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Saudi Arabia
Charles Laberge/LIV Golf/Getty Images

Saudi Arabia

Why Is Saudi Arabia Investing in Sports?
Saudi officials say sports investments are part of a plan to diversify the country’s oil-based economy. Skeptics allege that Riyadh is “sportswashing” its reputation for human rights abuses.

In Brief by Noah Berman July 13, 2023

International Organizations

A Troubled Cup for the Beautiful Game

Podcast
The 2022 FIFA World Cup has kicked off in Qatar, and billions of fans worldwide are tuning in to the world’s most popular live event. And yet as in years past, the Qatar Cup is transpiring under the shadow of controversy.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra and Laurent Dubois November 23, 2022 Why It Matters

Saudi Arabia

U.S.-Saudi Relations

Play

Webinar with Steven A. Cook and Martin S. Indyk September 7, 2022 Religion and Foreign Policy Webinars

Taiwan

Taiwan

Taiwan, China, and the Threat of War

Podcast Image
Annabelle Chih/Stringer
How did Taiwan become the center of superpower tensions with potentially grave global repercussions? This Why It Matters primer examines the history.

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra, David Sacks and James Lin July 13, 2023 Why It Matters

Taiwan

U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era
Although a conflict in the Taiwan Strait has thus far been avoided, deterrence has dangerously eroded. To maintain peace, the United States must restore balance to a situation that has been allowed to tilt far too much in China’s favor.

Task Force Report by Susan M. Gordon, Adm. Michael G. Mullen, David Sacks and Anya Schmemann June 20, 2023

Taiwan

Why Are China-Taiwan Relations So Tense?
Differences over Taiwan’s status have fueled rising tensions between the island and the mainland. Taiwan has the potential to be a flash point in U.S.-China relations.

Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland April 18, 2023

NATO

 

What’s Next for NATO? Link

via Council of Councils July 14, 2023

 

Vilnius Summit Communiqué Link

via NATO July 11, 2023

NATO

The NATO Summit and President Biden’s Europe Trip

Play

Virtual Event with Steven A. Cook, Liana Fix and Matthias Matthijs July 12, 2023

United States

United States

How to End U.S. Debt Ceiling Drama
Economists Benn Steil and Glenn Hubbard give their respective takes on the debt ceiling and the United States' national debt.

Blog Post by Benn Steil and Glenn Hubbard July 12, 2023 Renewing America

United States

What Happens When the U.S. Hits Its Debt Ceiling?
U.S. lawmakers have increasingly used the debt ceiling to re-litigate congressional spending, risking default and sparking debate over whether to abolish the ceiling.

Backgrounder by Noah Berman June 27, 2023 Renewing America

United States

Out of the Debt Ceiling Fire, But Still in the Frying Pan
Now that Congress voted to pass a bill based on the Biden-McCarthy compromise, an immediate debt ceiling crisis appears to have been averted. Still, a much larger debt problem awaits.  

Blog Post by Christopher M. Tuttle June 2, 2023 Renewing America

Thailand

Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy

Ominous Signs in Thailand

Thai parliament rejected prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat in a move that threatens democracy.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick July 13, 2023 Asia Unbound

 

Thailand’s Royalists Foiled Pita Limjaroenrat’s First Attempt at Becoming Prime Minister Link

via CNBC July 14, 2023

 

Snares and Traps: Thai Politics After the Election Link

via Diplomat June 23, 2023

Mike Froman
The Council on Foreign Relations welcomes its 15th president, Michael Froman, a distinguished leader in government, business, and the nonprofit sector.
Learn More

Events
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NATO

The NATO Summit and President Biden’s Europe Trip

Play

Virtual Event with Steven A. Cook, Liana Fix and Matthias Matthijs July 12, 2023

NATO

A Conversation With Senator Angus King

Play
Senator Angus King discusses Ukraine, U.S. policy toward China, the challenges of emerging technologies, and the prospects of bipartisan cooperation.

Virtual Event with Angus King Jr. July 12, 2023 Renewing America

Afghanistan

The Threat of U.S. Domestic Terrorism: A Discussion of "Stranger at the Gate"

Play
Panelists discuss the film Stranger at the Gate and the threat of U.S. domestic terrorism, polarization, and political violence. Stranger at the Gate is an Oscar-nominated short film produced by Malala Yousafzai. The film tells the story of an Afghan refugee family and their local mosque in Muncie, Indiana, who encounter a U.S. Marine with plans to bomb their community center. PLEASE NOTE: CFR members are encouraged to watch Stranger at the Gate here prior to joining the event.  

Virtual Event with Colin P. Clarke, Colin P. Clarke, Farah Pandith, Farah Pandith, Joshua Seftel, Joshua Seftel, George Selim and George Selim July 10, 2023 Renewing America

Religion

Religion and Foreign Policy Webinar: A Conversation With Richard Haass on Promoting the Common Good

Play

Virtual Event with Richard Haass June 28, 2023 Religion and Foreign Policy Webinars

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Expert Spotlight

Ray Takeyh
Ray Takeyh

Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies

Iran Iran Nuclear Agreement Persian Gulf

Takeyh: China and Russia Encourage Iran to Go Nuclear

Offsite Via Wall Street Journal May 8, 2023

Willem H. Buiter
Willem H. Buiter

Adjunct Senior Fellow

Budget, Debt, and Deficits Monetary Policy Financial Markets

Why U.S. Taxes Must Increase

Offsite Via Project Syndicate June 28, 2023

David P. Fidler
David P. Fidler

Senior Fellow for Global Health and Cybersecurity

International Law Cybersecurity Health

Bioterrorism, Public Health, and International Law

Offsite Via Bioterrorism: The History of a Crisis in American Society July 30, 2022

Stephen Biddle
Stephen Biddle

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Defense Policy

Defense and Security Wars and Conflict Military Operations

Ukraine and the Future of Offensive Maneuver

Offsite Via War on the Rocks November 22, 2022

Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson

Stephen A. Schwarzman Senior Fellow for China Studies

China Civil Society Democracy

Brad W. Setser
Brad W. Setser

Whitney Shepardson Senior Fellow

International Economic Policy Capital Flows Economics

Who Is Going to Police the New World Trading System?

Offsite Via The Wall Street Journal January 14, 2023

David Sacks
David Sacks

Fellow for Asia Studies

Asia China Taiwan

Robert E. Rubin
Robert E. Rubin

Chairman Emeritus; Former Secretary of the U.S. Treasury

Straight Talk with Hank Paulson: Bob Rubin

Offsite Via Straight Talk with Hank Paulson July 11, 2023

Farah Pandith
Farah Pandith

Adjunct Senior Fellow

Radicalization and Extremism Terrorism and Counterterrorism U.S. Foreign Policy

Women and Children to the Front

Offsite Via Lawfare October 9, 2022

Roger W. Ferguson Jr.
Roger W. Ferguson Jr.

Steven A. Tananbaum Distinguished Fellow for International Economics

Monetary Policy Fiscal Policy Regulation and Deregulation

Manjari Chatterjee Miller
Manjari Chatterjee Miller

Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia

India Asia China

Matthew C. Waxman
Matthew C. Waxman

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Law and Foreign Policy

International Law Cybersecurity U.S. Foreign Policy

The Law of Armed Conflict in 2040? A New Volume

Offsite Via Lawfare June 1, 2022

Benn Steil
Benn Steil

Senior Fellow and Director of International Economics

International Finance Financial Markets Economics

James M. Lindsay
James M. Lindsay

Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair

United States Politics and Government Polls and Public Opinion

Sheila A. Smith
Sheila A. Smith

John E. Merow Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Studies

Japan Defense and Security Asia

Christopher M. Tuttle
Christopher M. Tuttle

Senior Fellow and Director of the Renewing America Initiative

Congresses and Parliaments Polls and Public Opinion Elections and Voting

José Miguel Vivanco
José Miguel Vivanco

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Human Rights

Human Rights International Law Americas

Bruce Hoffman
Bruce Hoffman

Shelby Cullom and Kathryn W. Davis Senior Fellow for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security

Terrorism and Counterterrorism Wars and Conflict Intelligence

Ann Norris
Ann Norris

Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy

Women and Women's Rights Sexual Violence Foreign Aid

Henri J. Barkey
Henri J. Barkey

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies

Middle East and North Africa Turkey Kurds

What’s In Store for Turkey’s Economy Under Şimşek?

Offsite Via The Free Turkish Press June 6, 2023

Michelle Gavin
Michelle Gavin

Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies

Botswana South Africa Zimbabwe

Edward Alden
Edward Alden

Bernard L. Schwartz Senior Fellow

Trade Immigration and Migration Economics

Daniel Kurtz-Phelan
Daniel Kurtz-Phelan

Editor, Foreign Affairs; Peter G. Peterson Chair

China U.S. Foreign Policy

Immigration Before Automation

Offsite Via Foreign Affairs April 20, 2023

Will Freeman
Will Freeman

Fellow for Latin America Studies

Americas Latin America Democracy

A. Michael Spence
A. Michael Spence

Distinguished Visiting Fellow

Development Emerging Markets Inequality

In Defense of Industrial Policy

Offsite Via Project Syndicate May 5, 2023

Alice C. Hill
Alice C. Hill

David M. Rubenstein Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment

Climate Change Infrastructure Food and Water Security

Thomas Graham
Thomas Graham

Distinguished Fellow

Russia Europe and Eurasia U.S. Foreign Policy

Graham: Aleksandr Lukashenko Is Trying to Get Our Attention

Offsite Via New York Times June 29, 2023

Inu Manak
Inu Manak

Fellow for Trade Policy

Trade Diplomacy and International Institutions Treaties and Agreements

Will Prime Minister Modi’s Visit Boost US-India Trade?

Offsite Via Voice of America June 27, 2023

Joshua Kurlantzick
Joshua Kurlantzick

Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia Asia Democracy

The Return of the Men in Green

Offsite Via Boston Globe July 13, 2023

Thomas J. Bollyky
Thomas J. Bollyky

Senior Fellow for Global Health, Economics, and Development and Director of the Global Health Program

Health Trade Development

Kenneth I. Juster
Kenneth I. Juster

Distinguished Fellow

India International Economics U.S. Foreign Policy

Yascha Mounk
Yascha Mounk

Senior Fellow

Democracy Populism Civil Society

The System Held

Offsite Via The Atlantic March 21, 2021

Stephen Sestanovich
Stephen Sestanovich

George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies

Russia Europe and Eurasia U.S. Foreign Policy

Sebastian Mallaby
Sebastian Mallaby

Paul A. Volcker Senior Fellow for International Economics

Monetary Policy International Finance Globalization

From Bank Runs to a Credit Crunch, the Financial Future Looks Bleak

Offsite Via The Washington Post March 17, 2023

Michael Froman
Michael Froman

President, Council on Foreign Relations

Trade Globalization Economics

John B. Bellinger III
John B. Bellinger III

Adjunct Senior Fellow for International and National Security Law

International Law Treaties and Agreements Sanctions

Nicholas Burns, US Ambassador to China

Offsite Via Stimson Center May 3, 2023

Steven A. Cook
Steven A. Cook

Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies and Director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars

Middle East and North Africa Turkey Arab Spring

Luciana L. Borio
Luciana L. Borio

Senior Fellow for Global Health

Public Health Threats and Pandemics Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines Biotechnology

Jacob Ware
Jacob Ware

Research Fellow

Terrorism and Counterterrorism Radicalization and Extremism Homeland Security

Esther Brimmer
Esther Brimmer

James H. Binger Senior Fellow in Global Governance

Global Governance International Organizations Regional Organizations

What’s Cracking in the Arctic?

Offsite Via Council on Foreign Relations March 29, 2023

Gideon Rose
Gideon Rose

Mary and David Boies Distinguished Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy

Wars and Conflict Middle East and North Africa Southeast Asia

Matthias Matthijs
Matthias Matthijs

Senior Fellow for Europe

Europe European Union NATO

Elevators show U.S. needs a lift to catch up with EU

Offsite Via Politico Global Insider with Ryan Heath May 11, 2022

Martin S. Indyk
Martin S. Indyk

Lowy Distinguished Fellow in U.S.-Middle East Diplomacy

Middle East and North Africa Israel Egypt

Israel 'Very Optimistic' About Normalisation Deal With Saudi Arabia

Offsite Via Middle East Monitor June 27, 2023

Linda Robinson
Linda Robinson

Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy

Women and Women's Rights Middle East Conflict Prevention

Heidi Crebo-Rediker
Heidi Crebo-Rediker

Adjunct Senior Fellow

International Economic Policy Women and Economic Growth Infrastructure

Surveillance: Debt Limit With Crebo-Rediker

Offsite Via Bloomberg May 9, 2023

Tom Frieden
Tom Frieden

Senior Fellow for Global Health

Health Public Health Threats and Pandemics

Strengthening Epidemic Preparedness at the Country Level

Offsite Via Think Global Health April 19, 2023

Carl Minzner
Carl Minzner

Senior Fellow For China Studies

China Asia Rule of Law

Xi Jinping Can’t Handle an Aging China

Offsite Via Foreign Affairs May 2, 2023

Liana Fix
Liana Fix

Fellow for Europe

European Union Germany Europe and Eurasia

Security Guarantees for Kyiv (in German)

Offsite Via ZDF Heute July 13, 2023

View All

Explainers

Taiwan
U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era
Taiwan
U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era
Task Force Report by Susan M. Gordon, Adm. Michael G. Mullen, David Sacks and Anya Schmemann
U.S. policy toward Taiwan needs to evolve to contend with a more capable, assertive, and risk-acceptant China that is increasingly dissatisfied with the status quo.
Women’s Power Index
Women and Women's Rights Women’s Power Index
Interactive by Linda Robinson and Noël James
What Are North Korea’s Military Capabilities?
North Korea What Are North Korea’s Military Capabilities?
Backgrounder Redesign by CFR.org Editors
Cryptocurrencies, Digital Dollars, and the Future of Money
Technology and Innovation Cryptocurrencies, Digital Dollars, and the Future of Money
Backgrounder Redesign by Anshu Siripurapu and Noah Berman
View All

Experts in the News

Zongyuan Zoe Liu

Liu: China’s Sovereign Leveraged Funds Bear Financial and Geostrategic Risk

Via The Wire China July 9, 2023

Max Boot

Boot: Even Without Admitting Ukraine, NATO Members Can Bolster Security Ties With Kyiv

Via Washington Post July 9, 2023

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Lemmon: The Energy Transition Is Fueling a Power Transition

Via Project Syndicate July 5, 2023

View All

Featured Publications

Democracy

The Bill of Obligations

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A provocative guide to how we must reenvision citizenship if American democracy is to survive.

Book by Richard Haass January 24, 2023 Renewing America

Americas

The Globalization Myth

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Shannon K. O’Neil offers a powerful case for why regionalization, not globalization, has been the biggest economic trend of the last forty years.

Book by Shannon K. O'Neil October 18, 2022 Latin America Studies Program

China

Beijing's Global Media Offensive

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Joshua Kurlantzick analyzes China's attempts to become a media, information, and influence superpower, seeking for the first time to shape the domestic politics, local media, and information environments of the United States, East Asia, parts of Europe, and the broader world.

Book by Joshua Kurlantzick December 1, 2022 Asia Program

View All