A discussion of the recent piece for Carnegie, “Strategic Change in U.S. Foreign Policy.” The group muses on the difficulty of altering established foreign policy paradigms before delving into several case studies such as NSC-68, Nixon's Vietnam Withdrawal, Carter's Failed Korea Withdrawal, NATO Enlargement, and the Global War on Terror, emphasizing the need for foresight, strategic planning, and a willingness to incur political costs to make such change possible.

How large foreign policy shifts happen despite pressures to maintain the status quo.

The United States has few partners more controversial than Saudi Arabia. Yet the country’s influence in the Middle East and over global oil supplies has made the kingdom a key emerging power for the United States, despite its repressive authoritarian regime and abhorrent human rights record.

Washington’s current approach is a strategic cop-out—and risks making another forever war.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought bilateral relations with the U.S. to their lowest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis. Yet Russia holds sway over many U.S. foreign policy priorities. How can the U.S. support European security without sacrificing its other interests?

And why it would be a mistake to judge emerging powers by the strength of their ties to China or Russia.

Collectively, a group of emerging powers in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East are growing in their geopolitical weight and diplomatic ambition. How closely do they align with the United States when it comes to Russia and China? What drives their decisions on the world stage? How can the United States integrate them into its foreign policy strategy?

This year’s public version of the annual threat assessment includes some interesting nuggets for U.S. policy toward China, Russia, and Iran—and a clear warning about the risk of foreign interference in America’s 2024 elections.

A healthy democracy ought to be able to develop and debate its national-security options honestly, openly and vigorously.

Biden deserves credit for pushing for the meeting despite an often heatedly anti-China political environment in the US.

Join us for a discussion of the Iraq War’s impact on our debates about U.S. foreign policy today and into the future.

Plans to provide Ukraine with Western tanks, announced in recent days, indicate that America, Germany and others are settling in for a much longer war. But in a prolonged conflict, far more will perish.