FIFA Delivers a Masterclass in Making Enemies of Everyone at Once
Iranian players and Iranian fans are both facing challenging restrictions.
Trump: Trapped
Trump promised not to drag the United States into a Middle East quagmire. Now he must deal with the consequences of his self-inflicted war.
Iran International and the Money Behind the Narrative War
A well-funded media outlet pushes regime change in Iran. Who’s paying the bills?
China Strikes Back at the Pentagon’s Rare Earth Bet
The United States is trying to lessen its dependency on minerals controlled by Beijing, but China aims to maintain its dominance.
Lebanon’s Failure to Disassociate
The small country’s attempt to remain neutral in the region’s struggles is undercut by its fragmented politics.
Why Xi Jinping Had to Go to Pyongyang
The Chinese leader is trying to counter Russian influence and remain the center of gravity in Asia.
Washington’s New Mineral Monopolies Mirror Beijing’s Central Planning
The United States is now forced to compete entirely on terms set by China’s variation of state-directed mercantilism.
World Refugee Day in a Hemisphere that Mistook Blindness for Success
Crossings at the Darién gap have plummeted. But refugees haven’t gone away.
Ensure Accountability for Serious Crimes in Afghanistan
A U.S. report on the Afghan War is due soon, and a new international review is beginning. Both must confront war crimes and crimes against humanity by all sides.
Japan and South Korea: An Alliance of Middle Powers?
Hedging their bets against Donald Trump is pushing the two countries together.
The Persistence of “Israel First”
Trump’s Middle East record reveals the short life of “America First.”
Trump’s Carter Nightmare in Iran
The uranium Washington could not take by force is now a test of American statecraft.
The Crisis of Global Britain
With the populist far right on the rise, the UK government has difficulty defining its role in the world.
Who Will Win Colombia’s Presidential Election?
What to expect in the second round as Colombia chooses a successor to Gustavo Petro, its first-ever leftist president.