Council on Foreign Relations
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CFR takes no institutional positions on policy. Follows, reposts, likes ≠ endorsements.
✉️ Subscribe to our newsletters: http://cfr.org/newsletters
This year's UN climate summit, known as COP30, is wrapping up its final week with little evident progress on critical issues, argue climate experts @alice-c-hill.bsky.social, @profdavidhart.bsky.social, and Daniel B. Poneman.
Here is their analysis of the major themes:
Here is their analysis of the major themes:
COP30: Climate Experts Assess Progress in Brazil And Beyond
Three CFR experts analyze major themes from this year's UN climate summit in Belém, Brazil.
www.cfr.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:18 PM
This year's UN climate summit, known as COP30, is wrapping up its final week with little evident progress on critical issues, argue climate experts @alice-c-hill.bsky.social, @profdavidhart.bsky.social, and Daniel B. Poneman.
Here is their analysis of the major themes:
Here is their analysis of the major themes:
President Vladimir Putin proposed an extension to New START—a nuclear arms treaty that limits the size of U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals. "An unverifiable, 1-year extension is not a substitute for peace in Europe," write John Drennan and Erin Dumbacher.
Putin's Nuclear Offer: How to Navigate a New START Extension
The United States should not fall for Putin's gambit to undercut Ukraine. Before agreeing to an extension, it must secure greater verification guarantees and a commitment to further negotiations.
www.cfr.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
President Vladimir Putin proposed an extension to New START—a nuclear arms treaty that limits the size of U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals. "An unverifiable, 1-year extension is not a substitute for peace in Europe," write John Drennan and Erin Dumbacher.
Mohammed bin Salman visited the White House on Tuesday for the first time in 7 years.
The meeting affirmed the importance of the two countries’ partnership in the Middle East, but questions remain over how much influence Saudi Arabia has in broader regional peace efforts, argues Steven Cook.
The meeting affirmed the importance of the two countries’ partnership in the Middle East, but questions remain over how much influence Saudi Arabia has in broader regional peace efforts, argues Steven Cook.
How Significant Is the Latest U.S.-Saudi Embrace?
The first visit of Saudi Arabia's crown prince to the White House in seven years affirmed the importance of the two countries' partnership in the Middle East, but questions remain over how much influ...
www.cfr.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Mohammed bin Salman visited the White House on Tuesday for the first time in 7 years.
The meeting affirmed the importance of the two countries’ partnership in the Middle East, but questions remain over how much influence Saudi Arabia has in broader regional peace efforts, argues Steven Cook.
The meeting affirmed the importance of the two countries’ partnership in the Middle East, but questions remain over how much influence Saudi Arabia has in broader regional peace efforts, argues Steven Cook.
Takaichi Sanae is looking to accelerate the changes that Abe set in motion over a decade ago, despite a host of new challenges, writes Sheila Smith.
Japan's Foreign Policy Under Takaichi: Steady as She Goes
Takaichi Sanae is looking to accelerate the changes that Abe set in motion over a decade ago, despite a host of new challenges.
thediplomat.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Takaichi Sanae is looking to accelerate the changes that Abe set in motion over a decade ago, despite a host of new challenges, writes Sheila Smith.
When she was younger, @inumanak.bsky.social wanted to be an actor. She pivoted to studying the dramatic intricacies global trade relations. Now, she's a senior fellow for international trade at CFR.
Read more about her life, career, and the advice she has for others:
Read more about her life, career, and the advice she has for others:
How I Got My Career in Foreign Policy: Inu Manak
Inu Manak has explored the intricacies of international trade policy in the world of academia and think tanks. She chatted with CFR about navigating different work environments and the benefits of de...
www.cfr.org
November 20, 2025 at 10:07 PM
When she was younger, @inumanak.bsky.social wanted to be an actor. She pivoted to studying the dramatic intricacies global trade relations. Now, she's a senior fellow for international trade at CFR.
Read more about her life, career, and the advice she has for others:
Read more about her life, career, and the advice she has for others:
Are you a mid-career professional passionate about foreign policy? Our International Affairs Fellowship in Canada provides the opportunity to dive into key issues pertinent to the U.S.-Canada partnership.
Learn more about eligibility and how to apply by 11/30 ➡️ https://on.cfr.org/4o3DQMg
Learn more about eligibility and how to apply by 11/30 ➡️ https://on.cfr.org/4o3DQMg
November 20, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Are you a mid-career professional passionate about foreign policy? Our International Affairs Fellowship in Canada provides the opportunity to dive into key issues pertinent to the U.S.-Canada partnership.
Learn more about eligibility and how to apply by 11/30 ➡️ https://on.cfr.org/4o3DQMg
Learn more about eligibility and how to apply by 11/30 ➡️ https://on.cfr.org/4o3DQMg
"There are moments in great-power politics when the tectonic plates seem to shift perceptibly beneath us. The recent summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping of China was one of those inflection points," writes Rush Doshi.
Opinion | Trump's Trade War Showed That China Can Stand Up to America (Gift Article)
Trump's ill-conceived tariff war exposed U.S. vulnerabilities, strengthened China's leverage and undermined America at a pivotal time.
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:06 PM
"There are moments in great-power politics when the tectonic plates seem to shift perceptibly beneath us. The recent summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping of China was one of those inflection points," writes Rush Doshi.
The G20, gathering of many of the world’s largest economies, is the premier global forum for discussing international economic issues. Its 2025 summit marks the first time the forum is hosted in Africa, but questions loom about the group’s continued relevance.
What Does the G20 Do?
The Group of Twenty, an informal gathering of many of the world’s largest economies, is the premier global forum for discussing international economic issues. Its 2025 summit marks the first time the…
www.cfr.org
November 19, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The G20, gathering of many of the world’s largest economies, is the premier global forum for discussing international economic issues. Its 2025 summit marks the first time the forum is hosted in Africa, but questions loom about the group’s continued relevance.
"Despite a sharp reduction in humanitarian ambitions since January, the Trump administration’s response to Hurricane Melissa signals that the United States hasn’t entirely abandoned its vital role as global first responder," writes Sam Vigersky.
Trump's Disaster Aid Rebound
The Trump administration's response to Hurricane Melissa offers a glimpse into a possible new paradigm for the deployment of U.S. aid abroad.
www.cfr.org
November 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
"Despite a sharp reduction in humanitarian ambitions since January, the Trump administration’s response to Hurricane Melissa signals that the United States hasn’t entirely abandoned its vital role as global first responder," writes Sam Vigersky.
To meet growing energy demands while averting climate change, the world must accelerate innovation, argue David M. Hart, Colin Cunliff, Mia Beams, and Akkshath Subrahmanian.
Global Energy Innovation Index
To meet growing energy demands while averting climate change, the world must accelerate innovation. European nations are the leading contributors to global energy innovation, with Canada the only non-European country in the index's top ten. The United S...
www.cfr.org
November 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM
To meet growing energy demands while averting climate change, the world must accelerate innovation, argue David M. Hart, Colin Cunliff, Mia Beams, and Akkshath Subrahmanian.
The Hull Doctrine is dead – drowned in the South China Sea. While the liberal belief that trade raises the cost of war contains a kernel of truth, it is equally true that interdependence can just as easily breed mistrust and rivalry, writes Benn Steil.
Free Trade Can't Bring Peace
For decades, the liberal belief that open trade fosters peace has shaped US foreign policy. It worked while US security guarantees held the system together, but as those commitments weaken and new po...
www.cfr.org
November 18, 2025 at 9:03 PM
The Hull Doctrine is dead – drowned in the South China Sea. While the liberal belief that trade raises the cost of war contains a kernel of truth, it is equally true that interdependence can just as easily breed mistrust and rivalry, writes Benn Steil.
📣 We are now accepting applications for CFR's 2026–27 Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship, a unique opportunity for young professionals studying nuclear security issues.
Learn more: https://on.cfr.org/3JaeQnk
Apply by 11/30
Learn more: https://on.cfr.org/3JaeQnk
Apply by 11/30
November 18, 2025 at 5:56 PM
📣 We are now accepting applications for CFR's 2026–27 Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship, a unique opportunity for young professionals studying nuclear security issues.
Learn more: https://on.cfr.org/3JaeQnk
Apply by 11/30
Learn more: https://on.cfr.org/3JaeQnk
Apply by 11/30
The Trump administration’s accusations that Nigeria is allowing targeted killings of Christians distract from the bigger problem of jihadist and other forms of indiscriminate violence, argues Africa expert Ebenezer Obadare.
Read more of this analysis:
Read more of this analysis:
Trump's Focus on Christians Misses Boko Haram's Wider Threat in Nigeria
The Trump administration's accusations that Nigeria is allowing targeted killings of Christians distract from the bigger problem of jihadist and other forms of indiscriminate violence.
www.cfr.org
November 18, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The Trump administration’s accusations that Nigeria is allowing targeted killings of Christians distract from the bigger problem of jihadist and other forms of indiscriminate violence, argues Africa expert Ebenezer Obadare.
Read more of this analysis:
Read more of this analysis:
With a mercurial president, the policy effect of an National Security Strategy—or even a more detailed National Defense Strategy—is especially hard to predict, writes Carla Anne Robbins.
America First Meets the National Security and Defense Strategies
Will the two congressionally mandated documents provide some clarity about President Trump's priorities and strategy?
www.cfr.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:11 PM
With a mercurial president, the policy effect of an National Security Strategy—or even a more detailed National Defense Strategy—is especially hard to predict, writes Carla Anne Robbins.
Foreign intervention, political instability, and natural disasters have stymied development efforts in Haiti. Recently, armed gangs have sought to fill the country’s political vacuum by taking control of large swaths of territory.
Here's what to know:
Here's what to know:
www.cfr.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Foreign intervention, political instability, and natural disasters have stymied development efforts in Haiti. Recently, armed gangs have sought to fill the country’s political vacuum by taking control of large swaths of territory.
Here's what to know:
Here's what to know:
With 2025 marking the ten-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, countries have made some progress lowering global heating predictions, but trends are still not on track to meeting climate commitments.
Here's what to know from our explainer:
Here's what to know from our explainer:
www.cfr.org
November 17, 2025 at 3:01 PM
With 2025 marking the ten-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, countries have made some progress lowering global heating predictions, but trends are still not on track to meeting climate commitments.
Here's what to know from our explainer:
Here's what to know from our explainer:
"For decades, the liberal belief that open trade fosters peace has shaped US foreign policy. It worked while US security guarantees held the system together, but as those commitments weaken and new powers assert themselves, the multilateral trading order is rapidly coming undone," writes Benn Steil.
Free Trade Can't Bring Peace
Benn Steil shows that globalization always depended on global security, not the other way around.
www.project-syndicate.org
November 16, 2025 at 8:51 PM
"For decades, the liberal belief that open trade fosters peace has shaped US foreign policy. It worked while US security guarantees held the system together, but as those commitments weaken and new powers assert themselves, the multilateral trading order is rapidly coming undone," writes Benn Steil.
"The government argues that IEEPA allows the president to 'regulate ... importation,' which implicitly includes tariffs. Most members of the court seem unpersuaded," writes John K. Veroneau.
The Supreme Court Takes Aim at Trump's IEEPA Tariffs
The government's effort to defend Trump's IEEPA tariffs as regulatory rather than revenue-raising faces a skeptical Court and may fail to avert the nondelegation problems its interpretation creates.
www.cfr.org
November 16, 2025 at 2:32 PM
"The government argues that IEEPA allows the president to 'regulate ... importation,' which implicitly includes tariffs. Most members of the court seem unpersuaded," writes John K. Veroneau.
"Washington needs better answers to the strategic dilemmas inherent in managing quasi alliances. Only by grappling with recent successes and failures can policymakers develop a better playbook," writes Rebecca Lissner.
America's Quasi Alliances
How Washington should manage its most complicated relationships.
www.foreignaffairs.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:15 PM
"Washington needs better answers to the strategic dilemmas inherent in managing quasi alliances. Only by grappling with recent successes and failures can policymakers develop a better playbook," writes Rebecca Lissner.
The U.S. relies on China for 70% of its rare earths and nearly 100% of its heavy rare earths. A new CFR Task Force explains America's supply chain dependencies in the new tech race—and how to fix them.
U.S. Economic Security | Council on Foreign Relations
Executive Summary Strategic competition over the world’s next generation of foundational technologies is underway, and U.S. advantages in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and biotechnology are i...
www.cfr.org
November 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The U.S. relies on China for 70% of its rare earths and nearly 100% of its heavy rare earths. A new CFR Task Force explains America's supply chain dependencies in the new tech race—and how to fix them.
Government tensions have upended the economic relationships between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Despite this, North American members of the Trilateral Commission appeared committed to finding a path forward when they met in October.
Read analysis by expert Rebecca Patterson:
Read analysis by expert Rebecca Patterson:
North American Leaders ‘Take a Deep Breath' Ahead of USMCA Review
Government tensions have upended the economic relationships between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Despite this, public- and private-sector North American members of the Trilateral Commission...
www.cfr.org
November 15, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Government tensions have upended the economic relationships between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Despite this, North American members of the Trilateral Commission appeared committed to finding a path forward when they met in October.
Read analysis by expert Rebecca Patterson:
Read analysis by expert Rebecca Patterson:
CFR President Michael Froman analyzes the big picture of a trade strategy that may be emerging.
Read his thoughts below ⬇️
Read his thoughts below ⬇️
Trade Beyond Tariffs
CFR President Michael Froman analyzes the big picture of a trade strategy that may be emerging.
www.cfr.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:46 PM
CFR President Michael Froman analyzes the big picture of a trade strategy that may be emerging.
Read his thoughts below ⬇️
Read his thoughts below ⬇️
"China’s reported current account surplus understates China’s contribution to global trade imbalances. The massive gap between China’s export and import volume growth over the last six years tells a more accurate story," writes Brad Setser.
China's Massive Surplus is Everywhere (Yet The IMF Still Has Trouble Seeing It Clearly)
China's reported current account surplus understates China's contribution to global trade imbalances. The massive gap between China's export and import volume growth over the last six years tells a m...
www.cfr.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
"China’s reported current account surplus understates China’s contribution to global trade imbalances. The massive gap between China’s export and import volume growth over the last six years tells a more accurate story," writes Brad Setser.
Heidi Crebo-Rediker spent nearly two decades in investment banking overseas before pivoting to government work.
She sat down with CFR to chat about how her early fascination with Russia influenced her career path and the benefits of starting her career in finance.
She sat down with CFR to chat about how her early fascination with Russia influenced her career path and the benefits of starting her career in finance.
How I Got My Career in Foreign Policy: Heidi Crebo-Rediker
Heidi Crebo-Rediker spent nearly two decades in investment banking overseas before pivoting to government work. She sat down with CFR to chat about how her early fascination with Russia influenced he…
www.cfr.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Heidi Crebo-Rediker spent nearly two decades in investment banking overseas before pivoting to government work.
She sat down with CFR to chat about how her early fascination with Russia influenced her career path and the benefits of starting her career in finance.
She sat down with CFR to chat about how her early fascination with Russia influenced her career path and the benefits of starting her career in finance.
A new CFR Task Force report highlights America's opportunity to lead the next wave of tech innovation. Investments in AI, quantum, and biotechnology are necessary to stay ahead as China gains ground, finds the Task Force.
U.S. Economic Security | Council on Foreign Relations
Executive Summary Strategic competition over the world's next generation of foundational technologies is underway, and U.S. advantages in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and biotechnology are increasingly contested. Economic security tools can he...
www.cfr.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:00 PM
A new CFR Task Force report highlights America's opportunity to lead the next wave of tech innovation. Investments in AI, quantum, and biotechnology are necessary to stay ahead as China gains ground, finds the Task Force.