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International Diplomacy

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Diplomacy, the practice of international relations, is an area in which RAND has significant research experience. Among RAND's many experts are former ambassadors whose research and commentary on both long-term efforts and current events shed light on how diplomatic ventures can be integral to national security goals and activities, including traditional military interventions, nuclear arms control, and nation-building efforts.

Commentary

The Power and Limits of Threat: The Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act at One Year

Jul 8, 2021

A powerful new U.S. sanctions law on Syria came into effect one year ago, with great notice and speculation regarding its potential effects. Now, one year later, it is apparent that the act's power lies not in who the United States has sanctioned but in who the United States could sanction.
Commentary

Chinese Recognition of the Taliban Is All but Inevitable

Aug 27, 2021

China is likely to recognize and legitimize the new leadership in Afghanistan within the coming weeks or months. Even if China has real concerns about the Taliban's willingness to keep its promises, the potential benefits are simply too great for Beijing to ignore.

Explore International Diplomacy

Visualization

Potential Drivers of Crises in the Arctic

Historically in the Arctic, regional tensions have been resolved before turning into major crises. With the Arctic gaining more attention in recent years, are existing governance mechanisms enough to handle future diplomatic challenges?

Sep 22, 2021
Commentary

What Instability at the Top Means for Japan's Alliance with the United States

Having shorter-serving prime ministers tends to minimize Japan's ability to operate as a strategic player. If Suga's resignation is the start of a revolving door, then the implications for Japan's policies and the U.S.-Japan alliance could be significant.

Sep 22, 2021
Commentary

China and Pakistan See Eye to Eye on the Taliban—Almost

Beijing and Islamabad share a long history of cooperation and have much in common on Afghanistan. Both are poised to benefit strategically from the Taliban's success. But the Taliban's resurrection almost certainly will add some stress to an otherwise positive and productive bilateral partnership.

Sep 21, 2021
Commentary

Summit Gives Biden Chance to Nudge Post-Soviet States Toward Democracy

President Biden is likely to invite the thriving Baltic countries to his “summit for democracy” in December. But he might also invite four mid-tier post-Soviet states: Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine—imperfect democracies all. By both praising and nudging this latter set, Biden could give his agenda more meaning.

Sep 20, 2021
Commentary

Moscow Hesitated in Poland—Will It in Belarus?

Forty years ago, Russia used a major military exercise in part to scare Poland's communist leaders into cracking down on protesters. A similar Russian exercise now could be aimed in part at pressuring Belarus. If so, the West could respond in several ways.

Sep 13, 2021
Journal Article

Can a Pragmatic Relationship With the Taliban Help Russia Counter Terrorism?

Neither the United States nor Russia wants to see Afghanistan become a haven for international terrorist groups. For now, Russia is taking a pragmatic approach to the Taliban in that it has a relationship with the group that the United States does not.

Sep 8, 2021
Commentary

Reinforcing U.S. Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific After the Fall of Afghanistan

China and North Korea are seizing on the U.S. departure from Afghanistan to press their own political warfare messages. What can the United States do to mitigate the impact of the Taliban takeover on America's interests in the Indo-Pacific?

Sep 3, 2021
Commentary

After Afghanistan, Could Russia Misjudge America?

Over the years the United States has been humbled abroad more than once but bounced back. Now, as the United States withdraws from Afghanistan, might Russia see the United States as defeated and vulnerable to pressure? This could be an error.

Aug 26, 2021
Commentary

Afghanistan Withdrawal Says Little About U.S. Commitments Elsewhere

The United States is a nation which sees that it is in its vital interest to deter autocrats from adventurism and challenges to the world order. Drawing lessons from the narrow case of Afghanistan to speak about broad U.S. resolve or credibility comes with an inherent risk that adversaries may choose to ignore at their own peril.

Aug 25, 2021
Commentary

Biden's Indo-Pacific Policy Blueprint Emerges

The Biden administration has yet to detail its goals in the Indo-Pacific region and how it plans to achieve them. But following recent virtual engagements and U.S. visits to the region, at least three key points have crystallized.

Aug 23, 2021
Q&A

Collapse in Afghanistan: Early Insights from RAND Researchers

The sudden end to America's longest war came as the Taliban rolled into Kabul and the government collapsed. RAND researchers share their thoughts on how to help displaced Afghans, whether the country could again become a safe haven for terrorists, and the geopolitical implications of the collapse.

Aug 17, 2021
Commentary

Which Kremlin Can Investors Expect?

A Kremlin that backs sound macroeconomic policy and a strong private sector could hearten investors. A Kremlin that pursues statist economics and security at all costs could discourage them. Which Kremlin should investors expect?

Aug 12, 2021
Blog

Media Literacy, Internet of Bodies, Arctic Governance: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on teaching media literacy in schools, a “connected future” via the Internet of Bodies, gaps in Arctic governance, and more.

Aug 6, 2021
Commentary

Cryptocurrency Should Be Added to the U.S.-Japan Trade Deal

As the Biden administration begins to define its approach to international trade, and the Suga administration looks to further tighten cooperation with the United States, it may be worth reconsidering the exclusion of cryptocurrency from the U.S.-Japan trade deal. Substantial economic equities are at stake for both sides.

Jul 28, 2021
Report

Exploring Gaps in Arctic Governance

Conditions in the Arctic region are evolving, driven by such factors as climate change, economics, and geopolitics. What are the risks that come with these changes—and how could governance in the Arctic adapt to mitigate them?

Jul 27, 2021
Commentary

Disrespecting Europe Could Cost Russia

Western unity is critical to addressing authoritarian challenges. Brexit, immigration, leadership transition in Germany, and COVID-19 provide grist for Russian propaganda claims of European weakness. But unified EU action on Ukraine, Navalny, and Belarus shows that Europe is a force with which to be reckoned.

Jul 26, 2021
Commentary

China and the Taliban Begin Their Romance

China is set to benefit significantly from a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. It's worth following this dynamic closely in the coming weeks and months.

Jul 22, 2021
Commentary

America's Strategy in Oceania: Time for a Better Approach

China has moved in earnest to engage with Oceania, while the United States is vying to get a toehold in the region. To develop an effective strategy for engaging there, Washington could seek guidance from key allies to better understand their experience, lessons, and efforts already underway.

Jul 19, 2021
Commentary

Mind the GIUK Gap

For decades, NATO forces have used nearby bases to keep tabs on Russian submarines, surface ships, and aircraft transiting the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom Gap. Strong independence movements in Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Scotland could soon jeopardize this position.

Jul 15, 2021

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RAND Topic:
International Diplomacy

Topic Synonyms:
Diplomatic Relations

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