The Wrong Way to Review US Force Posture in Europe

In the News
Defense One
Julianne Smith

Council Distinguished Nonresident Fellow Ambassador Julianne Smith notes that the US should review its European force posture based on security needs—not allies’ political loyalty—to protect NATO, deter Russia, and preserve readiness.

A U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III T-1 flies over Owens Valley to Edwards Air Force Base, California Geopolitics

Fighting While Talking: The Iran War Enters Its Bargaining Phase

In the News
Lawfare
Ariane Tabatabai

"A bargaining war turns on two quantities: what each side can threaten, and what each side can bear," Council Vice President of Research for Security and Defense Ariane Tabatabai and Lawfare's Julia Curlee write.

A man waves an Iranian flag during a pro-government gathering at a square in Tehran
Vahid Salemi / AP
Geopolitics

What Are We Fighting For?

In the News
Gloves Off Podcast
Julianne Smith

How can middle powers win without returning to globalization and the same old system? Council Distinguished Nonresident Fellow Ambassador Julianne Smith weighs in.

Stephen Marche and Julianne Smith appear in a split screen video Geopolitics

Trump Rage Erupts Over Iran as Aides Leak Embarrassing Truth: He Lost

In the News
The New Republic
Ariane Tabatabai

"[President Trump is] essentially taking Oman and lashing out at them because of the fact that he is unable to close out this war," Council Vice President of Research on Security and Defense Ariane Tabatabai shares on The Daily Blast podcast.

US President Donald Trump sits inside the Oval Office on July 24, 2026.
Rod Lamkey / AP
US Foreign Policy

Here's What Middle Powers Can Actually Do

In the News
Foreign Policy
Suzanne Nossel

"There are concrete steps that internationalist nations can take to staunch the erosion of global norms and set the stage for a stronger future," Council Lester Crown Senior Nonresident Fellow Suzanne Nossel writes.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos
Markus Schreiber / AP
Global Politics

Lawfare Daily: Ukraine, Iran, Taiwan, and the Short War Illusion

In the News
Lawfare
Ariane Tabatabai

Council Vice President of Research for Security and Defense Ariane Tabatabai joins the podcast to discuss how the short war illusion is playing out today and how it could play out in a future conflict between China and Taiwan.

ships in the Taiwan Strait
US Navy via AP
Geopolitics

How America's Adversaries Have Stopped Fighting Alone

In the News
Time
Ariane Tabatabai

"Russian support for Iran in the war with the US was not a new development," Council Vice President of Research for Security and Defense Ariane Tabatabai and John Drennan write. "Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea had been deepening and widening their cooperation."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrive at a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender
Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
Geopolitics

Trump Says the US And Iran Have Agreed on a Deal

In the News
NPR
Ariane Tabatabai

"I think President Trump had overestimated how much he could achieve militarily. And I think Iran might now be overestimating what it can achieve diplomatically based on the cycle that we're in," Council Vice President of Research for Security and Defense Ariane Tabatabai tells NPR.

A woman walks past a mural depicting a US aircraft carrier under missile attack
Vahid Salemi / AP
US Foreign Policy

Burnham Meets with Zelensky for First Time as UK Prime Minister

In the News
BBC News
Leslie Vinjamuri

"This meeting really moves the needle in a very serious way [and] makes it clear that he is prepared to be a statesperson on the biggest issues of war and peace," Council President and CEO Leslie Vinjamuri tells BBC News.

Leslie Vinjamuri speaks with a BBC presenter Global Politics

'Iran Is Turning to Old Tactics and the US Is Taking the Bait'

In the News
CNN
Leslie Vinjamuri

Council President and CEO Leslie Vinjamuri speaks with Christiane Amanpour about what options are on the table as the US-Iran ceasefire crumbles.

Christiane Amanpour and Leslie Vinjamuri US Foreign Policy