France
Michel Euler/AFP/Getty

France

A Perilous Moment for France—and Europe
The fall of the French government, along with political uncertainty in Germany, threatens to leave Europe rudderless amid growing tensions over migration, Ukraine, and energy policy.

Expert Brief by Matthias Matthijs December 17, 2024

 

Europe Has Run Out of Time Link

via Foreign Affairs November 22, 2024

France

How Will the EU Elections Results Change Europe?
Far-right advances in the European Parliament elections have destabilized politics in France, a longstanding pillar of the European Union, and highlighted fault lines in the bloc.

In Brief by Liana Fix June 10, 2024 Europe Program

United States
Antony J. Blinken

United States

Blinken on U.S. Global Leadership Link

Don Pollard/CFR
Speaking at CFR, the outgoing U.S. Secretary of State discussed China, Iran, Russia, and many other pressing foreign policy challenges.

with Antony J. Blinken and Michael Froman via Council on Foreign Relations December 18, 2024

United States

Podcast: American Foreign Policy in a Turbulent Age Link

with Antony J. Blinken via Foreign Affairs December 18, 2024

United States

America’s Strategy of Renewal Link

with Antony J. Blinken via Foreign Affairs October 1, 2024

China

China

China’s Stunning Export Growth
Chinese exports are growing much faster in volume than in dollar terms. Europe is losing out.

Blog Post by Brad W. Setser and Michael Weilandt December 17, 2024 Follow the Money

China

Will China Take Over the Global Auto Industry?
China’s electric vehicle capacity will soon match total Chinese domestic auto demand, and total Chinese auto production capacity is already over half of total global auto demand.

Blog Post by Brad W. Setser December 8, 2024 Follow the Money

RealEcon

Protecting U.S. Allies From Chinese Economic Coercion
China’s growing willingness to defy the international order, and its increasingly aggressive leadership, have led it to increasingly utilize economic coercion against countries it believes have defied China’s interests. This coercion can be powerful, and the United States and its partners have not been well-prepared for Beijing’s actions. The U.S. and others need to develop a response immediately.

Article by Elliott Abrams, Ezra Hess and Joshua Kurlantzick December 2, 2024 RealEcon

The War in Ukraine

Ukraine

The Need for Stricter Sanctions on Russia
Donald Trump has promised to secure a just peace between Russia and Ukraine in his second term. His success or failure will depend on whether the West can give Russia a reason to negotiate in good faith —by mustering the will to tighten sanctions.

Article by Edward Fishman December 13, 2024

The War in Ukraine

How Trump Can End the War in Ukraine Link

via Foreign Affairs December 12, 2024

Ukraine

A Conversation With Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

Play
Petro Poroshenko discusses Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia and the role of U.S. and NATO support. Please note there is no virtual component to the meeting. The audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Event with Petro Poroshenko and Liana Fix December 2, 2024

Future of Democracy

Asia

Elections in Asia: A Troubling Trend for Democracy
The year 2024 likely saw the highest number of people voting in recorded history. But in Asia, where most people voted, elections did not mean progress for democracy, which has been on a decade-plus-long regression.

Expert Brief by Joshua Kurlantzick December 12, 2024

Indonesia

The Tragedy of Joko Widodo
Joko Widodo assumed office promising to be a different type of leader for Indonesia. His record suggests otherwise.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick October 22, 2024 Asia Unbound

Japan

Japan’s Ruling Coalition Rules No More

On Sunday, Japanese voters handed the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner, Komeito, an unmistakable defeat.

Blog Post by Sheila A. Smith October 27, 2024 Asia Unbound

Syria

Syria

What to Know About HTS, Hezbollah, and Iran in Syria
The ascendance of Sunni Islamist rebels in Syria should be viewed with great caution by Western powers, but the Assad regime’s collapse disables a critical node in Iran’s regional proxy network.

Expert Brief by Bruce Hoffman December 9, 2024 National Security and Defense Program

 

Rebuilding Syria After Assad Link

with Charles A. Kupchan and Sinan Ulgen via Project Syndicate December 11, 2024

Syria

A More Dangerous Iran After Assad’s Ouster?

The Bashar al-Assad regime’s rapid collapse deals a heavy blow to Iran’s “axis of resistance” and its ability to project power in the region, and it raises fears Iran will focus more on developing its nuclear program.

Expert Brief by Ray Takeyh December 8, 2024 Middle East Program

Events
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United States

A Conversation With Secretary Antony J. Blinken

Play
Secretary Antony J. Blinken discusses the administration’s foreign policy and diplomacy, including his focus on rebuilding alliances and partnerships abroad to respond to shared challenges. Please note there is no Zoom component to the meeting. However, this event will be livestreamed through CFR.org. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.  

Event with Antony J. Blinken and Michael Froman December 18, 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In-Person DC Roundtable: Building Trust: Dr. Atul Gawande on the Future of Artificial Intelligence and Global Health

Play
Dr. Atul Gawande, assistant administrator for Global Health USAID, discusses the future of global health with Thomas Bollyky, inaugural Bloomberg Chair in Global Health at the Council on Foreign Relations. In particular, Dr. Gawande examines the role of artificial intelligence, the importance of building government trust, and USAID’s key accomplishments since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Event with Atul Gawande and Thomas J. Bollyky December 16, 2024 Global Health Program

United States

Watchlist 2025: Safeguarding the World's Most Vulnerable Nations

Play
David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), presents the new IRC Emergency Watchlist report, highlighting the countries at highest risk of humanitarian crises in 2025 and examining where the international community has made progress or fallen short. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Virtual Event with David Miliband and Morgan Brennan December 11, 2024

Women and Foreign Policy Program

Hybrid DC Roundtable: A Conversation With Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant

Play

Virtual Event with Julie Inman Grant and Linda Robinson December 11, 2024 Women and Foreign Policy Program

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Experts in the News

Steven A. Cook
Link

Cook: Can Trump Get a Gaza Ceasefire?

Via Today, Explained podcast December 18, 2024

Michael B.G. Froman
Link

Froman: Collapse of Assad Regime Is Big Loss for Russia and Iran

Via CNBC Squawk Box December 9, 2024

Steven A. Cook
Link

Cook: Syria Is in Danger of Becoming a Failed State

Via CNN December 9, 2024

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Explainers

Health
How Geography, Race, and Income Shape U.S. Life Expectancy
Health
How Geography, Race, and Income Shape U.S. Life Expectancy
Article by Thomas J. Bollyky, Laura Dwyer-Lindgren, Ali H. Mokdad and Chloe Searchinger
The differences in U.S. life expectancy are so large it’s as if the population lives in ten separate Americas instead of one.
Crisis in Sudan: War, Famine, and a Failing Global Response
Sudan Crisis in Sudan: War, Famine, and a Failing Global Response
Immersive_article_layout by Mariel Ferragamo and Sabine Baumgartner
Guantánamo Bay: Twenty Years of Counterterrorism and Controversy
Terrorism and Counterterrorism Guantánamo Bay: Twenty Years of Counterterrorism and Controversy
Article by Jonathan Masters
Europe’s Migration Dilemma
Immigration and Migration Europe’s Migration Dilemma
Immersive_article_layout by Kali Robinson, Diana Roy and Sabine Baumgartner
View All

Expert Spotlight

Daniel Kurtz-Phelan
Daniel Kurtz-Phelan

Editor, Foreign Affairs; Peter G. Peterson Chair

China U.S. Foreign Policy

Trump and Republican Foreign Policy

Offsite Via Foreign Affairs August 15, 2024

David J. Scheffer
David J. Scheffer

Senior Fellow

International Law Human Rights International Organizations

Brad W. Setser
Brad W. Setser

Whitney Shepardson Senior Fellow

International Economic Policy Capital Flows Economics

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Featured Publications

Religion

If You Will It
Hundreds of thousands of young Jews have drifted away from the American Jewish community and many more may follow. This book explains to Jewish parents, donors, and organizations how Jewish education, Jewish summer camping, and time spent in Israel can revive and strengthen Jewish identity.

Book by Elliott Abrams October 8, 2024 Middle East Program

United States

Reagan
Son of the Midwest, movie star, and mesmerizing politician—America’s fortieth president comes to three-dimensional life in this gripping and profoundly revisionist biography.

Book by Max Boot September 10, 2024

Asia

Lost Decade

Robert D. Blackwill and Richard Fontaine evaluate the limitations of the Pivot to Asia and offer a compelling vision for the future of U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific.

Book by Robert D. Blackwill and Richard Fontaine June 11, 2024 Asia Program

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