Richard Fontaine
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rhfontaine.bsky.social
Richard Fontaine
@rhfontaine.bsky.social
CEO of the Center for a New American Security (@cnas.bsky.social). Former State Dept, NSC, SFRC, SASC, and advisor to Sen. John McCain. Tweets reflect personal views.
The past ten days have seen more Ukraine diplomacy than the previous ten months combined. As the flurry continues - today with meetings in Moscow - here is where things stand:

www.cnas.org/publications...
CNAS Insights | Ten Days That Shook the War
Developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies.
www.cnas.org
December 3, 2025 at 1:41 AM
The world has lost a giant. Rich Armitage was a statesman, an incredible mentor, and a personal hero of mine. He will be so deeply missed. armitageinternational.com/news/remembe...
Remembering Richard L. Armitage - Armitage International
Richard L. Armitage, former deputy secretary of state under President George W. Bush, died unexpectedly on Sunday April 13 at the age of 79. The cause of death was a pulmonary embolism.
armitageinternational.com
April 14, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Reposted by Richard Fontaine
It's a full house at PWH for a book talk on "Lost Decade: The US Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power" with @cnas.bsky.social's @rhfontaine.bsky.social and Penn's Amy Gadsden! Watch live via Zoom: pwh-upenn-edu.zoom.us/j/9577003912...
Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
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pwh-upenn-edu.zoom.us
April 9, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Richard Fontaine
Join us and @cnas.bsky.social CEO @rhfontaine.bsky.social for a discussion on the U.S. pivot to Asia, how to create effective policy for the region, and its possible effects on American security. *The first 25 attendees will receive a free copy of Fontaine's book* www.eventbrite.com/e/the-us-piv...
The U.S. Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power
At this event, Richard Fontaine will discuss his new book, Lost Decade: The US Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power.
www.eventbrite.com
April 2, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Reposted by Richard Fontaine
Super excited to be welcoming @rhfontaine.bsky.social, CEO of @cnas.bsky.social & PWH Visiting Fellow, to @perryworldhouse.bsky.social on April 9 to talk about The U.S. Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power! Join online or in person: perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/events/the-u...
The U.S. Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power - Perry World House
Across the political spectrum, there is wide agreement that Asia should stand at the center of US foreign policy. But this worldview, first represented in the Obama administration’s 2011 “Pivot to Asi...
perryworldhouse.upenn.edu
April 2, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Henry Kissinger in the 1970s used China to balance the Soviet Union. Could the US now flip Russia against China in a "reverse Kissinger?" I joined the School of War podcast to discuss the prospects: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e...
Ep 187: Richard Fontaine on the “Reverse Kissinger”
Podcast Episode · School of War · 01/04/2025 · 47m
podcasts.apple.com
April 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
The charge for the United States is to deter war with China without capitulation and to compete effectively across all the areas of soft power. If the cost-cutting goes too too far, it will amount to unilateral disarmament in the world’s most important contest. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/u...
How Elon Musk’s DOGE Cuts Leave a Vacuum That China Can Fill
The Department of Government Efficiency is shuttering organizations that Beijing worried about most, or actively sought to subvert.
www.nytimes.com
March 22, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the last four years of U.S. policy in Asia and on opportunities at hand now. Check it out: foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/miss...
Missed Milestones: Evaluating The Last Four Years in the EAP Region and Unseized Opportunities Under President Trump - Committee on Foreign Affairs
Hearing notice Committee Repository
foreignaffairs.house.gov
February 26, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Four themes struck me as emblematic of this year’s Munich Security Conference zeitgeist. My dispatch from Bavaria: warontherocks.com/2025/02/the-...
The Superpower Has Left the Building: Munich 2025 - War on the Rocks
National security’s Burning Man took place this weekend, as foreign policy types from around the world gathered once again in Bavaria. The Munich Security
warontherocks.com
February 17, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Talking about the China-Russia relationship and what it means for U.S. foreign policy 👇 ow.ly/UiHs50UIHqL
Richard Fontaine: The Russo-Chinese Alliance & U.S. Foreign Policy
Podcast Episode · Diplomatic Immunity · 01/16/2025 · 32m
ow.ly
January 29, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Here are 15 national security actions the administration should take in its first 100 days 👇👇 www.cnas.org/publications...
The First 100 Days
The First 100 Days is a series of recommendations from CNAS experts. The recommendations span the most pressing issues that will test the administration.
www.cnas.org
January 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Foreign policy is something like an iceberg. The visible portion is gleaming and jagged and draws much of the attention. Yet it also has a far bigger and underexamined foundation, one that tends to remain mostly unchanged. www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-h...
Trump's foreign policy endgame - Washington Examiner
President Donald Trump appears to be strong-arming unwilling leaders into negotiating, according to aides and foreign policy experts.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
January 25, 2025 at 4:43 PM
15 national security actions the new administration should take in its first 100 days: www.cnas.org/publications...
The First 100 Days
The First 100 Days is a series of recommendations from CNAS experts. The recommendations span the most pressing issues that will test the administration.
www.cnas.org
January 24, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Reposted by Richard Fontaine
From @rhfontaine.bsky.social: "Set the Tone, Establish Policy, Hire Personnel—And Prepare for Crisis" www.cnas.org/publications...
Set the Tone, Establish Policy, Hire Personnel—And Prepare for Crisis
President Donald Trump enters office at a critical moment and faces multiple crises—it would do well to follow a few key maxims.
www.cnas.org
January 21, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Reposted by Richard Fontaine
An interesting article on the continuity of American politics.A recommended read to get a fuller picture

Author argues that despite all the vivid differences between the past and now current presidential administrations, there's more continuity in foreign policy than one could originally expect
January 21, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Richard Fontaine
For all the differences between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, there will likely be far more foreign policy continuity between the two administrations than meets the eye. On Inauguration Day in @foreignaffairs.com: www.foreignaffairs.com/trump-biden-...
The Trump-Biden-Trump Foreign Policy
Eight years shaped by surprising continuity—and four more to come.
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Set the Tone, Establish Policy, Hire Personnel—And Prepare for Crisis. Foreign policy for the first 100 days:

www.cnas.org/publications...
Set the Tone, Establish Policy, Hire Personnel—And Prepare for Crisis
President Donald Trump enters office at a critical moment and faces multiple crises—it would do well to follow a few key maxims.
www.cnas.org
January 20, 2025 at 3:49 PM
On Inauguration Day, @cnas.bsky.social is publishing the First 100 Days Agenda. Here, CNAS experts lay out their recommendations for the Trump administration's top priorities and early actions: www.cnas.org/publications...
The First 100 Days
The First 100 Days is a series of recommendations from CNAS experts. The recommendations span the most pressing issues that will test the administration.
www.cnas.org
January 20, 2025 at 3:41 PM
For all the differences between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, there will likely be far more foreign policy continuity between the two administrations than meets the eye. On Inauguration Day in @foreignaffairs.com: www.foreignaffairs.com/trump-biden-...
The Trump-Biden-Trump Foreign Policy
Eight years shaped by surprising continuity—and four more to come.
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Richard Fontaine
Dig into the full volume here: www.cnas.org/publications...

Featuring insightful contributions from @rhfontaine.bsky.social, @klkuzminski.bsky.social, @beccawasser.bsky.social, @vivekchil.bsky.social, and @jacobstokes.bsky.social, along with many other colleagues.
www.cnas.org
January 20, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Richard Fontaine
Dig into the full volume here: www.cnas.org/publications...

Featuring stellar contributions from @rhfontaine.bsky.social, @klkuzminski.bsky.social, @beccawasser.bsky.social, @vivekchil.bsky.social, and @jonathanlorddc.bsky.social, along with other incisive colleagues without bsky accounts.
The First 100 Days
The First 100 Days is a series of recommendations from CNAS experts. The recommendations span the most pressing issues that will test the administration.
www.cnas.org
January 20, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by Richard Fontaine
For all the differences between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, there will likely be far more foreign policy continuity between the two administrations than meets the eye, argues Richard Fontaine.
The Trump-Biden-Trump Foreign Policy
Eight years shaped by surprising continuity—and four more to come.
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 20, 2025 at 3:28 PM
The hometown in happier times. Love NOLA.
January 1, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Richard Fontaine
One of Jimmy Carter’s accomplishments was to elevate the role of human rights in U.S. foreign policy. That welcome move represented a dramatic change. And the priority endured, with ups and downs, in every administration since. RIP
December 30, 2024 at 8:59 PM