The Paradox of President Trump's Peace Project

Analysis
by Leslie Vinjamuri

Trump can disrupt wars and force pauses but has yet to close one. The gap is creating space for middle powers—and an opening for China.

 President Donald Trump signs the charter of his Board of Peace initiative at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 22, 2026.
Markus Schreiber / AP
US Foreign Policy

What the US-Saudi Nuclear Deal Means for Global Nonproliferation

Analysis
by Rachel Bronson

Rachel Bronson explains how the deal's uranium enrichment terms and apparent bypass of IAEA oversight break from past US nuclear agreements—and what precedent that sets.

President Donald Trump speaks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in Washington.
Evan Vucci / AP
US Foreign Policy

Could Burnham's 'Manchesterism' Be a Model for Fixing the West's Crisis?

Analysis
by Leslie Vinjamuri

New UK leader Andy Burnham is wagering that economic renewal at home, not global strategy, is what stands between Britain and its own populist reckoning.

Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham arrives at 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, July 20, 2026.
Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP
Global Politics

The World Cup Amplified Old Tensions and Deferred to New Politics

Analysis
by Alexander Cooley

FIFA is increasingly bending to host countries on domestic politics, raising questions about whether global sporting events can still function as unifying forces.

President DonaldTrump walks onto the stage for the trophy presentation during the World Cup final
Abbie Parr / AP
Sports Diplomacy

The Shortcomings of US Transactionalism

Analysis
by Leslie Vinjamuri

America’s treatment of its allies is creating a gap that others will fill.

President Donald Trump walks through blue curtains
Alex Brandon / AP
US Foreign Policy

What the New World Screwworm Outbreak Reveals About US Agricultural Security

Analysis
by Deborah Rosenblum

The parasite's reappearance for the first time in decades is emblematic of broader vulnerabilities in the agricultural sector.

Cattle graze near a sterile fly dispersal station placed by the US Department of Agriculture to combat the spread of the New World screwworm
Eric Gay / AP
Food and Agriculture

How Russia's War on Ukraine is Reshaping Europe's Defense Strategy

Analysis
by Armida van Rij

The conflict offers lessons for how to bolster European security with less support from the United States.

A Ukrainian serviceman shoots towards a drone during training at the polygon, in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine.
Andriy Andriyenko / AP
Defense and Security

What the Defense Industry Discussed at the NATO Summit

Analysis
by Coauthors

North American and European industry representatives met in Ankara to discuss how to enhance the alliance’s capabilities through increased production, cooperation, and joint procurement.

Participants walk near displays during the NATO Defense Industry Forum
Hussein Malla / AP
Defense and Security

What a Le Pen Presidency Could Mean for France, Europe, and NATO

Analysis
by Ariane Tabatabai

Far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen has joined the French presidential race. Her victory would spark a complete departure from French foreign policy under Macron.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen walks outside the courtroom during a short break in her appeals trial in Paris, on Jan. 20, 2026.
Michel Euler / AP
Global Politics

Inside the NATO Summit in Ankara: Ukraine, Iran, and Turkey's F-35 Bid

Analysis
by Ariane Tabatabai

From Turkey's F-35 ambitions to Zelenskyy's meeting with Trump, Council expert Ariane Tabatabai unpacks how burden sharing, Ukraine's evolving role, and unresolved tensions over Iran shaped this year's summit.

A member of protocol arranges U.S. flags prior to a media conference at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
Hussein Malla / AP
Global Politics