Foreign Policy Blogs

Defense & Security

Chinese Implacable Defiance in the South China Sea

Chinese Implacable Defiance in the South China Sea

Tensions between China and the U.S. in the South China Sea dominated the issues at the now-concluded Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

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A Case of Improper Airmanship

A Case of Improper Airmanship

Coinciding with Kerry’s visit to Beijing for high-level security talks, a Chinese fighter jet carried out an “unsafe” intercept of a U.S. spy plane.

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Ambiguity Plagues the Shangri-La Dialogue

Ambiguity Plagues the Shangri-La Dialogue

The South China Sea played a prominent role at the Shangri-La Dialogue. However, ambiguity on several issues might prolong these very same tensions.

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The Times Profile That Roiled Washington

The Times Profile That Roiled Washington

A newspaper profile of the President’s foreign policy spokesman has created an uproar based on a distorted notion of the role of foreign policy messaging.

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NATO and Russia Increase Contacts, Yet Rift Lingers

NATO and Russia Increase Contacts, Yet Rift Lingers

While continued attempts at dialogue seek that elusive common ground, some transparency and risk-reduction measures are in trial mode to keep open channels.

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NATO Back on Dual-Track?

NATO Back on Dual-Track?

NATO should strengthen both aspects of this renewed dual-track policy—responding to the security needs of its most exposed members, while at the same time advocating dialogue and transparency to diffuse tension in their relations with Russia.

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Russian Resurgence Exacerbates NATO Schisms

Russian Resurgence Exacerbates NATO Schisms

Russian resurgence has planted seeds of conflict both within individual NATO members, as well as between different geographic areas of the alliance.

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Of Muslim Women in India

Of Muslim Women in India

After the 1947 partitioning, one third of the total Muslim population in the British colony were to remain in India. Today, Indian Muslims still have trouble finding their voice and a sense of community.

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Defending The Liberal World Order

Defending The Liberal World Order

In 1939, an article entitled “Mourir pour Dantzig?” (“Why Die for Danzig?”) argued that France should avoid war with Germany if the latter seized Poland. Today, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, as well as Russia’s belligerent foreign policy, leads us to ask similar questions.

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Iran’s Delicate Balancing Act

Iran’s Delicate Balancing Act

Simultaneously courting the West and expanding its influence beyond its borders could work in the short-term. But in the short-term only.

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GailForce: West 2016 Conference Part II

GailForce: West 2016 Conference Part II

The bottom line for me when comparing how one military will fare against another is not just the military equipment but also the tactics, techniques, and procedures used, or as the military says, TTPs.

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GailForce: West 2016 Conference – Navy Leaders Discuss the Latest in Maritime Strategy

GailForce:  West 2016 Conference – Navy Leaders Discuss the Latest in Maritime Strategy

Looking forward, it is clear that the challenges the Navy face are shifting in character, are increasingly difficult to address in isolation, and are changing quickly. This will require us to reexamine our approaches in every aspect of our operations.

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Iran Obtains the Game Changing S-300 Missile System from Russia

Iran Obtains the Game Changing S-300 Missile System from Russia

A possible shipment of Russian S-300V4 anti-aircraft missiles have been seen crossing into Iran from the border region with Azerbaijan near the Caspian Sea. Russia confirmed that the sale of the S-300 system would be fulfilled following the P5+1 Nuclear Agreement.

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Sam Nunn Discusses Today’s Nuclear Risks

Sam Nunn Discusses Today’s Nuclear Risks

The world is in a race between cooperation and catastrophe. If a nuclear disaster occurs—what would we wish we had done to prevent it? Why don’t we do it now?

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North Korea’s Impasse Highlights Northeastern Asia’s Fragile Peace

North Korea’s Impasse Highlights Northeastern Asia’s Fragile Peace

The erratic behavior of the Kim dynasty has long enraged and exasperated both its enemies and allies, though larger states have certainly used North Korea’s existence as a fig leaf for moves of their own.

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