America’s Must-Win Battle of Hormuz
The only hope to win the war is to deprive the Islamic Republic of control over the crucial strait.
Foreign policy of the Donald Trump administration
Why Europe Isn’t Ready for NATO 3.0
US retrenchment from Europe, even if premised on European burden-sharing, will expose the continent to Russian aggression.
Op-eds
Trump’s New Iran Sanctions Put China on Notice
The administration moves beyond chasing shell companies and targets banks that help Tehran.
Op-eds
Kim Jong Un’s European front
North Korea is learning modern warfare on Ukrainian ground—and Russia is paying the tuition
Op-eds
Iranians Admit Trump’s Blockade Is Working
The 40-day war did less damage to Iran’s economy than the blockade is doing now.
Op-eds
Donald Trump’s Lebanon Race
US rewards for Lebanon should follow, rather than precede, Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Op-eds
U.S. Should Quickly Heed Ukraine’s Request on Starlink
As it braces for what may be its most difficult winter of the war, Ukraine is reportedly seeking permission to use the Starlink satellite communications system to target ballistic missile launchers on...
Policy Briefs
Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: August
Trend Overview Welcome back to the Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker. Once a month, we ask FDD’s experts and scholars to assess the administration’s foreign policy. They provide trendlines...
Policy Tracker
As Iran batters the Gulf states, Trump’s course is beyond clear
President Donald Trump says he has “plenty of time” for talks with Iran. That works because Washington, DC, is 7,000 miles away from the Strait of Hormuz. But if you are in Dubai,...
Op-eds
Mr. Aoun Came To Washington. Lebanon Now Owes Results.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s July 21 meeting with President Donald Trump clarified the terms of the U.S.-Lebanese relationship but did not resolve Lebanon’s central problem: Hezbollah’s weapons...
Insights
The Unrelenting Reality of the Iran War
This is probably Trump’s last chance to show why the regime should fear him.
Op-eds
Revealed: Step-by-step plan to finally end Iran war with US victory… and it doesn’t require any American boots on the ground or handing Tehran a single dollar
Excerpt Even as Washington and Tehran continue to intensify strikes against each other’s assets across the Persian Gulf, the key lesson of America’s ongoing conflict with Iran is...
Op-eds
Iraqi Prime Minister Zaidi meets President Trump, Secretary Hegseth in Washington
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi met with US President Donald Trump on July 14 as part of his multi-day trip to Washington. It is Zaidi’s first trip to the United States after being sworn...
Op-eds
Turkey’s Cooperation with Russia and China Is a Major Reason It Shouldn’t Receive the F-35 Jet
President Trump departed the NATO Summit in Ankara without announcing Turkey’s reinstatement in the F-35 program, a major disappointment to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This omission...
Op-eds
Qatar’s diplomacy should worry Trump in Iran talks
From Hamas to Hezbollah and Iran, Doha's deals carry dangerous long-term costs
Op-eds
This Question Will Determine the Fate of Trump’s Israel-Lebanon Deal
The agreement signed last month between Israel and Lebanon includes two designated "pilot zones" where the Lebanese army's ability to disarm Hezbollah will be tested. The success, or failure, of that initiative will influence the entire deal
Op-eds
Why Iran Sanctions Relief Wouldn’t Have Stopped Iran
As the United States and Iran trade blows again, it’s important to remember that sanctions relief would have only allowed the Islamic Republic to finance its war machine.
Op-eds
How Trump’s Understanding With Iran Echoes Obama’s 2015 Nuclear Deal
If you want to understand Iran’s negotiating posture for the new nuclear deal with the United States, listen to what Washington and Tehran said about the nuclear deal of July 2015. At the time, President...
Insights
Trump Administration Provides Billions in Unrestricted Oil Sanctions Relief to Iran
The Trump administration is laying the groundwork for a major cash infusion for the Iranian regime. On June 22, the Treasury Department issued General License (GL) X, a 60-day authorization for the...