozens of light tanks from the United States, France, and Germany. How will these weapons bolster Ukraine’s defense against Russia?