Will foreign policy actually matter in the 2024 U.S. election? Elizabeth N. Saunders - September 21, 2023 It may not matter much to voters, but foreign policy is definitely on the ballot.
When Defense Secretary Austin tried to call his Chinese counterpart, here’s what really got in the way Tom Fox - June 23, 2021 The U.S. and China have very different military structures.
Former military leaders criticized the election and the administration. That hurts the military’s reputation. Peter Feaver and Jim Golby - May 14, 2021 Statements from retired generals can have an unintended impact, our surveys find
Biden has picked a retired general for defense secretary. Here’s why it matters. Risa A. Brooks, Michael Robinson, and Heidi A. Urben - December 9, 2020 The move marks back-to-back administrations tapping retired generals to fill high-level government positions
The Trump campaign claims it wants a foreign policy debate. That’s not what we’re likely to get. Elizabeth N. Saunders - October 21, 2020 But foreign policy will definitely be on the ballot on Nov. 3
Why Trump’s alleged comments about soldiers brought so much outrage Lauren Prather and Danielle Gilbert - September 11, 2020 This study examines who Americans think deserves government support.
Trump allegedly disparaged America’s war dead. The backlash probably won’t decide the election. Jim Golby - September 9, 2020 But both campaigns want the public to think the military is on their side.
#NeverTrump conservatives want to shape the Republicans — and the Democrats, too Henry Farrell - June 6, 2020 In 2016, they tried to persuade Mattis to run against Trump.
Congress can’t easily pass police reforms. Here’s why. Sarah Binder - June 5, 2020 Public attention will shift — and the Republican Senate will ignore House action.
The secretary of defense spoke out against Trump’s approach to the protests. Yes, this is a big deal. Elizabeth N. Saunders - June 3, 2020 And he did it on TV, which will reach a broad audience
The U.S. plans to withdraw from the Open Skies treaty. That’s a miscalculation. James J. Cameron - May 24, 2020 The transparency of monitoring flights helps avoid military conflict
The U.S. may be close to a peace deal in Afghanistan. Here are 3 big takeaways. Asfandyar Mir - February 20, 2020 How can the U.S. prevent a civil war and international terrorism while getting out of its longest war?
Worried about an Islamic State comeback? Here’s why that’s unlikely. Daniel Byman - October 28, 2019 Yes, Trump pulled U.S. troops out of northern Syria, but many other factors will probably keep ISIS down.
Republicans’ advantage on national security has faded — and Democratic candidates are responding Michael Robinson - October 20, 2019 The Trump administration keeps moving further from what Americans say they want.
President Trump tapped Gen. Mark Milley as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Here are 3 things to know. Jim Golby - September 30, 2019 Statements by the JCS chairman can have a significant impact on public opinion.
Trump’s nominated a new national security advisor. Don’t expect that to change much about Trump’s foreign policy. Paul Musgrave - September 10, 2019 Goodbye to John Bolton. Hello to Robert C. O’Brien.
What China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea means — and what comes next Jessica Weiss - May 29, 2019 China’s ‘maritime gray zone operations’ target U.S. naval vessels.
Trump tweeted there’s ‘no infighting’ on U.S. policy on Iran. But does he have all the information? Tyler Jost and Robert Schub - May 18, 2019 Advisers help presidents make informed decisions — usually
Attempts to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization have failed before. Why is it returning now? Marc Lynch - May 1, 2019 Trump’s Middle East policy pattern shows disregard for the consequences.
Here’s another way Trump is different: Flip-flopping doesn’t affect his public approval. Sarah E. Croco, Jared McDonald, and Candace Turitto - March 11, 2019 When leaders vacillate, citizens usually consider them weak and indecisive. Not with Trump.
The Senate and intelligence community rebuked Trump on national security this week. James Goldgeier, Elizabeth N. Saunders, and Sarah Binder - February 2, 2019 Here's why that matters — a lot.
This is the one norm Trump didn’t break when he pulled troops out of Syria Alice Hunt Friend - January 6, 2019 Over the holidays, President Trump lashed out at outgoing Defense
Trump’s base did not elect him to withdraw troops from Syria and Afghanistan Michael Tesler - January 4, 2019 President Trump has faced bipartisan criticism over his decision to
The shutdown is just the finale. Here are five takeaways from the Republican Congress’s chaotic 2018. Sarah Binder - December 27, 2018 Five takeaways from a year of one-party rule.
Can the president be indicted? Let’s see what the Greeks had to say about the rule of law. David Lay Williams - December 26, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81978" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III
U.S. troop drawdown in Afghanistan raises big questions Asfandyar Mir - December 23, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81955" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A U.S. flag is seen at
Johnny Paycheck, ‘Take This Job and Shove It’: The Week In One Song Christopher Federico - December 21, 2018 Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, citing differences with the president in
What the Mattis resignation tells us about how Trump is damaging the military’s credibility Michael Robinson - December 21, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81861" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Defense Secretary Jim Mattis welcomes Vice
Three reasons that Jim Mattis’s resignation is not just unusual — but startling Elizabeth N. Saunders - December 21, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81843" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump, flanked by Defense Secretary
Last week showed how Trump’s management of his team is hurting his own foreign policy. It’s only going to get worse. Elizabeth N. Saunders - December 10, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81377" align="alignleft" width="960"] Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., chairman of
Why is the Senate challenging Trump on Yemen? Jordan Tama - November 30, 2018 Here’s what you need to know.
When President Trump heads to Europe, discussion turns to burden-sharing. James Goldgeier - November 14, 2018 Editor's note: On Tuesday, Trump tweeted that French President Emmanuel
Democracy is in crisis in Latin America. Brazil may be the next trouble spot. Scott Mainwaring and Luis Schenoni - October 22, 2018 [caption id="attachment_79199" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man yells after listening to
Steven Bannon is wrong. The White House ‘resistance’ is the opposite of a coup. Naunihal Singh - September 11, 2018 Former senior White House adviser Stephen K. Bannon calls it
Belt and Road projects direct Chinese investment to all corners of the globe. What are the local impacts? Richard Bluhm, Michael Tierney, Bradley Parks, Austin Strange, Axel Dreher, and Andreas Fuchs - September 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_77562" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A worker uses a blowtorch at
Privatizing the U.S. effort in Afghanistan seemed a bad idea. Now it’s even worse. Deborah Avant - September 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_77550" align="aligncenter" width="960"] U.S. troops wait for their helicopter
China’s power in the Middle East is rising Jonathan Fulton - August 9, 2018 [caption id="attachment_76548" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, crown
How do we know if U.S. troops in South Korea are a viable tripwire? A new survey suggests it’s not that simple. Steven Ward and Paul Musgrave - June 8, 2018 [caption id="attachment_74272" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Marines lace up their boots during
The Trump administration wants regime change in Iran. But regime change usually doesn’t work. Lindsey O'Rourke and Alexander Downes - May 23, 2018 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People march in Tehran on Feb.
Trump meets Qatar’s emir today. But efforts to resolve the Persian Gulf dispute have already stalled. Coates Ulrichsen - April 10, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72019" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Defense Secretary Jim Mattis stands with
Bolton starts today, with a Syria crisis on the agenda. But there are limits to what he can do. Elizabeth N. Saunders - April 9, 2018 [caption id="attachment_71942" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, right,
Afghanistan’s road to peace won’t be an easy one Asfandyar Mir - March 30, 2018 Is there hope for an end to the long war
Would transgender troops harm military effectiveness? Here’s what the research says Alexander Downes - March 27, 2018 Editors' note: This post, originally published on August 1, 2017,
Will the Olympics help — or hurt — regional tensions in Asia? Watch for these 3 things. Kelly McFarland - February 9, 2018 [caption id="attachment_69087" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A visitor passes under LED light
It sure looks as if Kirsten Gillibrand is running for president Sean McElwee and Jon Green - January 1, 2018 Will Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) run for president in 2020?
The 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner wants to ban nuclear weapons. Here’s why the U.S. is opposed. Rebecca Gibbons - December 11, 2017 On Sunday, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
Here’s why the Trump administration may actually want Congress to pass a new authorization for military force Andrew Rudalevige - November 20, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66466" align="aligncenter" width="960"] In this photo from Nov. 6, U.S.
The 5 things we learned from Trump’s Asia trip Mira Rapp-Hooper - November 15, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66259" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump and Chinese President Xi
When did Congress authorize fighting in Niger? That’s an excellent question. Andrew Rudalevige - November 11, 2017 It’s Veterans Day – not a bad time to give
Four reasons Trump’s Asia trip is so important Andrew Yeo - November 4, 2017 As Donald Trump embarks on his first presidential trip to
President Trump didn’t pull out of the Iran deal. Here’s what that says about the politics of foreign policy. Elizabeth N. Saunders - October 16, 2017 [caption id="attachment_64940" align="alignnone" width="960"] Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) speaks during
Four paths to a ‘strategic miscalculation’ over North Korea Or Rabinowitz - September 27, 2017 On Monday, North Korea’s foreign minister, Ri Yong Ho, declared
Would Trump attack North Korea? Here’s what we learned from his ‘Rocket Man’ speech at the U.N. Mira Rapp-Hooper - September 20, 2017 Donald Trump devoted a significant portion of his United Nations
Five things Trump did on his summer vacation: A foreign policy roundup Elizabeth N. Saunders - September 4, 2017 [caption id="attachment_63164" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump gives an address at
Trump breaks these 3 rules about how U.S. presidents relate to the military Risa Brooks - August 23, 2017 Editors’ note: After President Trump’s announcement Monday night that the
Here are 5 takeaways from Trump’s startling nuclear threats against North Korea Mira Rapp-Hooper - August 21, 2017 In international security, there is no area where careful signaling
Why John Kelly can’t tame the White House chaos James Pfiffner - August 18, 2017 Shortly after hiring Anthony Scaramucci as director of communication, President
The big problem with the North Koreans isn’t that we can’t trust them. It’s that they can’t trust us. - August 16, 2017 [caption id="attachment_62420" align="aligncenter" width="960"] South Korean Army K1A1 and U.S.
Most Americans opposed integrating the military in 1948. Most Americans support transgender military service today. Steven White - August 1, 2017 Last week, President Trump announced via Twitter that, after “consultation
How Trump’s alignment with Saudi Arabia and the UAE is inflaming the Middle East Marc Lynch - June 7, 2017 [caption id="attachment_59460" align="aligncenter" width="960"]in President Trump speaks with Qatar's Sheikh
What’s going on with Qatar? Coates Ulrichsen - June 1, 2017 Tensions have resurfaced in a sustained media onslaught that has
South Korea just elected a new president. Will there be new friction with the U.S.? Andrew Yeo - May 9, 2017 http://www.washingtonpost.com/video/world/will-south-korea-have-a-new-approach-toward-north-korea-us/2017/05/10/70c1ff60-34f5-11e7-ab03-aa29f656f13e_video.html South Koreans just elected a new president: Moon Jae-in
Trump had his first big foreign policy challenge. So what did we learn? Elizabeth N. Saunders - April 7, 2017 [caption id="attachment_56595" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump receives a briefing on
Congress may give Trump legal authority to fight the Islamic State Andrew Rudalevige - March 27, 2017 [caption id="attachment_55840" align="alignnone" width="960"] U.S. forces drive armored vehicles near
South Korea’s president was impeached. North Korea is increasingly threatening. Celeste Arrington - March 12, 2017 Here's what you need to know.
3 things to know about the Trump administration’s warning shots on NATO Michael Cecire - February 27, 2017 [caption id="attachment_54703" align="aligncenter" width="960"] U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis greets
Did Trump and Abe just launch a new chapter in U.S.-Japan relations? Andrew Yeo - February 13, 2017 President Trump got off to a rocky foreign policy start
‘Enhanced interrogations’ don’t work as well as regular ones Misty Duke and Van Puyvelde - February 9, 2017 [caption id="attachment_53823" align="aligncenter" width="960"] An Iraqi army soldier closes the
Steve Bannon is on the National Security Council. That sends a big signal. Elizabeth N. Saunders - February 1, 2017 On Saturday, the White House issued National Security Presidential Memorandum
Worried about NATO? Here are 3 things to watch. Sara Moller - January 26, 2017 [caption id="attachment_50936" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Dutch soldiers take part in large-scale
The Cabinet was the easy part. Staffing (and steering) the bureaucracy takes much more work. Andrew Rudalevige - January 10, 2017 [caption id="attachment_51814" align="aligncenter" width="858"] Excerpts of H.R. Haldeman's notes from
Did U.S. aid win hearts and minds in Afghanistan? Yes and no. Renard Sexton - January 6, 2017 [caption id="attachment_52140" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A nurse weighs a child at
Eight questions about Donald Trump’s decision-making in a foreign policy crisis Elizabeth N. Saunders - December 21, 2016 [caption id="attachment_50648" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A man buys a newspaper featuring