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Violence continues to rage in Mexico more than a decade after former President Felipe Calderon launched a crackdown on drug cartels.
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The U.S. national debt now exceeds $14 trillion, prompting calls for tax and spending reforms as President Donald J. Trump issues his administration’s first budget proposal.
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The Organization of American States is an important forum for regional diplomacy, but it has been hesitant to censure member states for violating democratic principles.
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Russian aggression in Ukraine has breathed new life into the Cold War-era security alliance, prompting allies to reinforce defenses in Eastern Europe and expand cooperation with nonmembers.
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The U.S.-Saudi relationship, long bound by common interests in oil and security, has shown strains over what some analysts see as waning U.S. involvement in the Middle East and a more assertive Saudi foreign policy.
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China is believed to spend billions of dollars to boost its international image, but it has yet to see a marked return on its investment in soft power.
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The G7 serves as a forum for highly industrialized democracies to coordinate economic, security, and energy policy, but critics say that its membership is outdated, undermining its relevance to global governance.
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Syria’s civil war is being fought on multiple fronts by an array of combatants whose alliances, capabilities, and in some cases motives have been in flux.
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China is North Korea’s biggest trade partner and arguably has the most leverage on Kim Jong-un’s regime. But while Beijing appears willing to condemn its neighbor’s nuclear developments, analysts say its cautious policies remain focused on stability.
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The sharp decline in oil prices in recent years has crippled Venezuela’s economy and left the Maduro government teetering on the brink.
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China has become Africa’s largest trade partner and has greatly expanded its economic ties to the continent, but its growing activities there have raised questions about its noninterference policy.
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With President Donald J. Trump advocating for deep cuts to U.S. foreign aid, debate has renewed over the role of foreign assistance funds in boosting growth, promoting democracy, and saving lives.
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Iran has restricted its nuclear program and given international inspectors unprecedented access, but it has not seen the economy recovery expected in the aftermath of the agreement with international powers.
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Sub-Saharan Africa is home to many of the world’s longest-ruling heads of state, but civil society and regional blocs may be slowing the trend of extending presidential terms in some areas.
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Brexit supporters argue that the EU threatens sovereignty and stifles growth, while opponents counter that EU membership strengthens trade, investment, and the UK’s standing in the world.
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Comprehensive immigration reform has eluded Congress for years, moving controversial policy decisions into the executive and judicial branches of government, explains this Backgrounder.
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Hong Kong has certain political and economic freedoms based on China’s “one country, two systems” principle, but the city’s political evolution is challenging its relationship with the mainland.
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The role of the Federal Reserve has transformed in the past decade, as it has deployed trillions of dollars to boost the U.S. economy while expanding its regulatory oversight of the nation’s financial system.
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The separation of powers has spawned a great deal of debate over the roles of the president and Congress in foreign affairs, as well as over the limits on their respective authorities, explains this Backgrounder.
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China’s central government has cracked down on press freedom as the country expands its international influence, but in the internet age, many of its citizens hunger for a free flow of information.
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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has introduced an audacious set of economic policies designed to spur the country out of its decades-long deflationary slump. The results have so far been mixed.
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For many foreign policymakers, economic sanctions have become the tool of choice to respond to major geopolitical challenges, from counterterrorism to conflict resolution.
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The United States has long accepted refugees from around the world, but President Donald J. Trump’s executive order on immigration has sparked debate over the national security implications of the U.S. refugee program.
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Relations between the two Cold War foes have warmed dramatically over the last several years, but some fear the détente may stall during the Trump administration.