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Welcome to the Era of Great Power Stupidity

In the News
World Politics Review
Paul Poast

"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.

Traditional Russian wooden dolls depicting China's President Xi Jinping, US President-Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin
Dmitri Lovetsky / AP
US Foreign Policy

Educating Girls, Changing the World

Video Series
EL Alumni Impact

We spoke with Council Emerging Leaders Program alumna Amy Maglio about her work empowering communities to educate girls.

Amy Maglio poses for a photo with two students. Women and Girls

Ukraine's Minerals Won't Solve US Supply Chain Problems

In the News
Foreign Policy
Joshua Busby

"Barring major investments in processing, a new source of raw minerals would do little to address key US vulnerabilities," Joshua Busby, Emily J. Holland, and Morgan D. Bazilian write.

 A view of an ilmenite open pit mine in a canyon in the central region of Kirovohrad, Ukraine
Efrem Lukatsky / AP
US Foreign Policy

Germany Moves Right, US Abandons Ukraine, and Gaza Truce Extension

Video Series
World Review with Ivo Daalder

Stefanie Bolzen, Andrew Roth, and Giles Whittell join Ivo Daalder to discuss the week's top news stories.

Alice Weidel, co-leader of far right Alternative for Germany (Afd) smiles at the AfD party headquarters in Berlin on February 23, 205.
Michael Probst / AP
Global Politics

Trump Has His Eyes on a Bigger Prize than the US-Ukraine Mineral Deal

In the News
World Politics Review
Paul Poast

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.

President Donald Trump meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump Tower
Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP
US Foreign Policy

Israel-Hama Ceasefire Set to End This Weekend

In the News
Fox 32 Chicago
Cécile Shea

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

Cecile Shea on Fox 32 Chicago Defense and Security

Tensions Grow Between Trump and Zelensky over Ukraine War Talks

In the News
WGN 9
Paul Poast

"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.

Paul Poast appears on WGN via Zoom US Foreign Policy

The US Won't Abandon Europe

In the News
World Politics Review
Paul Poast

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

 US President Donald Trump at a NATO summit
Markus Schreiber / AP
US Foreign Policy

US-Russia Reset, New Gaza Plans, and Xi's Big Tech Bet

Video Series
World Review with Ivo Daalder

Bobby Ghosh, Prashant Rao, and Liz Sly join guest host Carla Anne Robbins to discuss the week's top news stories.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second left, meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, third left, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, left, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, second right, at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 18, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein / AP
US Foreign Policy

Getting Out of Trump's Way Could Be Russia and China's Best Bet

In the News
World Politics Review
Daniel W. Drezner

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

President Donald Trump in front of an American flag
Rebecca Blackwell / AP
US Foreign Policy