In a March 2012 meeting, President Obama’s nominee for defense secretary explains how the United States is transforming its military and defense strategy in the face of funding cutbacks.

The Egyptian military’s seizure of power has prompted support from some wealthy Gulf states, criticism from Turkey, and caution from the United States, notes CFR’s Steven Cook.

Egyptians’ first free presidential election is a test of the power of Islamist parties, and the new president will shape the country’s future by helping craft a new constitution as well as a new rela…

The protests sweeping Afghanistan over the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base may spread to other Muslim countries unless U.S. and NATO officials act swiftly, says CFR’s Ed Husain.

The Russian and Chinese veto of a UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to violence in Syria calls into question the viability of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine and poses a dilemm…