Foreign Affairs
Articles about Foreign Affairs
The Real Lesson of the Iran War
When airpower wins, and when it doesn’t.
The Global AI Bust
What will survive when the boom ends.
America Shouldn’t Let Go of the Middle East
Why disengagement is not the answer.
Chinese Robots Could Decide the AI Race
Scott Singer and Pavlo Zvenyhorodsky, researchers at Carnegie’s China AI Initiative, argue that China is betting that AI dominance will come from combining hardware and software, or AI-powered robots. By focusing only on software such as AI models, they argue, Washington and Silicon Valley risk falling behind.
Trump Is Gutting America’s Core Geopolitical Advantage
Robert Zoellick, an expert on the global economy who served as U.S. trade representative and World Bank president, makes the authoritative case that President Donald Trump’s antagonism toward Canada and Mexico is destroying an economic and security partnership that that enables the United States to project power globally.
Iran’s Theory of Victory
Tehran’s fight for great-power status in the post-American Middle East.
The End of Gaza
A failing peace process leads to only one outcome.
The Case for Economic Espionage
America should spy on foreign companies to help its own.
The Two Africas
Who will benefit from the continent's investment boom?
Russia’s Hybrid War Has Entered a Dangerous New Phase
Julianne Smith, who represented the United States at NATO during the Biden administration, argues that Russian hybrid warfare in Europe is escalating quickly, and NATO is not doing enough to deter it. Putin is attempting to discourage support for Ukraine and undermine faith in Article 5, and NATO is responding with an outdated playbook.
The Myth of Military Victory
The dangerous idea driving today’s wars of choice.
The New Red Sea Wars
Conflicts in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa have become inseparable.
China’s Long Twilight
Demographic decline, political paralysis, and the fate of great powers.
The Triumph of Tech-Fueled Propaganda
America isn’t ready for the next wave of foreign influence operations.
Palestinians Want a Two-State Solution
A new majority—even in Gaza—support compromise with Israel.
Brazil’s Election Won’t Fix What’s Broken
Reckoning with the country’s real crisis.
Why Iran Escalates
Tehran’s strategy to drive America out of the Middle East.
The AI Autocrat
How technology empowers—and imperils—dictators.
The Two Shocks Upending Latin America
Why the region must brace for a new wave of turbulence.
Russia’s Plan to Break Ukraine
What Kyiv needs to survive.
The New Forever War
Why America and Iran fight on without victory.
Japan Is Giving the United States a Chance in Asia
But Washington risks missing out.
Rewiring the Arsenal of Democracy
America and its allies must scale together for a new era of war.
The Coming Taiwan Crisis
Use today’s calm to prepare for the next perfect storm.
The Price of Arctic Ambition
The Greenland deal proves self-reliance is not an option.
How Putin Escalates
A new stage in Russia's confrontation with Ukraine—and the West.
The Stalemate With Iran Is Not Sustainable
A diplomatic strategy to end the war.
Europe Can’t Get Out of Its Own Way
The real barriers to competitiveness and innovation are still in place.
Syria’s Imperiled Transition
How shock therapy threatens the post-Assad peace.
China Still Has What America Needs
The Trump-Xi summit gives Washington a chance to buy time.
Shrink the UN
The next secretary-general must get back to basics
Ebola Is Only the Beginning
Congo’s warning for the global health system.
America’s Attrition Trap
The U.S. military needs to build up its endurance.
Cuba’s Point of No Return
The country is collapsing even as its regime survives.
China’s Purges Are Working as Designed
A unique discipline system has helped the party endure.
Trump and Xi Can’t Stop the U.S.-China Spiral
The delusions of summitry and the limits of personalist diplomacy.
The Crumbling Defense of Europe
Trump has already undermined NATO and allied deterrence.
The New Chinese Way of Cyberwar
How Beijing will weaponize digital chokepoints.
Putin Will Not Yield
Pressure and pain won’t sap Russia’s resolve in Ukraine.
Europe’s Hidden Trade Advantage
Slow and steady wins the negotiation.