In The News

Telegraph: Montenegro and US Blow to Key NATO Principle

July 19, 2018
With his series of meetings in Europe, Donald Trump was a diplomatic bulldozer. His attempts to defend disparaging comments about close allies and NATO, after displaying bizarre deference with Russia’s president during a press conference, fuel alarm about Trump’s understanding of the alliance. During a post-summit interview, Trump criticized Montenegro and appeared to agree with a question that...

Asia Sentinel: China’s Belt-Road Initiative – Too Good?

Salman Rafi Sheikh July 18, 2018
The Belt and Road Initiative, China’s far-reaching development plan, faces new scrutiny. Countries that have signed on for roads, ports, dams and other infrastructure investment worry about costs and financing, and “China’s attempts at political and economic manipulation of smaller countries are becoming increasingly visible, making client countries suspicious as well,” explains Salman Rafi...

Jurist: The US Abandons Legal Obligations in Syria

Louis René Beres July 18, 2018
Donald Trump undermined numerous US commitments, institutions, policies and values in his summit with Vladimir Putin. The rest of the world has long depended on the United States to uphold human rights, justice and other values. Syrians – under attack by extremists and Russian intervention – are vulnerable. Millions of Syrians have been displaced and thousands killed, some with chemical weapons....

New York Times: Humiliation in Helsinki

Mark Landler July 17, 2018
Donald Trump, who boasts about his strength and tough negotiating skills, groveled before Russian President Vladimir Putin during a summit in Helsinki. The meeting prompted consternation at home and abroad as well as questions about the president's patriotism and common sense. “Rather than defend the United States against those who would threaten it, he attacked his own citizens and...

Reuters: British Foreign Secretary Quits Over Brexit Plan

Elizabeth Piper, William James and Andrew MacAskill July 9, 2018
European nations share many trade, travel and security benefits from membership in the European Union. In 2016 with a close vote, British voters supported leaving the union after assurances that exit would be easy. As details on Brexit costs emerged, Prime Minister Theresa May favored retaining close ties with the EU – with a free trade area on goods but restrictions on immigrants. Two cabinet...

Council on Foreign Relations: Global Implications of Justice Kennedy’s Retirement

Stewart M. Patrick July 2, 2018
US Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy had a lead role in sculpting a positive relationship between the United States and international law over his tenure. His replacement promises to be more conservative, with Donald Trump aiming to appoint a successor before midterm elections. “Foreign relations law,” regarding the place of international law in US jurisprudence, is a field that...

Spiegel Online: Toughest Adversary in Europe

Walter Mayr June 29, 2018
Italy’s interior minister is a populist who opposes immigration, firing up crowds by suggesting the European Union has treated its third largest economy as “garbage.” His party, Lega Nord, is a junior partner in the coalition government, but he is the most outspoken leader with tough talk crafted perhaps to distract Italians from their debt challenge – standing at more than 134 percent per GDP,...