All Foreign Policy
What role for US in efforts to rescue Nigeria's kidnapped girls?US pledges its help to try to save almost 300 girls kidnapped in Nigeria last month by the terrorist group Boko Haram. Military aid is not likely, but assistance with intelligence and crisis management could be.
US, Germany: Russia faces energy sector sanctions if it disrupts Ukraine voteAngela Merkel and Obama presented a united front on Ukraine at the White House as they lowered the bar for the Russian energy sector sanctions that Europeans have been hesitant to impose.
Merkel's White House test: suppress anger over NSA to show unity on UkraineThe uncomfortable issue of NSA spying on America鈥檚 allies is sure to come up when Germany's Angela Merkel and Obama meet Friday, but the crisis in Ukraine will dominate their agenda.
Are sanctions pushing Russia into a recession?A new report by the International Monetary Fund suggests that Russia is on the verge of recession and could end up there if things get worse. Sanctions appear to be having an effect.
John Kerry鈥檚 dropping of apartheid 'bomb' marks end to his Mideast peace bidJohn Kerry backtracked Monday from comments he made privately to diplomats Friday in which he said Israel could be headed toward apartheid if there were no two-state solution to the Mideast conflict.
New Russia sanctions: Who's calling the shots, the US or Europe?The US announced restrictions on more individual Russians Monday, but refrained from imposing economic sector-wide sanctions. Critics say Europe would follow a bolder American lead.
New sanctions coming on Ukraine. Could Vladimir Putin himself be targeted?The US, other G-7 countries, and the EU are expected this week to impose new economic sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals because of Russia's escalating military activity in Ukraine.
As war winds down, Afghan Taliban targets foreign civilian workersAs the withdrawal of US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan approaches, the Taliban and those they鈥檝e recruited are targeting foreign civilian workers like the three American doctors killed this week.
US warns Putin on Ukraine: Stop 'provocation' or face 'grave' consequencesSecretary of State John Kerry said that if Russian President Putin held to his current course on Ukraine, it would be an 'expensive mistake.' In Tokyo, President Obama said: 'We are ready to act.'
Ukraine standoff: For some, Russia鈥檚 tactics hark back to Soviet practicesRussia and intelligence experts say the Ukraine conflict 鈥� more subterfuge than overt action in its tactics 鈥� is aimed at nothing less than reestablishing Russian grandeur and power.
Obama goes stag to Asia, and Japanese don't like itObama travels to Japan without the first lady, and Japanese tongues are wagging about what that says about Japan's place on the US priority list. After all, Michelle Obama and daughters recently went to (gasp!) China.
Obama's Asia trip: a balancing act, amid doubts about US resolveOn an eight-day, four-nation tour of Asia, beginning Tuesday, President Obama aims to boost credibility of his US 'pivot' to Asia, while reassuring Beijing that the goal is not to contain China.
Why Vice President Biden is visiting embattled Ukraine nowVice President Joe Biden's two-day visit aims to signal support for Ukraine's democracy, while nudging the Russians to help de-escalate the crisis with the threat of energy sanctions.
Ukraine deal aims to stop violence: Can it work?If follow-through occurs, the agreement would represent a significant shift in a crisis that has been marked by the presence of Russian troops near Ukraine鈥檚 eastern border, as well as upheaval and ethnic tension in key Ukrainian cities.
US bars Iran's UN envoy: By pleasing Congress, did Obama hurt nuclear talks?The US decision to bar Iran's choice as its UN envoy leaves it at odds with the commitment it made in 1947 to provide diplomats unimpeded entry to UN headquarters in New York.
Is Al Qaeda winning? House hearing probes terror group's status.Experts before a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee were particularly concerned about Syria being a place where Al Qaeda affiliates can find sanctuary.
US, Russia plan Ukraine talks even as worsening crisis casts doubt on dialogueSecretary Kerry plans to meet Lavrov next week in Europe but sounded a warning Tuesday that 'Russian special forces and agents' are out to create a 'contrived crisis' in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine crisis: US warns Russia of more sanctions over 'saboteurs' in eastThe US and Russia said their top diplomats would meet soon to seek a way out of the Ukraine crisis, but their starkly opposed interpretations of the turmoil in the east offer little prospect of common ground.
Middle East peace talks: what will figure into Kerry's 'reality check'After tit-for-tat actions by Israel and the Palestinians threw Middle East talks into disarray, Secretary of State John Kerry said he would review the bleak picture with President Obama and consider future steps.
Iran's pick for UN envoy has ties to '79 hostage-taking. What should US do?State Department officials say the US is generally obligated to admit the chosen representatives of UN member states, but members of Congress are livid at Iran's 'slap in the face' of the US.