RAND >

International Diplomacy

commentary
The Roots—and Purpose—of the Post-War Order
Michael J. Mazarr
Aug 7, 2018
Foreign Affairs
As the world enters an era of greater international competition, U.S. policymakers should take care not to underestimate the importance of the postwar system. The order is far from a myth; it is the United States' most important competitive advantage.
Read More »

commentary
Navigating Asia's Stormy Seas: Regional Perspectives on U.S.-China Competition
Michael S. Chase, Mara Karlin
Aug 7, 2018
The Diplomat
Many of the key advantages the United States enjoys in a strategic competition with China depend on strong relationships with U.S. allies and partners. Beijing will certainly do its utmost to take advantage of any opportunities presented by concerns about the strength and sustainability of the U.S. role in the region.
Read More »
commentary
Bringing Back Sanctions Will Hurt U.S. Allies and Iran, but Will It Help the U.S.?
Dalia Dassa Kaye @dassakaye
Aug 7, 2018
The Hill
What happens if leaving the Iran nuclear deal and applying “maximum pressure” doesn't lead Iran to change its behavior or the regime to collapse? The Trump administration may find that it's much easier to break a deal than to replace it with something better.
Read More »
commentary
The Security Risks of a Trade War with China
Ali Wyne @Ali_Wyne
Aug 6, 2018
Foreign Affairs
As U.S.-China trade tensions continue to rise, many observers are focused on the potential for a full-fledged trade war that could destabilize the world economy. But there are security concerns as well. A China less constrained by and invested in economic ties with the United States could pose a greater challenge to U.S. foreign policy.
Read More »
commentary
China Prepares for an International Order After U.S. Leadership
Timothy R. Heath
Aug 2, 2018
Lawfare
In Beijing's estimation, key geopolitical developments have increased the possibility that China will face a power transition with the United States in coming years. In response, Chinese officials are laying the groundwork to manage that transition and ensure a leading role for their country in the emerging international order.
Read More »
commentary
Regime Change in Iran: Watch What You Ask For
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Aug 2, 2018
USA Today
Mike Pompeo's speech in May signaled a desire for regime change in Iran, but the U.S. will have to change its approach to shape a positive outcome. This could involve targeting sanctions more narrowly rather than seeking to impoverish the general population. And lifting the ban on Iranian visitors to the U.S. would be a good start.
Read More »
commentary
Attempts to Order Geopolitics Have a Sobering History
Ali Wyne @Ali_Wyne
Jul 25, 2018
The WorldPost (Washington Post)
Past efforts to introduce world order have resulted less from foresighted statecraft than from cataclysmic upheavals such as World War II. If the current international system erodes, what might have to happen for a new one to emerge?
Read More »
International Diplomacy
commentary
Making Sense of South Korea's Cautious Optimism on North Korea
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Jul 24, 2018
Pacific Council on International Policy
South Korea is cautiously optimistic that North Korea will denuclearize, and it hopes that this will lead to the normalization of relations. The vast majority of U.S. observers believe that the North is bluffing. Seoul and Washington should continue to strive for transparency about the future of the peninsula.
Read More »
Security Cooperation
commentary
Is India the Weakest Link in the Quad?
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Jul 23, 2018
Foreign Policy
India's sustained membership in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue would fit with the goal of balancing against China to deter it from further militarizing the Indo-Pacific. But New Dehli may be getting cold feet.
Read More »
Trade Barriers
commentary
The U.S.-China Trade War: Different Messages
Rafiq Dossani
Jul 20, 2018
RealClearWorld
The trade war between the United States and China began with the notification of tariffs on $34 billion of traded goods on each side. Officials on both sides of the Pacific are using different messages to convey the dispute. What are the real impacts likely to be?
Read More »
Arctic Region
commentary
Cooperation in the Arctic Likely to Continue—For Now
Stephanie Pezard @StephaniePezard, Antonia Ward @antoniahward
Jul 12, 2018
The RAND Blog
Risks for serious tensions in the Arctic during the 2020s are likely to be overstated. Key players in the Arctic appear likely to continue working together to enhance the economic potential of the region and resolve conflicts before they emerge, as opportunities in the Arctic continue to grow.
Read More »
Russia
commentary
Russia's Wars and Trump
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke, William Courtney @courtneywmh
Jul 11, 2018
The Hill
At the July 16 summit in Helsinki, President Trump might stress that the West will persist in imposing costs on Russia for current and any future malign interventions. At the same time, he could offer to work with Putin in the search for peace in Syria and Ukraine if Moscow were to decide to withdraw its forces.
Read More »
Security Cooperation
commentary
Time to Make a Deal on Syria
Samuel Charap @scharap, Jeffrey Martini
Jul 10, 2018
Foreign Policy
U.S. leverage is much diminished by the Assad regime's recent gains but there are still opportunities for Washington and Russia to achieve a settlement that preserves some U.S. interests. These include maintaining the gains made against the Islamic State and constraining Iranian influence in Syria.
Read More »
Russia
commentary
Western Unity Is Best for Russian Summitry
Denis Corboy, William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Jul 5, 2018
The American Interest
In preparing for his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump could benefit from a coordinated Western approach toward Moscow as a prelude. Absent this, his hand will be seriously weakened.
Read More »
International Diplomacy
commentary
Trump and Putin Should Start Small at Helsinki Summit
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Jul 2, 2018
Reuters
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will hold their first formal summit on July 16. Their agenda will likely include the main sources of strain in relations, but they might find it easier to make concrete progress if they start with lower-profile issues as Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan did at their first summit.
Read More »
Japan
commentary
Success with North Korea Still Needs Japan
Jeffrey W. Hornung
Jun 27, 2018
Japan Times
Japan has stakes in the outcome of regional diplomacy involving North Korea. It could play a role far beyond simply writing checks for an agreement, but has not held any bilateral meetings with the other actors. Diplomats hoping to fit their approach to the realities of the geopolitical situation could benefit from Japan's active involvement.
Read More »

Page 1 of 43

…

International Diplomacy

The Roots—and Purpose—of the Post-War Order

Navigating Asia's Stormy Seas: Regional Perspectives on U.S.-China Competition

Bringing Back Sanctions Will Hurt U.S. Allies and Iran, but Will It Help the U.S.?

The Security Risks of a Trade War with China

China Prepares for an International Order After U.S. Leadership

Regime Change in Iran: Watch What You Ask For

Attempts to Order Geopolitics Have a Sobering History

Making Sense of South Korea's Cautious Optimism on North Korea

Is India the Weakest Link in the Quad?

The U.S.-China Trade War: Different Messages

Cooperation in the Arctic Likely to Continue—For Now

Russia's Wars and Trump

Time to Make a Deal on Syria

Western Unity Is Best for Russian Summitry

Trump and Putin Should Start Small at Helsinki Summit

Success with North Korea Still Needs Japan

Contact Us

Follow