Foreign policy
What we talk about when we talk about US strategic ‘credibility’ – from Vietnam to Iran
‘Credibility is on the line’ has long been a refrain guiding U.S. foreign policy.
Yemen’s Houthis are bringing their war to Saudi Arabia – and reframing the narrative of being an Iranian proxy
A deadly bombing at Riyadh’s international airport is the latest in a tit-for-tat retaliation campaign the Houthis have ramped up for weeks.
A new Houthi front and expanded Iranian attacks risk sinking Gulf nations’ choke‑point workaround and widening shipping risks
The ongoing war in Iran has created an expanding zone of risk for shipping, including for Saudi Arabia’s strategy of redirecting oil exports away from Hormuz.
Iraq is emerging as the Middle East’s strategic connector – but can it turn foreign competition into advantage?
Iraq has pursued friendly relations with many countries who are themselves at odds. The strategy has lots of upside for war-torn Iraq – but holds key risks as well.
Trump’s ‘narco‑terrorism’ war in Latin America evokes Reagan – then as now, it’s more about fighting leftists than drug runners
The nebulous nature of narco-terrorism has allowed presidents from Reagan to Trump to deploy the term when it serves broader political goals in Latin America.
What is ‘strategic autonomy’ – and why is everyone suddenly reaching for it?
The leaders of Canada, France, India and Turkey are among those looking to leverage their ability to say ‘no’ to Washington.
US presidents have always used transactional foreign policy – but Trump does it differently
US presidents have long mixed economic incentives with diplomacy, but Trump’s approach represents something very different.
Rebirth of the madman theory? Unpredictability isn’t what it was when it comes to foreign policy
During the Cold War, projecting a readiness to act erratically may have served a purpose. But it has diminishing returns if used too often.
Is Trump heading to a Pyrrhic victory in Iran?
Pyrrhus was said to have remarked that one more victory would leave his kingdom ‘utterly ruined.’ Some see echoes in US interventions in the Middle East.