Ideas

Still Fighting, US Troops from Syria to Afghanistan Await Trump Orders

Special operators move ahead with plans for the press to Raqqa, but uncertainty clouds US war plans.

Ideas

Trump vs. the Spies

In this digital age, it is reasonable to ask just what America’s intelligence community still brings to the table. The answer is a lot.

Policy

How Putin is Using Populist Movements Against the West

It’s time to decide what goals should guide American foreign policy in the 21st century, and what allies are needed to advance them.

Ideas

As Trump's Foreign Policy Emerges, Watch His Temperament in Washington

By what Trump has shown, even where there's policy continuity the world will see Washington as more erratic and less reliable.

Business

Trump is Now America’s Arms Deal Negotiator

His meetings and bombshell tweets with the heads of America’s two largest weapon makers show Trump will play a role in hammering out contracts.

Ideas

Trump’s Deal-Powered Vision Will, and Won’t, Change US Foreign Policy

'The day of the chess player is over,' the businessman once wrote.

Ideas

Trump Inherits ‘The Good War’

Many Afghans desire a fresh U.S. approach. All must wait to see what policy emerges from the New York businessman’s scattered thoughts.

Ideas

Global Conflicts to Watch in 2017

The greatest unknown for U.S. interests in the world might be the United States itself.

Policy

Tracking Trump’s National-Security Conflicts of Interest

A global business empire raises the question: is the president’s foreign policy serving America’s interests or his own?

Threats

How to Make Donald Trump’s Phone Safe

The man who led the effort to let President Obama keep his BlackBerry says the best solution for Trump might be multiple devices.

Ideas

Trump’s Bid to Remove NATO Official Could Easily Backfire on the US

A strong alliance needs strong staff, like Rose Gottemoeller.

Ideas

Trump, Putin, and the Art of Appeasement

The famed deal maker seems intent on giving away American leverage for nothing.

Ideas

Trump, Taiwan, and The Fantasy of a Phone Call

China will fight back. Taiwan’s backers should never forget that.

Policy

Five Questions to Help You Understand That Russians Hacked the US Election

As the culpability of Putin’s government becomes more clear, a host of related issues remain unresolved.

Ideas

‘Trump Has Already Created Lots of Chaos’

A Chinese scholar argues that the U.S. shouldn’t touch Taiwan—just like China wouldn’t back separatists in Texas or Hawaii.

Policy

Trump May Be on Collision Course with Congress over Russian Hacking

Lawmakers call Russian meddling in the election a threat to democracy; Trump says it never happened.

Policy

What You Don’t Know About Gen. John Kelly

The four-star boy from Boston brings to DHS the grief of losing friends to America’s drug epidemic and a son to the war on terrorism.

Science & Tech

America’s Lead in Quantum Computing Is ‘Under Siege’

A White House cyber policy adviser says the U.S. must boost investment.

Business

Trump’s Air Force One Tweet Rattles the Defense Industry

Was the president-elect trying to drive down a price tag — or slap back at a CEO’s policy suggestions?

Policy

Rand Paul Is Already Planning to Disrupt Trump’s Foreign Policy

Some see the president-elect’s inexperience as an open door for the Kentucky senator and oth­er mem­bers of Con­gress to re­as­sert them­selves against more intervention abroad.