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The idea of “smart power” seems especially relevant today. But foreign policy choices usually don't boil down to obvious outcomes, Paul Poast argues.

"Europe should take primary responsibility for its security, but the United States needs to deliver key assurances to allow such a transition," Ivo Daalder argues.

"Rather than innocent mistakes, the stupid policies on display today seem more like the result of willful ignorance," Paul Poast writes of a range of current world leaders.

Trump desperately wants to be seen as the one who ends the war in Ukraine and thinks the mineral agreement will help him do that, Paul Poast argues.

Cécile Shea weighs in on what's next for Gaza and peace negotiations moving forward.

"You can't just look at what Trump is saying to really get a sense of what the administration as a whole is trying to achieve," Paul Poast says.

A whirlwind week left observers writing the trans-Atlantic alliance’s eulogy. Paul Poast weighs in on what's next.

Will Trump be able to deter rival great powers from taking even more aggressive actions during his second term? Daniel Drezner offers his take.

"Europe has been too dependent on the US for its security—and for too long," the Council's Ivo Daalder, Camille Grand, and Daniela Schwarzer argue in Politico.

Despite his best efforts, Trump will ultimately not steer US policy in a direction that isn't already dictated by the international system, Paul Poast argues.