Iran
Ata Dadashi/MOJ News Agency/AFP

Iran

Raisi’s Death in Crash Unlikely to Affect Iranian Policies
President Ebrahim Raisi was more loyal to hard-line Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei than previous presidents, and whoever succeeds him is likely to be just as conservative.

Expert Brief by Ray Takeyh May 20, 2024

Middle East Program

Iran After Raisi and New ICC Charges

Play
CFR experts discuss the implications of the death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, new International Criminal Court charges against Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leadership, and other updates from …

Virtual Event with Steven A. Cook, David J. Scheffer, Ray Takeyh and Carla Anne Robbins May 20, 2024 Middle East Program

 

Iran’s Order of Chaos Link

via Foreign Affairs May 1, 2024

Economics

United States

The U.S. Steel Dilemma

Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
A proposed Japanese takeover of an iconic American firm is facing domestic political pushback that could challenge the administration’s foreign policy aims.

In Brief by Noah Berman May 21, 2024

Trade

U.S. Trade Policy Is at a Crossroads
Biden’s trade agenda is trying to tackle climate change, domestic jobs, and great power competition, but trade-offs are inevitable. A clear vision on priorities is essential. 

Article by Edward Alden April 1, 2024 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies

United States

Election 2024: Joe Biden Opposes Sale of U.S. Steel
Each Friday, I look at what the presidential contenders are saying about foreign policy. This Week: Joe Biden doesn’t want one of America’s closest allies to buy a once iconic American company.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay March 15, 2024 The Water's Edge

Ukraine

Ukraine

What Does Putin Really Want in Ukraine?
Russia’s early setbacks in its invasion of Ukraine could have foreclosed on some of President Vladimir Putin’s sweeping war objectives, but he is unlikely to relent given the conflict’s momentum.  

Expert Brief by Thomas Graham May 16, 2024

 

Defining Success in Ukraine Link

with Richard Haass via Project Syndicate May 17, 2024

Ukraine

Weapons of War: The Race Between Russia and Ukraine
The new U.S. aid package will reestablish a critical flow of weapons to Ukraine’s military, but the war will hinge greatly on which side can ramp up and sustain its firepower and troop numbers in the months ahead.  

Expert Brief by Max Boot April 24, 2024

Ukraine

What Happened to ‘Stalemate’ in Ukraine?
The two-year-old war in Ukraine—which is far from deadlocked—could pivot dramatically in the coming months. U.S. decisions will play a decisive role.

Expert Brief by Stephen Sestanovich April 19, 2024 Europe Program

Federal Reserve

RealEcon

The Fed’s Trade-Offs
The Federal Reserve’s dual mandate of price stability and maximum employment presents trade-offs as the Fed grapples with the next move of interest rates. 

Article by Roger W. Ferguson Jr. May 16, 2024 RealEcon

Economics

Global Inflation Tracker
The CFR Global Inflation Tracker allows you to gauge trends in prices across the world over time.

Tracker by Benn Steil and Elisabeth Harding April 30, 2024 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies

RealEcon

A World Awash in Trade-Offs
Policymakers face complex cost-benefit considerations when intervening in the market to mitigate perceived risks, from climate change to competition with China.

Article by Thomas J. Bollyky, Chloe Searchinger, Alice C. Hill, Zongyuan Zoe Liu and Benn Steil May 8, 2024 RealEcon

China

China

Media Briefing: U.S. Tariffs on Chinese Imports

Play
CFR experts discuss President Joe Biden’s decision to increase tariffs on various Chinese imports and the implications for the U.S. economy and U.S.-China relations. 

Virtual Event with Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Brad W. Setser and Matthew P. Goodman May 16, 2024 Media Briefings

Election 2024

Election 2024: Biden Raises Tariffs on China
Each Friday, I look at what the presidential contenders are saying about foreign policy. This Week: President Joe Biden imposed new tariffs on Chinese imports, raising tensions with Beijing and slowing America’s green transition.

Blog Post by James M. Lindsay May 17, 2024 The Water's Edge

Trade

The Contentious U.S.-China Trade Relationship
Trade between the world’s two biggest economies has ballooned in recent decades, bringing significant benefits but also perils that have led to calls to rethink the relationship.

Backgrounder by Anshu Siripurapu and Noah Berman May 14, 2024

Myanmar

Myanmar

Is an End to Conflict Near?
Myanmar’s civil war between resistance groups and the ruling military junta has reached a decisive phase.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick May 15, 2024 Asia Unbound

Myanmar

How the United States Should Prepare for Myanmar’s Military Collapse
Myanmar’s military is losing its grip on power—the United States and its partners should prepare for potential state collapse.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick December 4, 2023 Asia Unbound

Myanmar

Could Myanmar Come Apart? Link

via Foreign Affairs January 24, 2024

Events
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Immigration and Migration

The Strategic Impact of the Global Movement of People: A Conversation With the Council of Councils

Play
Foreign policy institute leaders from around the world discuss the dynamics of global migration, including the importance of international cooperation in managing both the documented and undocumented movement of people. Please note there is no virtual component to this meeting. The audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website. The Council of Councils (CoC) is an international initiative created by the Council on Foreign Relations to connect leading foreign policy institutes from around the world in a dialogue on issues of global governance and multilateral cooperation. The CoC is composed of twenty-eight major policy institutes from some of the world’s most influential countries. It is designed to facilitate candid, not-for-attribution dialogue and consensus-building among influential opinion leaders from both established and emerging nations, with the ultimate purpose of injecting the conclusions of its deliberations into high-level foreign policy circles within members’ countries.

Event with Fonteh Akum, Sergio M. Alcocer, Michael Froman, Stefania Kolarz and Katharine M. Donato May 21, 2024

Middle East Program

Iran After Raisi and New ICC Charges

Play
CFR experts discuss the implications of the death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, new International Criminal Court charges against Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leadership, and other updates from …

Virtual Event with Steven A. Cook, David J. Scheffer, Ray Takeyh and Carla Anne Robbins May 20, 2024 Middle East Program

United States

Strength Through Cooperation: A Conversation With Bipartisan Leaders of the House Armed Services Committee

Play
Bipartisan leaders of the House Armed Services Committee, Ranking Member Adam Smith (D) and Vice Chairman Rob Wittman (R), discuss the interconnected nature of U.S. military support abroad and the imperative of diplomatic engagement with hostile actors for global stability.Please note there is no virtual component to this meeting. The audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Event with Adam Smith, Robert J. Wittman and Missy Ryan May 16, 2024

China

Media Briefing: U.S. Tariffs on Chinese Imports

Play
CFR experts discuss President Joe Biden’s decision to increase tariffs on various Chinese imports and the implications for the U.S. economy and U.S.-China relations. 

Virtual Event with Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Brad W. Setser and Matthew P. Goodman May 16, 2024 Media Briefings

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Experts in the News

Michael B.G. Froman
Link

Froman: China Was Able to Exploit the Weaknesses in the Global Trading System in Its Effort to Build Its Economy

Via FT The Rachman Review Podcast May 16, 2024

Michael B.G. Froman
Link

Froman: There Is a Bipartisan Consensus Right Now on the Importance of Being Firm With China on Trade

Via CNN Amanpour May 15, 2024

Daniel Kurtz-Phelan
Link

Kurtz-Phelan: Xi Is Investing in Export Sectors Critical to Chinese Regime Security

Via Pod Save the World May 15, 2024

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Explainers

Energy and Environment
The Push to Conserve 30 Percent of the Planet: What’s at Stake?
Energy and Environment
The Push to Conserve 30 Percent of the Planet: What’s at Stake?
Article by Lindsay Maizland
See how six countries are faring amid efforts to protect 30 percent of the planet’s land and waters by 2030, and what will be saved if they succeed.
What Is Avian Flu?
Public Health Threats and Pandemics What Is Avian Flu?
Backgrounder Redesign by Mariel Ferragamo
Why Fentanyl Is a Huge Foreign Policy Problem
United States Why Fentanyl Is a Huge Foreign Policy Problem
Article by Mariel Ferragamo and Diana Roy
How Ukraine Overcame Russia’s Grain Blockade
The War in Ukraine How Ukraine Overcame Russia’s Grain Blockade
Immersive_article_layout by Noah Berman, Mariel Ferragamo and Sabine Baumgartner
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Expert Spotlight

Martin S. Indyk
Martin S. Indyk

Lowy Distinguished Fellow in U.S.-Middle East Diplomacy

Middle East and North Africa Israel Egypt

Ann Norris
Ann Norris

Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy

Women and Women's Rights Sexual Violence Foreign Aid

David Sacks
David Sacks

Fellow for Asia Studies

Asia China Taiwan

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Featured Publications

Colombia

From Peril to Partnership
Paul J. Angelo provides the first headlining case studies of Plan Colombia and the Mérida Initiative.

Book by Paul J. Angelo March 8, 2024 Latin America Studies Program

Political History and Theory

The World That Wasn’t

A dramatic and powerful new perspective on the political career of Henry Wallace—a perspective that will forever change how we view the making of U.S. and Soviet foreign policy at the dawn of the Cold War.

Book by Benn Steil January 9, 2024 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies

Radicalization and Extremism

God, Guns, and Sedition
A riveting exploration of the current state of far-right terrorism in the United States—and recommendations to stop its rise.

Book by Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware January 2, 2024 National Security and Defense Program

View All