Ideas
A New Nuclear Deal? Start with New START
Russia is ready to extend this critical treaty, but Trump isn’t taking “yes” for an answer.
Ideas
GOP Lawmakers Used to Oppose Trump's Embrace of Russia. No More.
High-ranking Republicans are now defending the president with debunked claims that national security experts say play right into Putin's hands.
Ideas
Trump Just Ghosted NATO, But Here’s What He Said That Matters
The president was on a roll until he surrendered a final chance to lay out his concerns and priorities.
Ideas
NATO’s Newest Threat Is Coming From Inside the House
Worry less about the gaps between NATO leaders, and more about the gap between those leaders and the national security community.
Policy
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Ankara?
The question is not: “Can we live with a rogue Turkey?” but: “Do we have a choice?” said one U.S. official.
Ideas
America's Rivalry With China Is Nothing Like the Cold War
In today’s circumstances, Cold War–era policies are not only unnecessary, but likely to catalyze a destructive spiral of heightening tensions that would make the world a more dangerous place.
Ideas
The Surest Way to Lose to China Is to Disparage Expertise
In this new era of great power competition, we are not investing enough in area specialists.
Ideas
Declaring Mexican Drug Cartels ‘Terrorists’ Is a Bad Old Idea
Trump and Obama policymakers rejected it because it brings no new tools to bear — and quite a few drawbacks.
Ideas
The War-Crimes President
When violence is directed at those Trump’s supporters hate and fear, they see such excesses not as crimes but as virtues.
Threats
How North Korea Soured on Donald Trump
Kim Jong Un only wanted to engage with the president. Now he’s turning on him.
Ideas
How Trump Turned the Military Against Itself
The president’s repeated interference in a Navy SEAL’s case shows that he cares about only one kind of military discipline: obedience to Trump.
Ideas
Loosening Firearms Exports Will Tear at a Larger Arms-Control Fabric
But Congress still has time to block the Trump administration’s proposed changes.
Ideas
As the Rich Get Richer, the Ambassadors Get Worse
Gordon Sondland embodies an age-old problem—one that the flood of donor money into American politics is only exacerbating.
Ideas
Foreign Policy Isn't Just Up To Trump
The president’s defenders argue that U.S. foreign policy is whatever he says it is. Trouble is, that’s not what the Constitution says.
Ideas
America Hasn’t Always Supported Ukraine Like This
For a policy that’s purportedly a pillar of the decades-old international order, military aid to Ukraine is pretty new.
Policy
Trump Officials Meet With Libyan Politician Aligned With Opposition ‘Strongman’ In Potential Policy Shift
US support for the UN-recognized Libyan government is in question after a series of quiet meetings with an enterprising presidential hopeful.
Ideas
'Some of You on this Committee Appear to Believe' That Russia Didn't Meddle in 2016
In testimony, a former senior director for European and Russian affairs on Trump's National Security Council tells lawmakers to stop spreading Moscow's lies.
Ideas
What’s Driving Apolitical Diplomats to Get Political
Some former State Department officials are so concerned by Trump’s treatment of America's allies and diplomatic corps that they have begun to advise 2020 Democrats.
Ideas
Pompeo Can’t Escape
The secretary of state has been trying to distance himself from the impeachment hearings, but today’s explosive testimony put him at center stage.
Ideas