Will Merrow/CFR

Russia

Russia’s threat to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus has raised the specter of a new nuclear standoff with the United States and its allies in Europe.

 

United States

The nuclear arms race was perhaps the most alarming feature of the Cold War competition between the United States and Soviet Union. Over the decades, the two sides signed various arms control agreements as a means to manage their rivalry and limit the risk of nuclear war. However, deep fissures have reemerged in the U.S.-Russia relationship in recent years, raising once again the specter of a nuclear arms race.
Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa

The recent flurry of U.S. diplomacy in Africa demonstrates that this is a critical moment for cultivating new relations on the continent.

Democratic Republic of Congo

As the Democratic Republic of Congo’s decades-long struggle with insecurity heats up, increased regional military engagement heightens risks.

 

Defense and Security

United States

However, Pillar II of the AUKUS—which promises cooperation on AI, hypersonics, quantum computing and other advanced technologies—could significantly strengthen the U.S. position in the Asia Pacific.

 

 

United States

Americas

Tens of thousands of unaccompanied children have been arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border each year, sparking debate over how to respond. How is the Joe Biden administration handling it?

United States

The Biden administration’s proposed immigration policy aims to curb migrant flows to the United States amid record border crossings. What will it do, and how does it compare to the Trump years?

Immigration and Migration

Israel

Israel

The Israeli debate on judicial reform involves issues unique to that country's political system, but also raises questions that every democracy must address. What are the proper powers of courts and of elected institutions in democratic systems of government?

 

Israel

Martin S. Indyk, the Lowy distinguished fellow in U.S.-Middle East diplomacy at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the consequences of Benjamin Netanyahu’s return as Israel’s prime minister.

Events

United States

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco discusses how the Department of Justice is countering new and evolving threats to the rule of law posed by hostile nation states, from transnational repression to foreign malign influence. This meeting is part of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy.

Iraq War

Panelists discuss lessons learned from the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, including the circumstances that led to Operation Iraqi Freedom and whether it was a necessary war, as well as the ramifications of the resulting war for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. The Lessons From History Series uses historical analysis as a critical tool for understanding modern foreign policy challenges by hearing from practitioners who played an important role in a consequential historical event or from experts and historians. This series is made possible through the generous support of David M. Rubenstein.

Ireland

Former officials involved in the negotiations discuss the landmark 1998 Good Friday Agreement (or Belfast Agreement), lessons for the ongoing peace process, enduring sectarian tensions, and the future of Northern Ireland. The Lessons From History Series uses historical analysis as a critical tool for understanding modern foreign policy challenges by hearing from practitioners who played an important role in a consequential historical event or from experts and historians. This series is made possible through the generous support of David M. Rubenstein.

Religion

Expert Spotlight

Jennifer Hillman
Jennifer Hillman

Senior Fellow for Trade and International Political Economy

Trade World Trade Organization (WTO) NAFTA

How to Use Trade Policy to Meet the Climate Challenge

Richard Haass
Richard Haass

President, Council on Foreign Relations

U.S. Foreign Policy International Relations

Richard Haass Says More…

Zongyuan Zoe Liu

The Banking Industry’s Go-to Crisis Adviser

Will Freeman
Will Freeman

Fellow for Latin America Studies

Americas Latin America Democracy

How Maduro Survived

Daniel Kurtz-Phelan
Daniel Kurtz-Phelan

Editor, Foreign Affairs; Peter G. Peterson Chair

China U.S. Foreign Policy

Ray Takeyh
Ray Takeyh

Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies

Iran Iran Nuclear Agreement Persian Gulf

James M. Lindsay
James M. Lindsay

Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair

United States Politics and Government Polls and Public Opinion

Artificial Intelligence and Great-Power Competition

Joshua Kurlantzick
Joshua Kurlantzick

Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia Asia Democracy

A Little More Conversation with Ben O’Hara-Byrne

Yanzhong Huang
Yanzhong Huang

Senior Fellow for Global Health

China Health Asia

China’s Hidden COVID Catastrophe

Esther Brimmer

What’s Cracking in the Arctic?

Adam Segal
Adam Segal

Ira A. Lipman Chair in Emerging Technologies and National Security and Director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program

China Cybersecurity Asia

Kenneth S. Rogoff

The Age of Inflation

Robert E. Rubin
Robert E. Rubin

Chairman Emeritus; Former Secretary of the U.S. Treasury

Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson

Stephen A. Schwarzman Senior Fellow for China Studies

China Civil Society Democracy

A. Michael Spence

America’s Widening Productivity Gap

Shannon K. O'Neil
Shannon K. O'Neil

Vice President, Deputy Director of Studies, and Nelson and David Rockefeller Senior Fellow for Latin America Studies

Trade Supply Chains Democracy

Bruce Hoffman
Bruce Hoffman

Shelby Cullom and Kathryn W. Davis Senior Fellow for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security

Terrorism and Counterterrorism Wars and Conflict Intelligence

Sheila A. Smith
Sheila A. Smith

John E. Merow Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Studies

Japan Defense and Security Asia

Seeking Stability – And Responsibility – Japan Builds Up Military”

John B. Bellinger III
John B. Bellinger III

Adjunct Senior Fellow for International and National Security Law

International Law Treaties and Agreements Sanctions

Max Boot
Max Boot

Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies

U.S. Foreign Policy Defense and Security Military History

Paul B. Stares
Paul B. Stares

General John W. Vessey Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention and Director of the Center for Preventive Action

Conflict Prevention Wars and Conflict Defense and Security

Thomas J. Bollyky
Thomas J. Bollyky

Senior Fellow for Global Health, Economics, and Development and Director of the Global Health Program

Health Trade Development

Tom Frieden

The Next Anthony Fauci

Scott A. Snyder
Scott A. Snyder

Senior Fellow for Korea Studies and Director of the Program on U.S.-Korea Policy

North Korea South Korea Asia

Explainers

How New Tobacco Laws Could Narrow the Racial Gap on Cancer
This interactive examines how nationwide bans on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, as proposed by the Biden administration on April 28, 2022, could help shrink the racial gap on U.S. lung cancer death rates.

Featured Publications

Democracy

A provocative guide to how we must reenvision citizenship if American democracy is to survive.

Americas

Shannon K. O’Neil offers a powerful case for why regionalization, not globalization, has been the biggest economic trend of the last forty years.

China

Joshua Kurlantzick analyzes China's attempts to become a media, information, and influence superpower, seeking for the first time to shape the domestic politics, local media, and information environments of the United States, East Asia, parts of Europe, and the broader world.