Foreign Policy Blogs

Regions

Syriza’s Moment

Syriza’s Moment

Greece’s far-left may have reached its day of reckoning far faster than anticipated.

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The potential of upgrading India’s cities

The potential of upgrading India’s cities

On June 25, 2015, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a plan to modernize the infrastructure of 100 cities. The Indian government is devoting $7.5 billion to the initiative, with a goal of completing the upgrades by 2022.

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In Ukraine, Peace Should First be Made with Words

In Ukraine, Peace Should First be Made with Words

If there is one commonality bridging the gap between East and West over Ukraine, it’s the overzealous usage of empathic words to signal one side’s resilience and self-righteousness in the face of the other’s perceived aggression.

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Pirates of the South China Seas

Pirates of the South China Seas

Last Friday, eight Indonesians were arrested by a Vietnamese coast guard patrol off the southern coast of Vietnam.

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Much Ado about the South China Sea

Much Ado about the South China Sea

The spate of Chinese island building and island claiming in the South China Sea has raised the question of what, if anything, can be done about it. The answer has a lot to do with a reappraisal of the role of island possessions, territories and countries in the world today.

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The Slow Drift Towards a New Cold War

The Slow Drift Towards a New Cold War

A further reversal of the integration and cultural exchanges between Russia, Central Europe and Western Europe that took place after 1989 came about this week when the United States announced it would station added military forces in countries near the Russian border.

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Iran Détente Still a Poison Pill for Gulf Arabs, Nuclear Question or Not

Iran Détente Still a Poison Pill for Gulf Arabs, Nuclear Question or Not

There is little chance that Iran and the Arab monarchies, led by Saudi Arabia, can countenance each another’s respective aspirations. The U.S. is trying to make a deal with Iran while still tying itself to the demands of its other security partners in the region.

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Ramadan and the Leadership Crisis in the Middle East

Ramadan and the Leadership Crisis in the Middle East

This Ramadan comes at a time when the world is facing a catastrophic leadership deficiency, and nowhere is that catastrophe more evident than in the Middle East.

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Is Xi Copying Putin’s Strategy?

Is Xi Copying Putin’s Strategy?

The apparent success of Putin’s misadventures in Ukraine could serve as an attractive geopolitical militaristic strategy for other nations with territorial disputes, such as China.

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Jeb Bush’s Bush Problem

Jeb Bush’s Bush Problem

Jeb’s strategy for avoiding being bogged down by his brother’s own failures appears to be shifting the conversation from his family’s political history to that of an old-but-new common enemy: Russia.

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U.S. Policy Toward China: New Maps to Navigate Islands and Banks?

U.S. Policy Toward China: New Maps to Navigate Islands and Banks?

Should the U.S. allow geopolitical rivalry to subsume economic matters?

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Beijing Asserts, Hanoi Beefs Up

Beijing Asserts, Hanoi Beefs Up

Here in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), the local government last week ordered its travel and tourism departments to draw up a feasibility study for tours to the Truong Sa (Spratly) islands, which Vietnam currently occupies.

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Regulating Against Corrupt Practices, FIFA Edition

Regulating Against Corrupt Practices, FIFA Edition

Two Brazilian nationals were charged this past week as well, which comes as no surprise to Brazilians, who are mired in a scandal that may even end in the removal of the president.

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Taking on Troll Farms

Taking on Troll Farms

If recent revelations are any indication, the well-oiled, Kremlin-sponsored troll machine has no intentions of closing up shop anytime soon.

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No Shangri-La in South China Sea

No Shangri-La in South China Sea

On Saturday in Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter addressed the attendants at the 14th Shangri-La Dialogue, a high-level security forum, asserting China’s recent land reclamation in the South China Sea was “out of step” with international norms, and adding his opposition to “any further militarization” in the region.

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