Foreign Affairs
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A magazine of U.S. foreign policy and international affairs, founded in 1922. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/
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Our January/February 2026 issue is now available online. Start reading here: fam.ag/3Mxfg8G
“For now, Syria’s new government has approval ratings that should make other world leaders envious.”
Read Salma Al-Shami and Michael Robbins on what a newly released Arab Barometer survey reveals about Syrian public opinion: https://fam.ag/4simfTe
Read Salma Al-Shami and Michael Robbins on what a newly released Arab Barometer survey reveals about Syrian public opinion: https://fam.ag/4simfTe
December 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
“For now, Syria’s new government has approval ratings that should make other world leaders envious.”
Read Salma Al-Shami and Michael Robbins on what a newly released Arab Barometer survey reveals about Syrian public opinion: https://fam.ag/4simfTe
Read Salma Al-Shami and Michael Robbins on what a newly released Arab Barometer survey reveals about Syrian public opinion: https://fam.ag/4simfTe
“If Washington does not stem the pipeline of energy-fueled cash from China to Russia, its overall commitment to sanctions will come into question,” write Erica Downs and @richardmnephew.bsky.social. “China will rightly see the United States as weak-willed.”
America’s Toothless Sanctions on Russian Oil
Last month, the Trump administration imposed fresh sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, signaling a renewed desire to drive Moscow to the negotiating table in its war a...
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December 29, 2025 at 5:07 PM
“If Washington does not stem the pipeline of energy-fueled cash from China to Russia, its overall commitment to sanctions will come into question,” write Erica Downs and @richardmnephew.bsky.social. “China will rightly see the United States as weak-willed.”
“As the lines become blurred between real and fake information, there is a growing possibility that deepfakes could infect high-stakes national security decisions, including on nuclear weapons,” warns Erin Dumbacher.
How Deepfakes Could Lead to Doomsday
America’s nuclear warning systems aren’t ready for AI.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:51 PM
“As the lines become blurred between real and fake information, there is a growing possibility that deepfakes could infect high-stakes national security decisions, including on nuclear weapons,” warns Erin Dumbacher.
End this year’s reading with the best articles we published in 2025, as selected by our editors: https://fam.ag/3MWVHqn
December 29, 2025 at 12:48 PM
End this year’s reading with the best articles we published in 2025, as selected by our editors: https://fam.ag/3MWVHqn
“I don’t think you can imagine an even more tumultuous time than this,” says Daron Acemoglu. “The question is, how do we navigate these very turbulent waters?”
https://fam.ag/49ivR90
https://fam.ag/49ivR90
December 28, 2025 at 6:38 PM
“I don’t think you can imagine an even more tumultuous time than this,” says Daron Acemoglu. “The question is, how do we navigate these very turbulent waters?”
https://fam.ag/49ivR90
https://fam.ag/49ivR90
In a 2023 essay, Branko Milanovic discussed the history of global inequality—and explained why, even as the world grows more equal, gulfs in income and lifestyle in the West will only become more pronounced.
The Great Convergence
Global equality and its discontents.
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December 27, 2025 at 7:25 PM
In a 2023 essay, Branko Milanovic discussed the history of global inequality—and explained why, even as the world grows more equal, gulfs in income and lifestyle in the West will only become more pronounced.
“Keeping the Levant fractured will not bring stability to the Middle East,” argue Maria Fantappie and @valinasr.bsky.social. “The Shiite communities that once undergirded the axis of resistance must be incorporated into the region’s political and social life.”
What Comes After the Axis of Resistance?
The abiding power of sectarianism in the Middle East.
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December 26, 2025 at 10:20 PM
“Keeping the Levant fractured will not bring stability to the Middle East,” argue Maria Fantappie and @valinasr.bsky.social. “The Shiite communities that once undergirded the axis of resistance must be incorporated into the region’s political and social life.”
Tom Donilon and Theodore Bunzel discuss the growing threat of drones on U.S. shores—and argue that Washington urgently needs to “boost funding and R & D to develop agile and innovative counterdrone technologies.”
How to Secure the Sky
America needs a defense against drones.
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December 26, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Tom Donilon and Theodore Bunzel discuss the growing threat of drones on U.S. shores—and argue that Washington urgently needs to “boost funding and R & D to develop agile and innovative counterdrone technologies.”
Myanmar’s upcoming election will not fix the country’s extreme fragmentation, writes Amara Thiha. “Instead, it will help China institutionalize it in a way that reduces risk for itself.”
How China Carved Up Myanmar
Beijing’s strategy to create stability through dependence.
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December 26, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Myanmar’s upcoming election will not fix the country’s extreme fragmentation, writes Amara Thiha. “Instead, it will help China institutionalize it in a way that reduces risk for itself.”
U.S. President Donald Trump “should not be in a rush to force a bad deal” in Ukraine, argues @radchenko.bsky.social. Instead, Washington should “exercise patience and remain on the side of the Ukrainians and their European supporters.”
America’s Magical Thinking About Ukraine
A bad deal is worse than no deal.
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December 26, 2025 at 2:34 PM
U.S. President Donald Trump “should not be in a rush to force a bad deal” in Ukraine, argues @radchenko.bsky.social. Instead, Washington should “exercise patience and remain on the side of the Ukrainians and their European supporters.”
Thomas Graham argues that “the contours of a final settlement are visible” in Ukraine today—but achieving a peace deal will require “a sustained diplomatic effort” on Washington’s part:
The Time to End the War in Ukraine Is Now
Trump can defy the skeptics and seal the deal.
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December 25, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Thomas Graham argues that “the contours of a final settlement are visible” in Ukraine today—but achieving a peace deal will require “a sustained diplomatic effort” on Washington’s part:
Ankara is unlikely to fulfill its ambition to build a Turkish-led order in the Levant and beyond, argues @asliaydintasbas.bsky.social. “Turkey simply lacks the economic capacity to underwrite Syria’s reconstruction—or any other major regional project, for that matter.”
Erdogan’s Imperial Delusions
Turkish power does not match the president’s ambitions.
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December 25, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Ankara is unlikely to fulfill its ambition to build a Turkish-led order in the Levant and beyond, argues @asliaydintasbas.bsky.social. “Turkey simply lacks the economic capacity to underwrite Syria’s reconstruction—or any other major regional project, for that matter.”
“Even the bravest, most determined journalists cannot shore up democracy without strong institutions,” writes Susan Chira.
The Promise—and Limits—of a Free Press
Journalists alone cannot stave off autocracy.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 25, 2025 at 4:32 PM
“Even the bravest, most determined journalists cannot shore up democracy without strong institutions,” writes Susan Chira.
For U.S. allies concerned about Trump’s policies, hedging is the most prudent path forward, write Robert Kelly and @profpaulpoast.bsky.social.
How Much Abuse Can America's Allies Take?
Longtime partners will soon start to drift away.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 25, 2025 at 3:46 PM
For U.S. allies concerned about Trump’s policies, hedging is the most prudent path forward, write Robert Kelly and @profpaulpoast.bsky.social.
“Top officials in the U.S. government now believe that the law must be bent to the president’s will, not the other way around.”
Read @bcfinucane.bsky.social on the broader implications of Trump’s maritime bombing campaign:
Read @bcfinucane.bsky.social on the broader implications of Trump’s maritime bombing campaign:
America Unbound in the Caribbean
The real costs of Washington’s use of force.
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December 24, 2025 at 10:37 PM
“Top officials in the U.S. government now believe that the law must be bent to the president’s will, not the other way around.”
Read @bcfinucane.bsky.social on the broader implications of Trump’s maritime bombing campaign:
Read @bcfinucane.bsky.social on the broader implications of Trump’s maritime bombing campaign:
“To sustain a stable and fair global system, policymakers must recognize that integration entails shared constraints.” @michaelpettis.bsky.social makes the case for a global customs union:
How to Fix Free Trade
A global customs union could solve the problem of imbalances.
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December 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
“To sustain a stable and fair global system, policymakers must recognize that integration entails shared constraints.” @michaelpettis.bsky.social makes the case for a global customs union:
As a country grows more powerful, its leaders and citizens become more anxious and impulsive, writes Caleb Pomeroy. “The strong, it turns out, are far more likely than the weak to skip careful, reasoned analysis when making decisions.”
With Great Power Comes Great Insecurity
Why stronger states are more fearful than weaker ones.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
As a country grows more powerful, its leaders and citizens become more anxious and impulsive, writes Caleb Pomeroy. “The strong, it turns out, are far more likely than the weak to skip careful, reasoned analysis when making decisions.”
The problems endemic to the United States’ so-called quasi alliances “are endlessly frustrating to policymakers,” writes Rebecca Lissner. “To advance U.S. interests, Washington needs better answers to these dilemmas.”
America’s Quasi Alliances
How Washington should manage its most complicated relationships.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:31 PM
The problems endemic to the United States’ so-called quasi alliances “are endlessly frustrating to policymakers,” writes Rebecca Lissner. “To advance U.S. interests, Washington needs better answers to these dilemmas.”
Read @sdavidwilp.bsky.social and @lianafix.bsky.social on how German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his grand coalition can reboot Berlin’s economy—and keep the country’s far right at bay:
Can Germany Afford to Be Europe’s Protector?
A stronger military requires a stronger economy.
fam.ag
December 23, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Read @sdavidwilp.bsky.social and @lianafix.bsky.social on how German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his grand coalition can reboot Berlin’s economy—and keep the country’s far right at bay:
Without “near-constant efforts by the United States, Israel and Hamas are likely to settle into an uneasy relationship that avoids all-out war but is nevertheless characterized by constant conflict,” writes Daniel Byman.
Gaza’s New Normal
Persistent limited conflict is more likely than peace.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Without “near-constant efforts by the United States, Israel and Hamas are likely to settle into an uneasy relationship that avoids all-out war but is nevertheless characterized by constant conflict,” writes Daniel Byman.
By treating Iran like a threat to the entire international system—and encouraging other countries to follow suit—Israel and the United States have driven Tehran to invest more in defense, argue M. Javad Zarif and Amir Parsa Garmsiri.
How America and Iran Can Break the Nuclear Deadlock
Ending the cycle of hostility and threats.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:48 PM
By treating Iran like a threat to the entire international system—and encouraging other countries to follow suit—Israel and the United States have driven Tehran to invest more in defense, argue M. Javad Zarif and Amir Parsa Garmsiri.
Elder statesmen have played a key role in the Chinese Communist Party’s history, but the current crop of party elders does not “hold enough clout to overrule Xi,” writes Deng Yuwen. “In truth, in today’s China elders have largely lost their power.”
The End of China’s Old Guard
Why party elders can’t save the country from Xi.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Elder statesmen have played a key role in the Chinese Communist Party’s history, but the current crop of party elders does not “hold enough clout to overrule Xi,” writes Deng Yuwen. “In truth, in today’s China elders have largely lost their power.”
“As long as democratic coordination remains less bold and less inspired than its authoritarian counterpart, there is every reason to expect that autocracy will continue to spread,” write @fromagehomme.bsky.social, Matías Bianchi, and Jennifer Cyr.
The Illiberal International
Authoritarian cooperation is reshaping the global order.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:55 PM
“As long as democratic coordination remains less bold and less inspired than its authoritarian counterpart, there is every reason to expect that autocracy will continue to spread,” write @fromagehomme.bsky.social, Matías Bianchi, and Jennifer Cyr.
“We are in the midst of, to put it bluntly, destroying every valuable part of the U.S. economic engine.”
Listen to the latest episode of “The Foreign Affairs Interview,” featuring a conversation with Daron Acemoglu: https://fam.ag/49ivR90
Listen to the latest episode of “The Foreign Affairs Interview,” featuring a conversation with Daron Acemoglu: https://fam.ag/49ivR90
December 21, 2025 at 6:43 PM
“We are in the midst of, to put it bluntly, destroying every valuable part of the U.S. economic engine.”
Listen to the latest episode of “The Foreign Affairs Interview,” featuring a conversation with Daron Acemoglu: https://fam.ag/49ivR90
Listen to the latest episode of “The Foreign Affairs Interview,” featuring a conversation with Daron Acemoglu: https://fam.ag/49ivR90
Explore our January/February issue, featuring Steven Levitsky, Lucan Way, and Daniel Ziblatt on the United States’ authoritarian turn; Finnish President Alexander Stubb on the forces shaping global order today; and much more.
January/February 2026
A collection of articles from the January/February 2026 issue of Foreign Affairs, including in-depth analysis, commentary, and book reviews from experts in domestic and foreign policy.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 21, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Explore our January/February issue, featuring Steven Levitsky, Lucan Way, and Daniel Ziblatt on the United States’ authoritarian turn; Finnish President Alexander Stubb on the forces shaping global order today; and much more.