What America can learn from Europe’s discontent
Perhaps it’s unfair to expect a competent official to be inspirational. But that is what’s called for; these are extraordinary times.
Foreign Concept
Foreign Concept provides international affairs coverage by Mark Porubcansky, a foreign correspondent and editor for 30 years, who, until recently, served as foreign editor of the Los Angeles Times.
Bolsonaro is likely to exacerbate the problems Brazilians elected him to solve
You can indeed throw the bums out. But in Brazil – as in many other countries – it can be very easy to replace them with scoundrels.
The international order is giving way to a free-for-all
Among the many reasons the Khashoggi incident is so alarming is that it seems to indicate that score-settling with one’s own citizens abroad is creeping into the mainstream.
MBS takes the short route from reformer to tyrant
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may be too inexperienced to fully appreciate the trouble he’s in. Even so, as long as Trump is on his side, he may not care.
The U.S.-China relationship is bad — and getting worse
More stories are trickling out about Chinese influence campaigns that target business and state leaders, or seek to influence students or universities. If we’re shocked, we shouldn’t be.
In an age of ugly, even the experts have no idea where the world is headed
Events like President Trump’s visit to the U.N. last week and the dispute over the Brett Kavanaugh nomination help make clear how self-absorbed the U.S. has become and how sharply its status has diminished.
Why international arms control is an issue even Trump can get behind
Trump could announce that he intends to pick up on some unglamorous work undertaken by many of his predecessors. The U.S. has a willing negotiating partner – a difficult one, for sure – in Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump has been lucky so far to avoid a foreign policy crisis. But his luck won’t last forever.
Major challenges are brewing on several continents, where the right moves could make the difference between war and peace or help achieve a longstanding U.S. objective. Yet Washington is preoccupied and ill-prepared.
Assad will probably resort to using chemical weapons again soon. How will the U.S. respond?
The name Idlib may be only vaguely familiar now, but you’ll be hearing much more about it.
As Trump turns the U.S. inward, China is bolstering its international reputation. But then there are the internment camps.
China is hiding a dirty secret in the far northwest corner of the country.
Our new relationship with North Korea seems a lot like our old relationship with North Korea
U.S. reports indicate spy satellites have detected continued activity at a North Korean missile site. A report concluded that Kim is continuing his nuclear program. Of course he is.
The U.S. is making the humanitarian crisis in Yemen worse — and it’s not even clear why we’re involved there
U.S. justification for backing the Saudis in Yemen has never been clearly explained, either by the Obama or Trump administration.
Checking in on Brexit, which seems to be going swimmingly
At least if your idea of fun is widespread talk of stockpiling food; worry about disruptions to the industrial supply chain; and a chronic shortage of farm labor.
Why an American pastor has become central to America’s relationship with Turkey
Andrew Brunson’s plight has gained a high profile among U.S. evangelicals, and warnings from both President Trump and Vice President Pence were probably aimed, at least in part, at bolstering domestic political support.
An era of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan is coming to a close
Changing Afghanistan was always going to be a long shot. But while the neocons got distracted by the next shiny object, and while they were tearing up Iraq, the window closed on Afghanistan.
Why can’t Trump say anything critical of Putin?
One theory, courtesy of Adam Davidson in the New Yorker, combines a sophisticated understanding of power in former Soviet republics and Trump’s business conduct in recent years.
Amid extraordinary times, an extraordinary question: Is President Trump engaged in treason?
It’s true that serious-minded people can lose their heads sometimes. But it’s a big mistake to dismiss such criticism of Trump, even if it’s from his foes, as more of the empty, poisonous rhetoric of our times.
What Putin wants to get out of his summit with Trump
Trump’s not usually interested in details. Putin is, and he’s not about to give anything away.
Why should we give aid to Central America’s most troubled countries? Because we helped create the trouble
It’s hard to make progress without being clear about who’s responsible for what.
In Iraq, Trump has a chance to be the tough, clear-eyed leader he claims to be
Cooperating with Muqtada Sadr would be a bitter pill for many Iraq veterans, and a difficult move for the prideful “America First” president. But he could also be an ally of convenience.
