Tag: Adversaries
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Despite No Longer Blocking Alliance Expansion, Turkey Proves Problematic for NATO Allies
For the last several weeks, Turkey blocked what NATO hoped would be a quick accession for Sweden and Finland – who applied for NATO membership for the first time despite their history of neutrality – much to the chagrin of its NATO allies. Turkey’s pause centers primarily on what Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sees […]
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The European Union Grants Ukraine and Moldova Candidate Status
At long last, it finally happened. The European Union (EU), in a show of continued unity in aiding Ukraine in its fight against Russia, agreed to offer Ukraine candidacy into the bloc. In what the European Commission’s President touted as a “defining moment and a very good day for Europe,” the EU finally granted Ukraine […]
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Though Not Yet Covered by Article 5, the United States Should Confirm Defense Commitment to Finland and Sweden
In mid-May, Finland and Sweden – two historically non-aligned countries – formally handed in their applications to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, as the Finnish and Swedish Ambassadors to NATO simultaneously handed in the official letters of application at the military alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. Lauded as an “historical moment” by Secretary […]
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The Summit of the Americas is Shaping Up to Be a Diplomatic Disaster for the United States
Monday marked the start of the ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles. From June 6 through 10, leaders across the Western Hemisphere will discuss the issues that plague the region. While the agenda remained vague up until the day before, five major topics will be discussed: democratic governance, health and resilience to pandemics, […]
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Did Biden Just Change America’s Taiwan Policy?
During his first stop on his first trip to Asia, U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework in Japan. With nearly a dozen other countries involved in the new framework, Mr. Biden intends to counter China’s regional dominance through economic means. However, Taiwan, a key U.S. partner, was notably absent. Despite the democratic […]
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The Solomon Islands Caught in Great Power Politics
It’s not very often that the Solomon Islands finds itself at the center of U.S. foreign policy. This week, however, the Solomon Islands – located in a strategic and politically volatile part of the world best known on for the first land battles between the United States and its allies and Imperial Japan in the […]
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Why Does Ukraine Matter to the United States?
Nearly two months after Russia invaded Ukraine, much of the news reports center on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s endgame. In an interview with Ian Bremmer on his podcast, the former Finnish Prime Minister, Alexander Stubb, succinctly summarized Putin’s objectives: “You have to remember that Mr. Putin has three aims at the moment. Number one – […]
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The United States Needs a Democratic India as a Partner
On April 11, U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual summit that kicked off the 2+2 Dialogue, during which Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hosted their Indian counterparts. Started in 2018 as part of an effort to deepen ties between the U.S. and India, […]
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AUKUS Goes Hyper(sonic)
The leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States – dubbed AUKUS last fall – held a check in last week, reaffirming their commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific” as a result of China’s growing regional military ambitions and Russia’s worsening war in Ukraine. How were they going to do this? The […]
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The Upcoming Election in France Could Have Profound Consequences for France and the Transatlantic Relationship
Politics in France never fail to entertain. This will certainly hold true this weekend as French voters head to the polls to cast their vote in the presidential election on Sunday. Five years ago, the incumbent, centrist Emmanuel Macron of La Republique En March, defeated Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right Rassemblement National […]
Allies and Adversaries 