Washington and Riyadh in Lockstep on Foreign Policy
Bottom Line Up Front The Trump administration is so firmly aligned with Saudi Arabia, even bipartisan measures in Congress to curtail U.S. arms sales […] More
President Trump
Downing of Iranian Drone Reignites Tensions between Tehran and Washington
Bottom Line Up Front President Trump’s revelation that the U.S. shot down an Iranian drone on July 18 suggests that tensions in the Gulf […] More
Saudi Arabia’s Persistent Human Rights Violations
Bottom Line Up Front The UN recently released a report that squarely places blame for the murder of prominent Saudi dissident and U.S.-based journalist, […] More
The U.S.-Iran Crisis
Bottom Line Up Front The U.S. and Iran are close to a conflict that would have no clear end and could quickly spread throughout […] More
Congress Debates Whether the AUMF Has Outlived Its Mandate
Bottom Line Up Front For the first time since 2001, there might be meaningful Congressional oversight over the Authorization for the Use of Military […] More
What is U.S. Policy in the Middle East?
Bottom Line Up Front The only consistency in the Trump administration’s Middle East policy has been to support autocratic regimes and strongmen, as it […] More
The Zero-Sum Mentality of U.S.-China Trade Negotiations
On May 10, 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a raise in tariffs on Chinese imports from 10 to 25%, further escalating the ongoing […] More
Tensions Escalate Between the U.S. and Iran
Bottom Line Up Front Tensions have spiked between the U.S. and Iran recently, with both countries engaging in a series of tit-for-tat actions and […] More
A Changing Mission at the Department of State?
Bottom Line Up Front The U.S. State Department is reportedly increasing its counterterrorism efforts, even as its diplomatic portfolio is further reduced. The State […] More
Designating The Muslim Brotherhood Will Yield Few Benefits
Bottom Line Up Front The Trump administration is reportedly considering designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Given the history of […] More
Perpetual War in Somalia
Bottom Line Up Front On April 10, President Trump signed an extension of the emergency order authorizing the continuation of U.S. military operations in […] More
U.S. Endgame in Afghanistan
Bottom Line Up Front The U.S. and the Taliban will soon resume talks in Doha, Qatar, as the peace process moves forward but without […] More
The Trump Administration’s Budget Misses the Mark
Bottom Line Up Front On March 11, the Trump administration submitted a $4.7 trillion-dollar budget proposal that details its spending priorities. The administration’s proposed […] More
How Economic & Political Tensions Impact the Sino-Pakistani Relationship
Bottom-Line Up Front Sino-Pakistani relations are deepening on all fronts, creating a new geopolitical reality on the Indian subcontinent. Sino-Pakistani relations have solidified through […] More
Moscow and Tehran Move to Solidify Gains in Syria
Bottom Line Up Front Even though President Trump decided to keep a residual force of U.S. troops in Syria, it will not be enough […] More
So, After Hanoi: What is Kim Thinking?
Former State Department Regional Medical Officer and Psychiatrist, Kenneth Dekleva pieces together recent news from the Hanoi Summit with a focus on Kim Jong-un’s behavior […] More
China as the Third Player in the Hanoi Summit
Bottom Line Up Front: The second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, held on February 28, produced […] More