Diplomacy

The Perils of Russian Diplomacy

As momentum toward a Ukraine deal builds, the US should be focused on gauging Russian sincerity.

Syria increases criticism of Israeli actions, continues diplomatic outreach

Syria sharpened its criticism of Israeli military operations in Syria during the first week of October, including the construction of a new fortified security line in southern Syria, east of the Israeli-occupied...

The Iran Dilemma: A View from Tokyo and Jerusalem

Revenge Is a Central Pillar of Iranian Foreign Policy

A diplomatic agreement can’t bring real peace with a regime that has a long history of terrorism.

Don’t let our next UN secretary-general be a shill for China, Cuba and Hamas

Excerpt The race to choose the next U.N. secretary-general has yet to produce a clear frontrunner, but at least one candidate currently making headway should ring alarm bells in Washington. The most...

Zelenskyy Proposes an ‘Energy Ceasefire,’ Hoping To Secure Patriot Interceptors

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a reciprocal “energy ceasefire” with Russia during his meeting with President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly. The move suggested a calculated...

Lebanon’s Pretend Peace with Israel Revives Arafat’s Playbook

What is the point of strengthening the LAF if internal dialogue is the only tool Beirut intends to use to restore state sovereignty?

How Elon Musk can unlock a Russia-Ukraine energy truce — and help save lives

Russia and Ukraine have “agreed” not to strike each other’s energy infrastructure, President Donald Trump asserted Monday — perhaps aiming to accelerate a deal that reportedly remains under negotiation...

5 Things To Know About China’s Coercion Campaign Against Taiwan and the Limits of Leader-Level Diplomacy

President Donald Trump emerged from his May 2026 summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping embracing a new framework for U.S.-China relations. The White House said the two leaders agreed to build a “constructive...

Israel lessens strikes after US-backed disarmament plan, rejects initial withdrawal; IDF reports 16 Gaza ceasefire violations July 31-August 18

After Israel rejected the Board of Peace’s (BoP) disarmament plan, US Special Envoy for Peace Missions Jared Kushner and BoP officials met with Hamas and Israel to bridge the gaps....

Israel strikes military airbase in Syria while warning Turkey

Israel conducted airstrikes on the Abu al Duhur military airport in northern Syria during the evening of August 17–18. Syria condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty,...

A Rumor of War

Iran’s missile attack was a surprise. It should not have been.

Years of muted U.S. responses taught Tehran what it could get away with.

Board of Peace announces Hamas disarmament agreement, IDF reports 32 Gaza ceasefire violations July 10–31

US President Donald Trump announced that the American-led Board of Peace (BoP) had reached a “historic agreement” for the phased disarmament of Hamas on July 30. The BoP outlined a...

When Paris Celebrates the Bankruptcy of Human Rights

On Monday, July 27, at the United Nations Security Council, American diplomats stood up and walked out as the French ambassador began to speak. Ukraine was the item on the agenda that day. In Moscow and...

Countering Hezbollah Could Bring Syria and Israel Closer

“Syria is seeking a security agreement with Israel,” Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said in an interview with the Qatari-owned Al Jazeera on July 26. A successful agreement, he added, could...

Turkey’s Cautious Bid for Regional Power

The difference in how Turkey treats Greece and Israel illustrates its diplomatic and military strategy.

Iran renews attacks on Kurdish Iranian opposition groups in Iraq

Iran increased attacks on the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq in mid-July as the US continued to carry out renewed airstrikes on Iran. By July 2, the US had conducted 10...

Syria’s leader charms the world, crushes the Druze. Israel should be wary

Sharaa seems to be a pragmatic diplomat, but before pursuing warmer ties, Jerusalem needs guarantees that he will stop repressing his minority citizens

Ezra Jin’s Release Is a Victory Washington Can Replicate

In the early hours of July 3, 2026, Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri was pulled from his jail cell in southern China. He assumed he was being transferred to another prison. Only when he arrived at the...