Foreign policy of the United States

Remarks before the Congressional Ukraine Caucus

Iranian Airlines Expand Trips to Iraq Despite U.S. Sanctions

Operation Economic Outcast has disrupted Iranian aviation, prompting major regional hubs, including the United Arab Emirates and Oman, to suspend flights by Iranian carriers for fear of facing U.S. sanctions....

Confronting Threats and Building Consensus

Who still fights the war on terror?

A plumber, a dentist, a farmer, and a wounded pilot

Washington Decides Complete Ban on Iran-Iraq Flights Is Not Worth the Political Cost

Iraq has received another carve out in Iran-related sanctions. After U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that “all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world,” all flights between...

Trump Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: October

Trend Overview – ...

US forces complete departure from Iraq as anti-Islamic State mission in Iraq ends

US forces deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the anti-Islamic State mission, completed their departure from Iraq on September 30. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi held a ceremony to mark...

UN Human Rights Council, European Governments Launch Economic Warfare Against Israel

International opprobrium towards the presence of Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, commonly known as the West Bank, is discernibly shifting from rhetorical condemnation to economic and legal warfare. Three...

Trump’s US, Greenland deal changes less than it seems

Trump's new deal reaffirms broad basing access already in place. To get it, he damaged trust among America's European allies and created strains in NATO. The damage couldn't have come at a worse time.

Sanctioned Iranian Airlines Keep Flying to Turkey

Fear of U.S. sanctions has helped stop Iranian airlines from operating in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. But in Turkey, Iranian planes are still flying. Flights from Iran continue to arrive...

Opposing Peace With Israel Helps Preserve Hezbollah’s Power

Lebanese Shia activists claiming to oppose Hezbollah have made their way to Washington, where they met U.S. decision-makers who believed that their guests were advancing peace. The catch is that these...

Blockade bites hard at Iran’s borders — Trump can’t cave now

To understand the economic devastation Iran is now experiencing, look no further than the trucks choking its borders. Thousands of them have lined up at land crossings into neighboring Turkey and Afghanistan,...

Put Turkey on notice: The Eastern Mediterranean’s reliable alliance deserves US teeth

The ongoing war with Iran is driving countries in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean to invest in new security alliances. This is partly driven by the drubbing Gulf Arab states have taken from...

Is Turkey Turning on Tehran or Just Dodging the Treasury Department?

Turkey’s top banking regulator withdrew the operating license of the Istanbul branch of Iran’s Bank Mellat, a major Iranian commercial bank with state ties that has long been subject to U.S. sanctions. While...

Strait Lines

Iraq Delays Militia Disarmament, But Doesn’t Give Up — For Now

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has reiterated his commitment to disarm Iranian-backed militias in his country, but says he needs nine more months to accomplish what may be an impossible task. In...

Strait Lines

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?

America has never been subservient to Israel

The fact remains that what brings the democratic allies together is worth far more than the issues dividing them.

The Three Quiet Victors of the Iran War

Turkey, Pakistan, and Qatar have played their hands well since February 28, without disrupting their relations with either the United States or Iran.