Afreen Akhter
@afreenakhter.bsky.social
Visiting Scholar, @carnegieendowment.org, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Honored to be a part of @carnegieendowment.org 2025 must-reads!
💡 Carnegie's 2025 must-reads: We asked Carnegie’s directors to select one piece each that they felt stood out or best represented the program’s work for the year.
See their selections here: carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
See their selections here: carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
Carnegie’s Must-Read Pieces of 2025
Program directors share the analysis and research that stood out this year.
carnegieendowment.org
December 22, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Honored to be a part of @carnegieendowment.org 2025 must-reads!
Reposted by Afreen Akhter
The Development Finance Corporation shows promise for helping the U.S. achieve its foreign policy goals. But it’s not living up to its potential.
Why not? @afreenakhter.bsky.social explains: youtube.com/shorts/47SHF...
Why not? @afreenakhter.bsky.social explains: youtube.com/shorts/47SHF...
Transforming U.S. Development Finance from Caution to Competition
YouTube video by Carnegie Explains
youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:29 PM
The Development Finance Corporation shows promise for helping the U.S. achieve its foreign policy goals. But it’s not living up to its potential.
Why not? @afreenakhter.bsky.social explains: youtube.com/shorts/47SHF...
Why not? @afreenakhter.bsky.social explains: youtube.com/shorts/47SHF...
As I told Devex, the Trump team's approach to the DFC has focused almost singularly on critical minerals. Broadening that aperture could signal an evolution in how they see the agency's role. www.devex.com/news/kenya-l...
Kenya lands $1B debt-for-food swap with US DFC
The Kenyan government and the DFC have inked a deal to swap $1 billion of debt in exchange for food security investments.
www.devex.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:14 PM
As I told Devex, the Trump team's approach to the DFC has focused almost singularly on critical minerals. Broadening that aperture could signal an evolution in how they see the agency's role. www.devex.com/news/kenya-l...
Reposted by Afreen Akhter
The Development Finance Corporation is meant to be an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. But constraints on the agency hold it back. What can the U.S. do to make the DFC a stronger competitor?
@afreenakhter.bsky.social explains: carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
@afreenakhter.bsky.social explains: carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
From Caution to Competition: Positioning U.S. Development Finance for Industrial Power
The DFC remains constrained by slow and duplicative processes, narrow authorities, and a temporary authorization. A more ambitious vision could turn it into an expedient instrument of American power.
carnegieendowment.org
December 1, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The Development Finance Corporation is meant to be an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. But constraints on the agency hold it back. What can the U.S. do to make the DFC a stronger competitor?
@afreenakhter.bsky.social explains: carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
@afreenakhter.bsky.social explains: carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
The DFC was built to be cautious--but caution loses in a world defined by speed, scale, and industrial alignment. My new Carnegie paper argues for a DFC that shapes markets, builds trusted supply chains, and anchors an architecture of industrial statecraft. carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
From Caution to Competition: Positioning U.S. Development Finance for Industrial Power
The DFC remains constrained by slow and duplicative processes, narrow authorities, and a temporary authorization. A more ambitious vision could turn it into an expedient instrument of American power.
carnegieendowment.org
December 1, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The DFC was built to be cautious--but caution loses in a world defined by speed, scale, and industrial alignment. My new Carnegie paper argues for a DFC that shapes markets, builds trusted supply chains, and anchors an architecture of industrial statecraft. carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
As I told Politico on the renewed U.S.-India defense pact, "Predictability and trust require strategic clarity." Trump’s approach is erratic and personality-driven. Absent a coherent strategy, this is pact is just choreography.
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
How Pete Hegseth courted Asia
The White House bolstered military-to-military ties with key Asian countries to push back on Beijing’s growing regional influence and open doors for U.S. defense firms.
www.politico.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
As I told Politico on the renewed U.S.-India defense pact, "Predictability and trust require strategic clarity." Trump’s approach is erratic and personality-driven. Absent a coherent strategy, this is pact is just choreography.
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
In the last week, Congress let the BUILD Act and the Defense Production Act expire. Two pillars of U.S. industrial strategy and foreign policy - terminated. Congress had years to act. But their recurring playbook remains: lapse first, panic later. 🧵
October 7, 2025 at 7:23 PM
In the last week, Congress let the BUILD Act and the Defense Production Act expire. Two pillars of U.S. industrial strategy and foreign policy - terminated. Congress had years to act. But their recurring playbook remains: lapse first, panic later. 🧵
Reposted by Afreen Akhter
In today’s #MustRead, @afreenakhter.bsky.social
warns that Congress is stalling on reauthorizing America’s development bank—while China surges ahead with $1T in global investments. The U.S. must act or risk losing ground in the race for economic leadership.
www.justsecurity.org/120015/reaut...
warns that Congress is stalling on reauthorizing America’s development bank—while China surges ahead with $1T in global investments. The U.S. must act or risk losing ground in the race for economic leadership.
www.justsecurity.org/120015/reaut...
Washington Balks While Beijing Builds: Reauthorizing the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
In the U.S.-China contest for global leadership, Congress can determine whether the DFC remains on the sidelines or becomes a central player.
www.justsecurity.org
September 8, 2025 at 12:57 PM
In today’s #MustRead, @afreenakhter.bsky.social
warns that Congress is stalling on reauthorizing America’s development bank—while China surges ahead with $1T in global investments. The U.S. must act or risk losing ground in the race for economic leadership.
www.justsecurity.org/120015/reaut...
warns that Congress is stalling on reauthorizing America’s development bank—while China surges ahead with $1T in global investments. The U.S. must act or risk losing ground in the race for economic leadership.
www.justsecurity.org/120015/reaut...
Reposted by Afreen Akhter
(1/2) Catch up on our recent analysis:
• U.S. military strike / Venezuela
• Afghanistan
• International law / Gender violence
• Northern Ireland / Accountability
• Trump executive actions
• United States / Foreign investment
• Artificial intelligence
• Climate change
• U.S. military strike / Venezuela
• Afghanistan
• International law / Gender violence
• Northern Ireland / Accountability
• Trump executive actions
• United States / Foreign investment
• Artificial intelligence
• Climate change
Digest of Recent Articles on Just Security (Sept. 2-5, 2025)
U.S. military strike / Venezuela • Afghanistan • International law / Gender violence • Northern Ireland / Accountability • Trump executive actions • United States / Foreign investment • Artificial int...
www.justsecurity.org
September 6, 2025 at 11:34 AM
(1/2) Catch up on our recent analysis:
• U.S. military strike / Venezuela
• Afghanistan
• International law / Gender violence
• Northern Ireland / Accountability
• Trump executive actions
• United States / Foreign investment
• Artificial intelligence
• Climate change
• U.S. military strike / Venezuela
• Afghanistan
• International law / Gender violence
• Northern Ireland / Accountability
• Trump executive actions
• United States / Foreign investment
• Artificial intelligence
• Climate change
China builds. America balks. Whether the U.S. keeps losing ground depends on choices now before Congress. My latest on America’s development bank at www.justsecurity.org/120015/reaut...
Washington Balks While Beijing Builds: Reauthorizing the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
In the U.S.-China contest for global leadership, Congress can determine whether the DFC remains on the sidelines or becomes a central player.
www.justsecurity.org
September 5, 2025 at 2:06 PM
China builds. America balks. Whether the U.S. keeps losing ground depends on choices now before Congress. My latest on America’s development bank at www.justsecurity.org/120015/reaut...
Reposted by Afreen Akhter
As China’s Belt and Road Initiative challenges U.S. influence, Congress is considering reauthorization for its International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
@afreenakhter.bsky.social outlines how the agency could “move at the speed of global competition -- without compromising safeguards.”
@afreenakhter.bsky.social outlines how the agency could “move at the speed of global competition -- without compromising safeguards.”
Washington Balks While Beijing Builds: Reauthorizing the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
In the U.S.-China contest for global leadership, Congress can determine whether the DFC remains on the sidelines or becomes a central player.
www.justsecurity.org
September 5, 2025 at 12:59 PM
As China’s Belt and Road Initiative challenges U.S. influence, Congress is considering reauthorization for its International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
@afreenakhter.bsky.social outlines how the agency could “move at the speed of global competition -- without compromising safeguards.”
@afreenakhter.bsky.social outlines how the agency could “move at the speed of global competition -- without compromising safeguards.”
Reposted by Afreen Akhter
Republicans are suppressing their own voters. Political coalitions have shifted, but tactics have not. Why?
Article by me.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Article by me.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Why Are Republicans Intent on Suppressing Their Own Voters?
Hint: It has a lot to do with Donald Trump’s delusions.
slate.com
September 4, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Republicans are suppressing their own voters. Political coalitions have shifted, but tactics have not. Why?
Article by me.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Article by me.
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Congress needs *a lot* of caffeine. Here's why 👇
The Development Finance Corporation, the U.S. development bank, is set to expire next month. Securing its future is crucial for the U.S. -- but why? @afreenakhter.bsky.social explains: youtube.com/shorts/pG5Sh...
America’s Development Bank Can Bet Big
YouTube video by Carnegie Explains
youtube.com
September 4, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Congress needs *a lot* of caffeine. Here's why 👇
The #abundanceagenda envisions a government that delivers faster at home. Our foreign affairs agencies suffer from the same gridlock. Let’s speed them up — starting with the DFC.
China invests billions overseas to secure its future.
The U.S. invests billions too – through our Development Finance Corporation (DFC) – but with the brakes on.
Congress has only 8 weeks left to change that – before the agency expires. 🧵
The U.S. invests billions too – through our Development Finance Corporation (DFC) – but with the brakes on.
Congress has only 8 weeks left to change that – before the agency expires. 🧵
August 15, 2025 at 3:43 PM
The #abundanceagenda envisions a government that delivers faster at home. Our foreign affairs agencies suffer from the same gridlock. Let’s speed them up — starting with the DFC.
China invests billions overseas to secure its future.
The U.S. invests billions too – through our Development Finance Corporation (DFC) – but with the brakes on.
Congress has only 8 weeks left to change that – before the agency expires. 🧵
The U.S. invests billions too – through our Development Finance Corporation (DFC) – but with the brakes on.
Congress has only 8 weeks left to change that – before the agency expires. 🧵
August 14, 2025 at 6:23 PM
China invests billions overseas to secure its future.
The U.S. invests billions too – through our Development Finance Corporation (DFC) – but with the brakes on.
Congress has only 8 weeks left to change that – before the agency expires. 🧵
The U.S. invests billions too – through our Development Finance Corporation (DFC) – but with the brakes on.
Congress has only 8 weeks left to change that – before the agency expires. 🧵
Reposted by Afreen Akhter
Authorization for the United States’ development bank is set to run out in October. But to protect its economic future, “America needs a DFC that is faster, bolder, and more willing to take risks.”
@afreenakhter.bsky.social for Emissary: carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
@afreenakhter.bsky.social for Emissary: carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
America’s Development Bank Needs to Bet Big
Instead of allowing the DFC’s authorization to lapse, Congress could make the bank more nimble than before.
carnegieendowment.org
August 11, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Authorization for the United States’ development bank is set to run out in October. But to protect its economic future, “America needs a DFC that is faster, bolder, and more willing to take risks.”
@afreenakhter.bsky.social for Emissary: carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
@afreenakhter.bsky.social for Emissary: carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...