In The News

US-Japanese Defense Pact: Japan Times

Tomohiro Osaki June 25, 2019
US President Donald Trump relies on equivocation and impulsivity during negotiations and staff planning – to mask his intentions, seek leverage, and keep adversaries and allies on edge. A report suggested that Trump suggested terminating the 1951 defense pact with Japan, calling it “one-sided.” Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary, pointed out that Trump issued a denial and the two countries...

Taking on Tehran: Project Syndicate

Richard N. Haass June 18, 2019
Iran has been public enemy number one for the Trump administration, with the United States withdrawing from the nuclear deal brokered by former President Barack Obama and imposing harsh sanctions. Iran’s oil exports and the economy as a whole is experiencing a harsh slowdown. Other nations abide by US policy, but the Iranian regime may outlast the US pressure due to its inimitable institutional...

Allies Made D-Day Landing Possible: USA Today

John Fritze June 6, 2019
More than 160,000 US and Allied troops landed on the coast of Normandy for the D-Day invasion. World leaders gather in France to commemorate the anniversary, honor veterans and remember the sacrifices. The invasion, a turning point in World War II, offers a reminder about the value of alliances, notes Nicholas Burns, former US ambassador to NATO, in an article by John Fritze of USA Today. Troops...

No Revolution in the EU: Deutsche Welle

Bernd Riegert May 28, 2019
The European Union is a mix of diverse nations, languages and political systems that integrated for trade, economic, social and security policies and remains fragmented, as shown by the 2019 European Parliament elections. More than 50 percent of the electorate voted and two thirds chose pro-European parties. Some of the far-right populist parties did well in individual nations like France, Italy...

Australia’s China Challenge: New York Times

Damien Cave May 26, 2019
The Chinese government, under President Xi Jinping, has expanded its covert sphere of influence in countries like Australia. China relies on the substantial ethnic Chinese population and Chinese economic ties representing 24 percent of Australian imports and exports to push its agenda within Australia with a say on the nation’s foreign trade policy. Beijing has weaponized economics, and Chinese...

Foreign Policy Challenges for Modi: Economic Times

Raj Kumar Sharma May 24, 2019
Economic and other domestic policies typically sway India’s voters, but India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi won his second term by focusing on foreign policy and security issues, explains Raj Kumar Sharma for the Economic Times. Modi must be wary as the United States could expand its trade war with China to other nations like India and the rivalry could spur China’s dominance in Asia. For now,...

How Trump Thinks He Can Outsmart Putin: Atlantic

Peter Nicholas and Kathy Gilsinan May 21, 2019
Former and current members of US President Donald Trump’s inner circle are not doves when it comes to Russia. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has had harsh words for the Russian president and his influence in Venezuela, for instance. The command in chief himself, however, stands alone in his outwardly manifested trust in Vladimir Putin. Trump supporters explain this “good-cop, bad-cop” scheme is...