All Foreign Policy
Why would Trump strike Iran? How lack of clarity imperils a diplomatic deal.President Donald Trump鈥檚 brief mention of Iran in his State of the Union address was still short of a complete argument for how and why striking Iran, which would risk a wider Middle East conflict, would further U.S. interests.
Trump鈥檚 Board of Peace meets, facing wariness and an immediate test: GazaPresident Donald Trump鈥檚 Board of Peace is convening amid doubts about this approach to diplomacy. Muslim and Arab countries, hoping to influence Gaza鈥檚 path forward, have signed on. Western democracies, wary of further weakening international institutions, are staying away.
In Cuba, is Trump seeking ouster of Communist leaders, or of China鈥檚 presence?Deteriorating conditions in a Cuba cut off from Venezuelan oil are feeding a debate in Washington: Regime change or a deal? Experts say the latter is more likely, while a bigger strategic goal might be to curb China鈥檚 presence on the island.
First LookRubio鈥檚 speech to European allies takes softer tone but keeps firm stanceSecretary of State Marco Rubio struck a less aggressive tone with allies about the Trump administration鈥檚 intent to reshape the trans-Atlantic alliance.
Russia is finding post-START arms control a harder, multipolar projectThe last arms control treaty between the United States and Russia has expired, but no one really wants an end to arms control. They want it to change.
For Trump, a year of shattering foreign policy normsThe 鈥淎merica First鈥� vision emphasizes spheres of influence, not the alliances and international institutions that rose from the ashes of World War II.
US has options to act in Iran. The world is watching Trump鈥檚 next move.Protests and crackdowns in Iran may prompt a U.S. response. President Donald Trump appeared to hint at military action, but has recently changed his message.
Does the US need to own Greenland to be secure? History suggests not.The United States has long worked with Denmark on Greenland鈥檚 security 鈥� so much so that it鈥檚 dubious that direct control would be better for U.S. defense.
Trump exits global bodies in the name of 鈥楢merica First.鈥� Who benefits?President Donald Trump鈥檚 withdrawal from dozens of global organizations 鈥� many focused on climate issues and human rights 鈥� was swiftly condemned by U.S. allies. One power that increasingly has stepped into the leadership breach is China.
Seizing Venezuela鈥檚 Maduro, Trump implements his corollary to Monroe DoctrineWhat was behind the seizure of Venezuela鈥檚 Nicol谩s Maduro? The Trump administration鈥檚 hemispheric strategy recalls the 1904 Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, which asserts a U.S. right to intervene in Latin America in cases of 鈥渃hronic wrongdoing.鈥�
Trump says US will now 鈥榬un鈥� Venezuela, serving a warning to other world leadersThe Trump administration鈥檚 ouster of Venezuela鈥檚 Nicol谩s Maduro deposes an unpopular world leader. It also raises important legal and geopolitical questions for the Western Hemisphere.
First LookTrump says Venezuela鈥檚 Maduro has been captured to face US chargesThe legal authority for an attack plucking Venezuela鈥檚 sitting leader from office was not clear. The U.S. says Nicol谩s聽Maduro will face charges in New York. He was indicted in 2020 on 鈥渘arco-terrorism鈥� conspiracy charges.
First LookTrump says Ukraine-Russia peace 鈥榗loser than ever鈥� after talks with ZelenskyyPresident Donald Trump says Ukraine and Russia are 鈥渃loser than ever before鈥� to a peace deal,聽even as Russia launched another round of attacks on Ukraine while Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy flew to the United States.
Many in Cuban diaspora find anti-Castro soulmate in Marco RubioUnder President Trump, U.S. policy in Latin America has shifted toward more military action. The move is welcomed by many in the Cuban diaspora.
Warily watching US-Russia talks, Ukrainians vow not to surrenderAs U.S. and Russian negotiators met, and European leaders scrambled to make a peace deal palatable to Kyiv, Ukrainians were wary bystanders to talks over their future. But their view is firm: Yes to compromise, No to capitulation.
After strong-arming a ceasefire in Gaza, Trump tries to do it again in UkrainePresident Donald Trump appears to have drawn a lesson from the Hamas-Israel ceasefire: Peace requires leaning heavily on the combatants. Now, he鈥檚 applying that to Ukraine.
With ceasefire and hostage deal, Gaza clears a hurdle. Taller ones remain.To get the breakthrough allowing a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages, negotiators decoupled a emotional聽first phase of the Trump plan from a far more complex second. Much hard work remains to get Israelis and Palestinians to peace.
Gaza breakthrough: Israel and Hamas approve first phase of Trump planAgreement by the two warring parties in Gaza after months of tense negotiations and near-deals brought widespread relief, raising hopes that a war that was sparked by Hamas鈥� deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack will finally be brought to a close.
Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of Gaza peace plan, Trump saysIsrael and Hamas have agreed to a pause in fighting and a release of hostages and prisoners, in an agreement that President Donald Trump says is a step toward peace.聽
Eye on the (peace) prize: Why Trump might show more patience with Gaza diplomacyNegotiating the obstacles to President Donald Trump鈥檚 peace plan for Gaza could take time. But with so much riding on a deal, not least a chance at elusive Mideast peace and perhaps a Nobel, he鈥檚 likely to show patience.
