Council on Foreign Relations
@cfr.org
🌏 CFR is a resource for foreign policy news and analysis.
CFR takes no institutional positions on policy. Follows, reposts, likes ≠ endorsements.
✉️ Subscribe to our newsletters: http://cfr.org/newsletters
CFR takes no institutional positions on policy. Follows, reposts, likes ≠ endorsements.
✉️ Subscribe to our newsletters: http://cfr.org/newsletters
"For decades, the liberal belief that open trade fosters peace has shaped US foreign policy. It worked while US security guarantees held the system together, but as those commitments weaken and new powers assert themselves, the multilateral trading order is rapidly coming undone," writes Benn Steil.
Free Trade Can't Bring Peace
Benn Steil shows that globalization always depended on global security, not the other way around.
www.project-syndicate.org
November 16, 2025 at 8:51 PM
"For decades, the liberal belief that open trade fosters peace has shaped US foreign policy. It worked while US security guarantees held the system together, but as those commitments weaken and new powers assert themselves, the multilateral trading order is rapidly coming undone," writes Benn Steil.
"The government argues that IEEPA allows the president to 'regulate ... importation,' which implicitly includes tariffs. Most members of the court seem unpersuaded," writes John K. Veroneau.
The Supreme Court Takes Aim at Trump's IEEPA Tariffs
The government's effort to defend Trump's IEEPA tariffs as regulatory rather than revenue-raising faces a skeptical Court and may fail to avert the nondelegation problems its interpretation creates.
www.cfr.org
November 16, 2025 at 2:32 PM
"The government argues that IEEPA allows the president to 'regulate ... importation,' which implicitly includes tariffs. Most members of the court seem unpersuaded," writes John K. Veroneau.
"Washington needs better answers to the strategic dilemmas inherent in managing quasi alliances. Only by grappling with recent successes and failures can policymakers develop a better playbook," writes Rebecca Lissner.
America's Quasi Alliances
How Washington should manage its most complicated relationships.
www.foreignaffairs.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:15 PM
"Washington needs better answers to the strategic dilemmas inherent in managing quasi alliances. Only by grappling with recent successes and failures can policymakers develop a better playbook," writes Rebecca Lissner.
The U.S. relies on China for 70% of its rare earths and nearly 100% of its heavy rare earths. A new CFR Task Force explains America's supply chain dependencies in the new tech race—and how to fix them.
U.S. Economic Security | Council on Foreign Relations
Executive Summary Strategic competition over the world’s next generation of foundational technologies is underway, and U.S. advantages in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and biotechnology are i...
www.cfr.org
November 15, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The U.S. relies on China for 70% of its rare earths and nearly 100% of its heavy rare earths. A new CFR Task Force explains America's supply chain dependencies in the new tech race—and how to fix them.
Government tensions have upended the economic relationships between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Despite this, North American members of the Trilateral Commission appeared committed to finding a path forward when they met in October.
Read analysis by expert Rebecca Patterson:
Read analysis by expert Rebecca Patterson:
North American Leaders ‘Take a Deep Breath' Ahead of USMCA Review
Government tensions have upended the economic relationships between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Despite this, public- and private-sector North American members of the Trilateral Commission...
www.cfr.org
November 15, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Government tensions have upended the economic relationships between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Despite this, North American members of the Trilateral Commission appeared committed to finding a path forward when they met in October.
Read analysis by expert Rebecca Patterson:
Read analysis by expert Rebecca Patterson:
CFR President Michael Froman analyzes the big picture of a trade strategy that may be emerging.
Read his thoughts below ⬇️
Read his thoughts below ⬇️
Trade Beyond Tariffs
CFR President Michael Froman analyzes the big picture of a trade strategy that may be emerging.
www.cfr.org
November 14, 2025 at 11:46 PM
CFR President Michael Froman analyzes the big picture of a trade strategy that may be emerging.
Read his thoughts below ⬇️
Read his thoughts below ⬇️
"China’s reported current account surplus understates China’s contribution to global trade imbalances. The massive gap between China’s export and import volume growth over the last six years tells a more accurate story," writes Brad Setser.
China's Massive Surplus is Everywhere (Yet The IMF Still Has Trouble Seeing It Clearly)
China's reported current account surplus understates China's contribution to global trade imbalances. The massive gap between China's export and import volume growth over the last six years tells a m...
www.cfr.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:13 PM
"China’s reported current account surplus understates China’s contribution to global trade imbalances. The massive gap between China’s export and import volume growth over the last six years tells a more accurate story," writes Brad Setser.
Heidi Crebo-Rediker spent nearly two decades in investment banking overseas before pivoting to government work.
She sat down with CFR to chat about how her early fascination with Russia influenced her career path and the benefits of starting her career in finance.
She sat down with CFR to chat about how her early fascination with Russia influenced her career path and the benefits of starting her career in finance.
How I Got My Career in Foreign Policy: Heidi Crebo-Rediker
Heidi Crebo-Rediker spent nearly two decades in investment banking overseas before pivoting to government work. She sat down with CFR to chat about how her early fascination with Russia influenced he…
www.cfr.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Heidi Crebo-Rediker spent nearly two decades in investment banking overseas before pivoting to government work.
She sat down with CFR to chat about how her early fascination with Russia influenced her career path and the benefits of starting her career in finance.
She sat down with CFR to chat about how her early fascination with Russia influenced her career path and the benefits of starting her career in finance.
A new CFR Task Force report highlights America's opportunity to lead the next wave of tech innovation. Investments in AI, quantum, and biotechnology are necessary to stay ahead as China gains ground, finds the Task Force.
U.S. Economic Security | Council on Foreign Relations
Executive Summary Strategic competition over the world's next generation of foundational technologies is underway, and U.S. advantages in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and biotechnology are increasingly contested. Economic security tools can he...
www.cfr.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:00 PM
A new CFR Task Force report highlights America's opportunity to lead the next wave of tech innovation. Investments in AI, quantum, and biotechnology are necessary to stay ahead as China gains ground, finds the Task Force.
Get an exclusive look at CFR's new bipartisan Task Force report focused on how to ensure U.S. advantages in areas such as AI, quantum and biotechnology from @axios.com: https://www.axios.com/2025/11/12/ai-trump-private-sector-intervention
Exclusive: Bipartisan panel calls for more government intervention to support tech sector
Without government intervention, the group says the nation risks potential exploitation by China and other adversaries.
www.axios.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Get an exclusive look at CFR's new bipartisan Task Force report focused on how to ensure U.S. advantages in areas such as AI, quantum and biotechnology from @axios.com: https://www.axios.com/2025/11/12/ai-trump-private-sector-intervention
MAGA loyalists will go wherever Trump leads, and a lot of them actually seem to appreciate the discordant combination of Trump mediating conflicts while simultaneously saber-rattling, writes @maxboot.bsky.social.
Opinion | Trump’s incoherent foreign policy defies explanation
Many MAGA loyalists don’t bat an eye as Trump mediates conflicts while also saber-rattling.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:13 PM
MAGA loyalists will go wherever Trump leads, and a lot of them actually seem to appreciate the discordant combination of Trump mediating conflicts while simultaneously saber-rattling, writes @maxboot.bsky.social.
October marked the 25th anniversary of the UN security council resolution that launched the women, peace, and security effort.
Linda Robinson and Noël James review the results of U.S. efforts:
Linda Robinson and Noël James review the results of U.S. efforts:
Policy Brief: The Value and Achievements of the U.S. Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017
Since 2000, 115 governments have made formal commitments to increase women’s participation in mitigating and resolving conflict and reducing violence against women and girls. The U.S. government was …
www.cfr.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:43 PM
October marked the 25th anniversary of the UN security council resolution that launched the women, peace, and security effort.
Linda Robinson and Noël James review the results of U.S. efforts:
Linda Robinson and Noël James review the results of U.S. efforts:
Today is Veterans Day, which Americans first observed on November 11, 1919, one year after the end of World War I. Today, roughly 16 million Americans are veterans.
Expert James Lindsay explores the history:
Expert James Lindsay explores the history:
Thanking America’s Veterans
Veterans Day recognizes those who have served in the U.S. armed forces.
www.cfr.org
November 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Today is Veterans Day, which Americans first observed on November 11, 1919, one year after the end of World War I. Today, roughly 16 million Americans are veterans.
Expert James Lindsay explores the history:
Expert James Lindsay explores the history:
Nuclear security is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. CFR's Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship offers younger scholars studying nuclear security issues the opportunity to conduct policy-relevant research.
Apply by 11/30 ➡️ https://on.cfr.org/4orLRdr
Apply by 11/30 ➡️ https://on.cfr.org/4orLRdr
November 10, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Nuclear security is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. CFR's Stanton Nuclear Security Fellowship offers younger scholars studying nuclear security issues the opportunity to conduct policy-relevant research.
Apply by 11/30 ➡️ https://on.cfr.org/4orLRdr
Apply by 11/30 ➡️ https://on.cfr.org/4orLRdr
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth launched Pentagon reforms that prioritize speed in acquiring new military capabilities, but the ambitious proposal risks running into the same bureaucratic obstacles that have plagued past efforts, argue CFR experts.
Time to Accept Risk in Defense Acquisitions
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth launched enterprising Pentagon reforms that prioritize speed in acquiring new military capabilities, but this ambitious proposal is at risk of running into the …
on.cfr.org
November 10, 2025 at 10:04 PM
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth launched Pentagon reforms that prioritize speed in acquiring new military capabilities, but the ambitious proposal risks running into the same bureaucratic obstacles that have plagued past efforts, argue CFR experts.
There are, broadly speaking, two competing theories that help to explain why Argentina has a long history of financial turmoil, writes Brad Setser.
Argentina Needs Foreign Exchange Reserves of its Own
The pressure on Argentina's reserves predated the increase in uncertainty ahead of Argentina's October election, and it is unlikely to dissipate in full even after Milei's victory.
www.cfr.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:14 PM
There are, broadly speaking, two competing theories that help to explain why Argentina has a long history of financial turmoil, writes Brad Setser.
With 2025 marking the ten-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, countries have made some progress lowering global heating predictions, but trends are still not on track to meeting climate commitments.
Here's what to know from our explainer:
Here's what to know from our explainer:
Global Climate Agreements: Successes and Failures
International efforts, such as the Paris Agreement, aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But experts say countries aren't doing enough to limit dangerous global warming.
www.cfr.org
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
With 2025 marking the ten-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, countries have made some progress lowering global heating predictions, but trends are still not on track to meeting climate commitments.
Here's what to know from our explainer:
Here's what to know from our explainer:
The credibility of U.S. and allied leadership in the digital order will rest on whether they can embed trust into the architecture of machine intelligence itself, writes Vinh Nguyen.
Securing Intelligence: Why AI Security Will Define the Future of Trust
U.S. leadership in the AI century will depend on whether democracies can secure machine intelligence fast enough to preserve the trust and resilience their systems rely on.
www.cfr.org
November 10, 2025 at 12:12 AM
The credibility of U.S. and allied leadership in the digital order will rest on whether they can embed trust into the architecture of machine intelligence itself, writes Vinh Nguyen.
Linda Robinson's career as a foreign correspondent and researcher has taken her through Latin America and the Middle East.
She chatted with CFR about being an immersion journalist and the importance of women in democracy movements.
Learn more:
She chatted with CFR about being an immersion journalist and the importance of women in democracy movements.
Learn more:
How I Got My Career in Foreign Policy: Linda Robinson
Linda Robinson's career as a foreign correspondent and researcher has taken her through Latin America and the Middle East. She chatted with CFR about being an immersion journalist and the importance ...
www.cfr.org
November 9, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Linda Robinson's career as a foreign correspondent and researcher has taken her through Latin America and the Middle East.
She chatted with CFR about being an immersion journalist and the importance of women in democracy movements.
Learn more:
She chatted with CFR about being an immersion journalist and the importance of women in democracy movements.
Learn more:
"Thailand has increasingly become the Southeast Asian hub of transnational repression. Across mainland Southeast Asia, transnational repression—of political activists, refugees, and others—has spiked over the past decade," writes Josh Kurlantzick.
Beyond Thailand, Transnational Repression Spreads Globally
Thailand’s growing role as a regional hub for transnational repression in Southeast Asia reflects a broader global trend.
www.cfr.org
November 9, 2025 at 1:10 PM
"Thailand has increasingly become the Southeast Asian hub of transnational repression. Across mainland Southeast Asia, transnational repression—of political activists, refugees, and others—has spiked over the past decade," writes Josh Kurlantzick.
The choice between spending a dollar on vaccination versus a dollar on cutting emissions comes down in large part to how you value a life today relative to one tomorrow, writes Lindsay Iversen.
Bill Gates's Controversial COP Challenge
This is a limited excerpt from the Climate Realism Initiative Newsletter. Sign up to receive monthly insights from the initiative's fellows and staff, including articles, videos, podcasts, events, an...
www.cfr.org
November 9, 2025 at 12:15 AM
The choice between spending a dollar on vaccination versus a dollar on cutting emissions comes down in large part to how you value a life today relative to one tomorrow, writes Lindsay Iversen.
🎧 On this episode of The President's Inbox podcast, Michael Horowitz sits down with James Lindsay to discuss how emerging military technologies are revolutionizing the modern battlefield and how the Pentagon is adapting and incorporating these new technologies.
Listen below ⬇️
Listen below ⬇️
PODCAST | The President's Inbox: Are We Ready? | The New Weapons of War, With Michael Horowitz
Michael Horowitz, Richard Perry professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania and senior fellow for technology and innovation at the Council on Foreign Relations, sits down with Jam...
www.cfr.org
November 8, 2025 at 6:59 PM
🎧 On this episode of The President's Inbox podcast, Michael Horowitz sits down with James Lindsay to discuss how emerging military technologies are revolutionizing the modern battlefield and how the Pentagon is adapting and incorporating these new technologies.
Listen below ⬇️
Listen below ⬇️
CFR President Michael Froman discusses the latest from the civil war in Sudan with CFR Africa expert Michelle Gavin.
Read their full conversation ⬇️
Read their full conversation ⬇️
The Forgotten War in Sudan
CFR President Michael Froman discusses the latest from the civil war in Sudan with Michelle Gavin, senior fellow for Africa policy studies.
www.cfr.org
November 7, 2025 at 9:14 PM
CFR President Michael Froman discusses the latest from the civil war in Sudan with CFR Africa expert Michelle Gavin.
Read their full conversation ⬇️
Read their full conversation ⬇️
The 30th Conference of the Parties will present a stress test for multilateralism and the greater climate effort as it kicks off on November 10 in Belém, Brazil.
CFR expert @alice-c-hill.bsky.social and Angus Soderberg explain the stakes and what to watch out for:
CFR expert @alice-c-hill.bsky.social and Angus Soderberg explain the stakes and what to watch out for:
COP30 in Belém: A Stress Test for Global Climate Cooperation
This year's UN climate summit intends to focus on accelerating ambition and implementation, but countries' climate commitments are still lacking, and the United States has withdrawn from the global e...
www.cfr.org
November 7, 2025 at 5:35 PM
The 30th Conference of the Parties will present a stress test for multilateralism and the greater climate effort as it kicks off on November 10 in Belém, Brazil.
CFR expert @alice-c-hill.bsky.social and Angus Soderberg explain the stakes and what to watch out for:
CFR expert @alice-c-hill.bsky.social and Angus Soderberg explain the stakes and what to watch out for:
How Sharaa rules his impoverished, broken, and politically divided country remains an open question, but clearly U.S. President Donald Trump believes a White House visit will help unlock much-needed reconstruction assistance and set Syria on a positive path, writes @stevenacook.bsky.social.
Pivotal U.S. Summit Could Help Mend a Fractured Syria
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa makes a crucial first visit to the White House, with the reconstruction of his war-battered country at stake if he is able to persuade U.S. lawmakers to lift sanctions.
www.cfr.org
November 7, 2025 at 2:15 PM
How Sharaa rules his impoverished, broken, and politically divided country remains an open question, but clearly U.S. President Donald Trump believes a White House visit will help unlock much-needed reconstruction assistance and set Syria on a positive path, writes @stevenacook.bsky.social.