Phil Gordon
@philgordondc.bsky.social
Sydney Stein Jr Scholar @BrookingsInst. White House, NSC and State Department under Biden, Obama and Clinton. Only posting articles here, commenting on X.
"There was a rationale for standing unequivocally behind Israel after the horrific Oct 7 attacks. But the argument that the US should not use its...leverage to bring the war in Gaza to an end hasn't been tenable for some time." W/ Jon finer in Politico.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Opinion | It’s Time to Impose Conditions on Aid to Israel
The United States should distance itself morally and materially from the slaughter in Gaza.
www.politico.com
September 25, 2025 at 10:34 AM
"There was a rationale for standing unequivocally behind Israel after the horrific Oct 7 attacks. But the argument that the US should not use its...leverage to bring the war in Gaza to an end hasn't been tenable for some time." W/ Jon finer in Politico.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Taiwan faces real and growing threats, but it also has good cards to play. My latest for Foreign Affairs, with Ryan Haas.
www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/nobod...
www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/nobod...
Nobody Lost Taiwan
The island remains secure and stable—for now.
www.foreignaffairs.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Taiwan faces real and growing threats, but it also has good cards to play. My latest for Foreign Affairs, with Ryan Haas.
www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/nobod...
www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/nobod...
Gaza is not the only conflict on Israel's borders where Trump is giving Bibi a green light to pursue an extreme-right agenda. My latest for @nytimes on Israel's takeover of the West Bank.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/o...
Opinion | In the West Bank, Trump Is Not Standing in Israel’s Way
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Gaza is not the only conflict on Israel's borders where Trump is giving Bibi a green light to pursue an extreme-right agenda. My latest for @nytimes on Israel's takeover of the West Bank.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/o...
In a new piece in @justsecurity.org, I suggest looking at the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act as a model for how to offer security guarantees to Ukraine. In absence of NATO membership, not forthcoming, a long-term commitment to arm Ukraine may be the best option.
www.justsecurity.org/119517/secur...
www.justsecurity.org/119517/secur...
A Security Guarantee for Ukraine? Look to the Taiwan Relations Act
The United States and its allies can use the Taiwan model to make post-war Ukraine more secure without writing checks they cannot cash.
www.justsecurity.org
August 25, 2025 at 1:58 PM
In a new piece in @justsecurity.org, I suggest looking at the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act as a model for how to offer security guarantees to Ukraine. In absence of NATO membership, not forthcoming, a long-term commitment to arm Ukraine may be the best option.
www.justsecurity.org/119517/secur...
www.justsecurity.org/119517/secur...
Enjoyed my discussion with Anna Sauerbrey of Die Zeit about Trump's Ukraine summitry. The European leaders put the best possible face on their visit to the White House, but that couldn't mask the fact that they left empty-handed.
www.zeit.de/politik/ausl...
www.zeit.de/politik/ausl...
Phil Gordon: "Trumps Ansatz funktioniert nicht"
Der Ukrainegipfel im Weißen Haus war enttäuschend, sagt der US-Diplomat Phil Gordon. Die USA würden Europa bei den Sicherheitsgarantien allein lassen.
www.zeit.de
August 25, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Enjoyed my discussion with Anna Sauerbrey of Die Zeit about Trump's Ukraine summitry. The European leaders put the best possible face on their visit to the White House, but that couldn't mask the fact that they left empty-handed.
www.zeit.de/politik/ausl...
www.zeit.de/politik/ausl...
Reposted by Phil Gordon
The obvious imbalance between benefits and costs of a further invasion of Gaza has pushed many of Israel’s international partners to come out against the new operation. But only Trump can change the course, writes Philip H. Gordon.
Only Trump Can Save Israel from Its Own Government
Netanyahu’s plan to seize Gaza is a catastrophe for all.
foreignpolicy.com
August 15, 2025 at 9:30 PM
The obvious imbalance between benefits and costs of a further invasion of Gaza has pushed many of Israel’s international partners to come out against the new operation. But only Trump can change the course, writes Philip H. Gordon.
Reposted by Phil Gordon
The main concern is that Trump—seemingly desperate for a summit and trade deal with Xi—will be prepared to sell out Taiwan to get it.
Trump Might Sell Out Taiwan—Here’s How to Prevent It
Taipei needs to spend more on defense and invest more in the U.S.
foreignpolicy.com
August 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The main concern is that Trump—seemingly desperate for a summit and trade deal with Xi—will be prepared to sell out Taiwan to get it.
"Real success for Trump in Iran will require de-escalation." My take for @ft on US strikes in Iran.
www.ft.com/content/a00f...
www.ft.com/content/a00f...
Real success for Trump in Iran will require de-escalation
He should persuade the leadership in Tehran that this is still possible
www.ft.com
June 23, 2025 at 12:34 PM
"Real success for Trump in Iran will require de-escalation." My take for @ft on US strikes in Iran.
www.ft.com/content/a00f...
www.ft.com/content/a00f...
A new nuclear deal with Iran seems implausible, until you think about how bad Iran's other options are. My piece for @nytimes on how a new deal could still be done.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/o...
Opinion | A Nuclear Deal Is Still Possible
www.nytimes.com
June 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM
A new nuclear deal with Iran seems implausible, until you think about how bad Iran's other options are. My piece for @nytimes on how a new deal could still be done.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/o...
I spoke to Le Monde about Trump's foreign policies -- and Biden's.
archive.is/2025.06.14-1...
archive.is/2025.06.14-1...
archive.is
June 17, 2025 at 10:45 AM
I spoke to Le Monde about Trump's foreign policies -- and Biden's.
archive.is/2025.06.14-1...
archive.is/2025.06.14-1...
Much to hate about Trump foreign policy, but Democrats could learn from the willingness to challenge established orthodoxies and ignore feared political costs. My thoughts on this in @FT.
www.ft.com/content/38c7...
www.ft.com/content/38c7...
What Democrats can learn from Trump’s approach to the Middle East
The willingness to challenge received wisdom can yield results without political costs
www.ft.com
May 16, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Much to hate about Trump foreign policy, but Democrats could learn from the willingness to challenge established orthodoxies and ignore feared political costs. My thoughts on this in @FT.
www.ft.com/content/38c7...
www.ft.com/content/38c7...
Trump has been threatening to finally put pressure on Moscow if Putin continues to say no to peace. Ahead of possible talks, some thoughts on how he might do that with Rebecca Lissner in Foreign Policy.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/12/h...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/12/h...
How Trump Can Reset His Failed Ukraine Policy
More pressure on Russia could end the war.
foreignpolicy.com
May 13, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Trump has been threatening to finally put pressure on Moscow if Putin continues to say no to peace. Ahead of possible talks, some thoughts on how he might do that with Rebecca Lissner in Foreign Policy.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/12/h...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/12/h...
Trump wants a "better" Iran nuclear deal than Obama but also doesn't want to go to war. My thoughts for @nytopinion
on a possibly way forward:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/o...
on a possibly way forward:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/o...
Opinion | How Trump Can Close a Nuclear Deal with Iran
www.nytimes.com
May 10, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Trump wants a "better" Iran nuclear deal than Obama but also doesn't want to go to war. My thoughts for @nytopinion
on a possibly way forward:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/o...
on a possibly way forward:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/o...
Reposted by Phil Gordon
By endorsing Netanyahu’s strategy of using aid as leverage, Trump is making humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza an official policy goal, Philip H. Gordon and Andrew Miller argue.
Trump Should Not Give Israel a Pass on Gaza Blockade
By doing so, he makes Palestinian suffering U.S. policy.
foreignpolicy.com
May 1, 2025 at 5:30 PM
By endorsing Netanyahu’s strategy of using aid as leverage, Trump is making humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza an official policy goal, Philip H. Gordon and Andrew Miller argue.
I'm still mostly posting on the other site but will post recent publications here for those who are (understandably) not on it... Latest piece for Foreign Policy here, with Andrew Miller, on Gaza.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/29/t...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/29/t...
Trump Should Not Give Israel a Pass on Gaza Blockade
By doing so, he makes Palestinian suffering U.S. policy.
foreignpolicy.com
April 30, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I'm still mostly posting on the other site but will post recent publications here for those who are (understandably) not on it... Latest piece for Foreign Policy here, with Andrew Miller, on Gaza.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/29/t...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/04/29/t...
The case for Europe transferring frozen Russian assets to Ukraine was always strong. As Trump abandons Ukraine it has become far stronger. My new FT piece with Daleep Singh.
www.ft.com/content/f012...
www.ft.com/content/f012...
Europe has no choice but to seize frozen Russian assets
Doing so is the only effective means of saving Ukraine
www.ft.com
March 6, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The case for Europe transferring frozen Russian assets to Ukraine was always strong. As Trump abandons Ukraine it has become far stronger. My new FT piece with Daleep Singh.
www.ft.com/content/f012...
www.ft.com/content/f012...
And this in Foreign Policy, on how Trump sold myth that US is in economic and geopolitical decline -- which isn't true.
The United States has real economic problems, but its share of the global GDP, at around 26 percent, was higher than it has been for nearly two decades, Philip H. Gordon writes.
Trump’s Myth of American Decline
President Joe Biden handed off a country that was in its strongest geopolitical position in decades.
foreignpolicy.com
February 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
And this in Foreign Policy, on how Trump sold myth that US is in economic and geopolitical decline -- which isn't true.
New piece in Foreign Affairs on strategic opportunities Trump is inheriting in the Middle East -- tempered by fear that he will squander.
“The fate of the Middle East over the next four years will depend in large part on whether Trump manages to take advantage of the strategic opportunities he inherited or instead squanders them with his reckless impulses.”
America Has a Historic Opportunity in the Middle East
Trump has leverage, but he must use it wisely.
www.foreignaffairs.com
February 20, 2025 at 2:20 PM
New piece in Foreign Affairs on strategic opportunities Trump is inheriting in the Middle East -- tempered by fear that he will squander.
Just getting set up on this site. Seems preferable to the other one.
February 20, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Just getting set up on this site. Seems preferable to the other one.