All Foreign Policy
Under Biden, State Department needs to be rebuilt. But better.Is it enough for President-elect Joe Biden to repopulate the 鈥渉ollowed out鈥� State Department ranks? Some problems have been brewing for much longer.
On world stage, what does Biden want? To act, and quickly.
鈥榃here are the women?鈥� At the UN, now there鈥檚 an answer.Gender parity is coming to the leadership ranks at the United Nations. For women, the progress is long overdue, and powerful challenges remain.
Why Iran is poised to make a comeback ... as a US priorityA Biden administration might seek to rejoin the Iran nuclear deal. But that doesn鈥檛 mean it wouldn鈥檛 utilize leverage built up under President Trump.
First LookPath opens for Sudan to be cleared from US terrorism listPresident Donald Trump announced that the U.S. and Sudan have reached an agreement on how Sudan could be removed from America鈥檚 list of state sponsors of terrorism. The move could spur normalization with Israel and open Sudan to more international aid.
FocusIt鈥檚 the world according to Trump: Could Biden turn back the clock?Transactional diplomacy. America First. Autocrats have adjusted to Trump鈥檚 terms. What happens if a President Biden tries to revive multilateralism?
2020 election: What is America's global role? (audio)A Common Ground Committee podcast:聽Two Monitor reporters discuss the U.S. pullback from the World Health Organization, the Paris climate accord, and the growing confrontation with China. What's next?
Cover StoryFueling US-China clash, years of disconnectsMisperceptions lie behind some of Washington and Beijing鈥檚 worst relations in 50 years. Yet many believe the two sides can bridge their differences.
At UN assembly quieted by a pandemic, the US-China clash is loudThe U.N. General Assembly is one place global issues of common concern are tackled. What happens to such efforts in a pandemic? What is left?
鈥楽trategic empathy鈥�: H.R. McMaster on foreign policy and ChinaH.R. McMaster, former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, discusses new book聽鈥淏attlegrounds鈥� and U.S.-China policy with the Monitor.
Nobel politics: Do Thunberg and Trump have something in common?Could Nobel Peace Prize nominees Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg be any more different? A better question may be: Did they advance the cause of peace?
Justice for all? Behind US targeting of international court.In pursuit of justice, the U.S. has helped the ICC even as it rejects its jurisdiction. That delicate imbalance has now morphed into hostility.
First LookHow the US, Russia could hinder 鈥� or help 鈥� democracy in BelarusWashington wants to bolster democracy in Belarus while avoiding Russian intervention, but experts say that task is complicated by tension in U.S.-European relations and a lack of clear messaging from the Trump administration.
Mideast 鈥榖reakthrough鈥� a long-sought win for deal-maker TrumpDonald Trump鈥檚 unconventional approach to negotiating an Arab-Israeli peace deal, including the use of his untested son-in-law, has had many doubters.
How 鈥榮uccess鈥� of a tough US policy on Iran has benefited ChinaIran and China are closing in on a long-term strategic partnership that is an unintended consequence of U.S. economic pressure on Tehran.
First LookWhy TikTok, WeChat could be banned from US app storesIn a move denounced by the Chinese government,聽President Trump issued twin executive orders barring dealings with Chinese owners of social media apps TikTok and WeChat over national security concerns. TikTok says it has 100 million users in the U.S.
With spy allegations, crisis in US-China relations deepensFederal officials allege Chinese citizen Tang Juan, a researcher at a California medical school, was tasked with stealing聽sensitive U.S. research.
As China tensions rise, Trump and Biden spar for 鈥榯ough guy鈥� mantleChina-U.S. relations will likely be chilly no matter who wins the election. But how a Biden or Trump White House confronts Beijing could differ.
First LookWhat closing a Chinese consulate means for US-China relationsThe Trump administration's order to close the Chinese consulate in Houston is its latest move to put pressure on China. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said U.S.-China relations face their most severe challenge since diplomatic ties were established in 1979.
How Pompeo鈥檚 focus on religion could recast US rights policyU.S. human rights policy is akin to a national statement of principles. Mike Pompeo asked a commission to define what is an 鈥渦nalienable right.鈥�