"We thought this would be a president who might be neoisolationist, who might be inclined toward restraint," Council President and CEO Leslie Vinjamuri says. "That is just not what we're seeing now. "
Council Nonresident Senior Fellow Paul Poast reflects on the Trump administration's recent operation in Venezuela and what it reveals about the president's approach to foreign policy.
The US capture of Venezuela’s Maduro echoed intents outlined by Trump in the 2025 National Security Strategy. While the action might have appealed to his Republican base, the strategy’s principles are mostly out of step with US public opinion on America’s engagement in the world.
"The person that is probably benefiting the most right now is Vladimir Putin," Nonresident Senior Fellow Bruce Jentleson says. "'What's yours in mine' is what he said to Ukraine."
The Trump administration rejects the post-Cold War international order and sets out a new vision in its National Security Strategy. At the Doha Forum, world leaders reckoned with its impact on long-standing alliances and its implications for war and peace.
The use of social media to incite violence in global conflicts and influence foreign elections pushed social platforms to take safety and integrity more seriously. AI companies should take note, Nonresident Senior Fellow Suzanne Nossel and Paolo Carozza write.
Human Rights Day arrives as norms fade, and pressures such as inequality and disinformation are rising. Kenneth Roth explains what’s really at stake.
"US allies have no choice but to shift their long-term strategies to reduce their dependence on Washington," Nonresident Senior Fellow Paul Poast and Robert E. Kelly write.
