The World Unpacked

Putin's war of choice has been met with harsh sanctions and global condemnation from heads of states, institutions, ordinary citizens, and the soccer world. The world of soccer has put up a united front to protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The reaction from the players, clubs, fans, and governing bodies of the world's game have put into focus the soft power soccer brings to world af...

The global rise of authoritarian power has become a troubling trend. Today’s autocrats are better equipped to undermine the state of democracies. This battle for power between autocratic and democratic societies will determine the future of freedom around the world.  Moisés Naím, an acclaimed columnist and a distinguished fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, joins Doug to unpack his new book, The Rev...

For the past two decades, American foreign policy has been entangled in major conflicts in the Middle East, but the Biden administration has signaled a shift toward Asia. Despite the pivot to other pressing global challenges, the region still plays a crucial role in America’s grand strategy. So, what is the United States’ game plan for the Middle East?  Maha Yahya, the director of the Malcolm H. K...

With the imminent threat of a Russian attack on Ukraine looming, the United States is urging for more diplomacy between the West and Russia. The crisis has put the spotlight on the relationship the United States has with its European allies at a time when a unified front on Russia is preferred. Although the focus has been primarily on what’s unfolding in Ukraine, it isn’t the only foreign policy c...

The New Year is looking to be nothing short of busy as President Biden will begin his second year in office. From the ongoing crisis with Russia and Ukraine to focusing on U.S.-China relations, foreign policy is expected to be a big focus for the Biden administration. These foreign policy issues and several others could also play a crucial role in the 2022 midterm elections. So, what will this yea...

With an increased buildup of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border, the threat of a Russian invasion has alarmed the United States and its NATO allies. For years, Russia and Ukraine have clashed along the border, especially as Ukraine has shifted more toward the West instead of aligning itself with Russia. Last Tuesday, President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a video call...

Since 2006, Mexico has been locked in a deadly war on drugs. As drug cartels grow increasingly emboldened with their attacks on civil society, the pressure is on Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to rein in what seems to be a forever war. Meanwhile, corruption penetrates all levels of Mexico’s government while the conflict is a significant push factor for thousands of Mexicans fleeing...

President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in the highly anticipated virtual summit earlier this week with the hopes of bringing down tensions between the two countries. Yet the two leaders came out of the virtual summit with no official joint statement or agreement on any big sticking points. So where does the U.S.-China bilateral relationship stand on Taiwan, trade, climate, and mo...

This week, over 30,000 participants are anticipated in Glasgow, Scotland to kick off COP26. The climate conference hosted by the United Nations is a critical moment for nations to address the fight against climate change in order to avoid catastrophic consequences. The expectations for the two-week conference are high as world leaders and delegates are expected to commit to ambitious climate goals...

Last week, North Korea unveiled a variety of weapons during an exhibition which included their newest developed “hypersonic missile”, Hwasong-8. This recent exhibition was one of the biggest displays of North Korean weapons in the last couple of years, and the country’s leader, KimJong-un, made it clear that he will continue to build up their military forces. It comes at a time when the United Sta...

From the recent announcement of China banning all crypto-related activities to El Salvador legalizing Bitcoin as its currency, cryptocurrency has been making headlines. The rapid growth of crypto has caused countries to reevaluate their approach to adopting digital currencies. Some have welcomed the push towards crypto while others are wary about its overall effect on the global financial system. ...

On September 26, Germans will cast their votes in the federal election that will decide the next chancellor of Germany as Angela Merkel steps down from office. Whoever wins will have to contend with a host of challenges, from an emboldened Russia, to climate change, and keeping a fraught EU bloc together amid democratic backsliding on the continent. But perhaps more importantly, can anyone replace...

Twenty years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States’ longest war has ended with the troop withdrawal in Afghanistan completed. Thus, a new chapter between the United States and a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan has begun. It has also begun conversations around the current state and future of America’s foreign policy.  This week, Stephen Wertheim joins Doug to unpack the s...

As the United States was completing its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban rapidly took control of Afghanistan last week. Thousands of Afghans are trying to escape the country as their futures and hopes are looking uncertain. Meanwhile, the United States and its allies are left figuring out what comes next with the Taliban back in power.  This week, a former senior adviser to the Natio...

Southeast Asia holds vast economic significance to not just the United States but to the world. But the pandemic has strained the region’s recovery with the delta variant surging, while global supply chains have been stretched to the limit. Meanwhile, the United States is looking to reinforce its ties with Southeast Asia as China makes its own moves in the region. Economist Trinh Nguyen joins Doug...

Crisis has struck Cuba and Haiti in recent weeks. In Cuba, thousands of protestors have flooded the streets in unprecedented demonstrations amid a dire economic situation and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, Haiti has plunged into further turmoil following the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse at the hands of highly trained assassins, as rivals jockey for power and gangs...

On June 25, a much anticipated report from the U.S. government on UFOs was released to the public. The nine-page report examined 144 cases of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), or more commonly known as UFOs. Only one UAP case in the report was able to be identified with confidence, while the others remain unidentified. The report has captivated the public as well as government officials, who ar...

On June 21, Ethiopia held a historic national election, but millions of Ethiopians couldn’t vote with the country in the midst of a civil war. Backed by Eritrean soldiers, Ethiopia’s military has been in conflict with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, a regional political party that broke off from Ethiopia last November. And just this week, Tigrayan forces have taken back the regional capital...

Iranians head to the polls tomorrow to elect a new president. While Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has largely favored one candidate, calls for a boycott have taken root among many grassroots Iranian activists. Meanwhile, the United States and Iran continue to negotiate the revival of the Iran nuclear deal. Iranian journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad joins Doug to unpack...

President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Geneva on June 16. Tensions between the United States and Russia are high in the aftermath of Russia’s involvement in Belarus’ hijacking of a commercial airliner and a string of devastating cyberattacks. Will the summit lead to progress, or will personal animosity and geopolitics continue to mire the bilateral relationship...

The recent Colonial Pipeline attack was yet another example of the escalating threats in cyberspace as many Americans experienced long lines at gas stations amid fears of shortages after a ransomware attack. This incident just comes months after the likely Russian government-sponsored SolarWinds hack that compromised thousands of government and company platforms. Meanwhile, the Facebook Oversight...

More the 100 days into his administration, President Biden has faced a fraught moment for democracy. Within the last year, protests for racial equity have underlined the challenge of systemic racism in the United States, while dubious claims of election fraud culminated in the shocking assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Across the globe, the military’s grip in Myanmar holds firm after a cou...

While the Biden administration has signaled an openness to reviving the Iran nuclear deal, whether that is possible  is far from certain. An alleged Israeli attack on the Natanz nuclear facility and Iran’s response pledging to enrich uranium at even higher levels have only raised the stakes for new talks in Vienna. Cornelius Adebahr, a nonresident fellow with Carnegie Europe, sits down with Laura...

Europe’s vaccine distribution has come under fire in recent weeks, jeopardizing the continent’s recovery and its relationships with important partners worldwide. Meanwhile, European leaders are reckoning with an emboldened China, while also welcoming the Biden administration’s new tone on the transatlantic alliance. Rosa Balfour, the director of Carnegie Europe, joins Laura to discuss how Europe c...

As President Biden seeks to affirm America’s alliances and partnerships in Asia, countries in the region are jostling over maritime dominance in the Indo-Pacific. Marked by strategic choke points and vital shipping routes, the Indo-Pacific has long played a pivotal role in geopolitics and the flows of global trade.  Darshana Baruah , an associate fellow and the director of Carnegie’s  Indian Ocean...