Donald Trump
The US has long used economic coercion to achieve foreign policy goals — the war in Iran shows how that power has declined
US sanctions on foreign nations have lost some of their power to influence the behavior of other nations – with increasing costs for the US to boot.
When a president settles his own lawsuit to create a fund for allies, fundamental questions about justice arise
Donald Trump’s suit against the IRS and the settlement creating a $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund to compensate his allies raise important moral and constitutional issues.
Meloni and Trump’s cooling relationship marks the failure of an EU‑MAGA middle ground
Italy’s right-wing leader was once seen as Trump’s main ally in Western Europe – but not so anymore.
Strait of Hormuz: Why the US and Iran are sailing in very different legal waters
Tehran and Washington look to different rules to govern their conduct in the key choke point.
Russia’s pared‑down Victory Day parade tells a story: Away from the pomp, war in Ukraine is not going to Putin’s plan
Moscow’s influence is Eastern Europe has been slipping of late, including with the loss of a stalwart ally in Hungary. The battleground, as ever, remains Ukraine.
Trump‑Xi summit: Cautious progress on trade, ties and some ‘win‑wins’
On the issue of contested island, both US and China appear happy to keep with the status quo. Meanwhile, the presence of US Defense chief hints at Washington’s desire for a military ‘hotline.’
From beef ribs to a ‘heavenly’ walk: Xi‑Trump summit symbolism underscored American power and Chinese tradition
A cultural historian of modern China explains the meaning behind some of the venue choices during President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing.
Where will money for the ‘Anti‑Weaponization Fund’ come from? This man has been warning of Judgment Fund abuse for years
The Judgment Fund’s likely use as a slush fund to pay Trump allies comes after more than a decade of repeated warnings by one scholar that the pot of taxpayer money was vulnerable to political misuse.
Trump’s Cabinet dramatically changed American foreign policy while the president made noise – a scholar of presidential rhetoric explains
The president’s barrage of pronouncements on foreign policy mean his Cabinet members’ statements on foreign policy have become more reliable indicators of administration positions.
Why the Iran war is breaking the US‑European strategic alliance
European leaders are learning they cannot rely on Washington, and that the US will act against their interests and at their economic expense.