Foreign Affairs

Our July/August 2025 issue is now available online. Start reading here: foreignaffairs.com/issues/2025/10…

Xi Jinping is undermining the strength of the People’s Liberation Army by purging its leadership—but reduced combat readiness won’t stop Xi from pursuing war, argues @fravel. foreignaffairs.com/china/chinas-m…

Read @Jacob_A_Ware on how the United States’ “once unique form of gun violence” is spreading beyond its borders—and reducing the country’s soft-power: foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

“Vladimir Putin is determined to shape the future to look like his version of the past.” Read Fiona Hill and @AngelaStent on the Russian president’s goals in Ukraine and beyond: foreignaffairs.com/russian-federa…

In a review of “America in the Arctic” by Mary Thompson-Jones, Heather Conley explains why the far north remains vital to U.S. interests today—and urges Washington to “start putting real money behind the development of U.S. Arctic capabilities.” foreignaffairs.com/reviews/arctic…

To keep Iran from building a nuclear weapon, the United States must come up with a diplomatic off-ramp, argues David Minchin Allison. “Such a deal could take many forms, including requiring Iran to return to its past nuclear nonproliferation commitments.” foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

If countries recognize Palestinian statehood, they “must also spell out the costs for continued Israeli violations of international law,” argue Marc Lynch and @ShibleyTelhami. foreignaffairs.com/palestinian-te…

Read @sarahsunnbush and Jennifer Hadden on the declining power of nongovernmental organizations in world politics: foreignaffairs.com/world/end-age-…

“Trump’s policies could be catastrophic for LGBTQ populations,” writes @arimshaw. “Activists not only stand to lose vital resources but have also been stripped of political backing by the world’s largest superpower.” foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

Read @arimshaw on why “efforts to undermine LGBTQ rights often arise in tandem with other illiberal aims”—and how policymakers and activists can protect sexual and gender minorities in the face of democratic backsliding: foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

.@YadlinAmos evaluates the U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran’s nuclear program—and argues that diplomacy, not military action, “remains the preferred way to permanently end Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.” foreignaffairs.com/israel/post-ir…

“Prior U.S. administrations can be condemned for their hypocrisy. But the Trump administration’s willingness to give up altogether on the prohibition on war is far more dangerous.” foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

“The Bharatiya Janata Party has been careful not to directly challenge the linguistic basis of India’s federalism, but it has flirted with doing so.” Read @AiyarYamini on the erosion of India’s federal foundations: foreignaffairs.com/india/indian-s…

“In Trump’s world, mutual trust and respect, so hard to establish and so easy to destroy, do not matter. Parties will work together if it suits their interests and only until a better offer comes along.” foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

.@CChivvis considers how the United States can withdraw its forces from Europe without fracturing the transatlantic partnership or “leaving Europe more vulnerable to a Russian attack than it is today”: foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

“U.S. President Donald Trump has correctly surmised that the United States doesn’t make many of the everyday drugs that Americans take anymore, but his proposed remedy could make the problem worse.” foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

To compete with China, the United States should heed the lessons of Beijing’s manufacturing success—and “rediscover its own ability to build fast and build well,” write @damienics and @wstv_lizzi. fam.ag/3TQkOeO

“Any AI strategy that fails to account for a more multipolar world and a more distributed global technology ecosystem will fail,” argue Matan Chorev and Joel Predd. foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

“Offshoring schemes make for compelling political theater,” writes @FitzGeraldUCSD. “The point of these policies is not to deter migration or to save money: it is to put on a show of being tough on the border.” foreignaffairs.com/united-states/…

Read @AiyarYamini on the political and economic problems confronting Indian federalism—and what it will take to renew India’s power-sharing model: foreignaffairs.com/india/indian-s…

“At the moment, Russians are far from revolting against the regime, but they could start to turn against the war, refusing to enlist and publicly questioning the merits of this seemingly endless conflict.” foreignaffairs.com/russia/limits-…