It is difficult to speak of European ambitions for international crisis management against the backdrop of the images from Kabul over the past few weeks, which seem to tell a story of the failure of Western interventionist policies. But that discussion is urgently needed. Yes, it will be necessary to …
Read More »A Concert of Powers Is an Idea Whose Time Has Come—and Gone
In the latest issue of Foreign Affairs, two luminaries of the U.S. foreign policy establishment make a provocative, seductive but ultimately unpersuasive case for creating a new “global concert of major powers” for the 21st century, modeled on the Concert of Europe. The authors are Richard Haass and Charles Kupchan—my …
Read More »America’s ‘Return’ Might Not Be Enough to Revive the West
The United States is “back,” proclaims U.S. President Joe Biden, seemingly as often as he can. The coming week will show if the same is true of the West. At successive summits of the G-7, NATO and the European Union, Biden and fellow leaders will confront a dual task: reviving …
Read More »The U.N.’s Historic Opportunity to Tackle Corruption
The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has generated an unprecedented level of spending, with more than $21 trillion committed to fighting the coronavirus so far, much of it falling under emergency measures that bypass bureaucratic hurdles and expedite the flow of funds. The speed and scale of this spending …
Read More »The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of U.N. Diplomacy
At the end of this week, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield will be in Tokyo, leading the U.S. delegation at the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics. At first glance, Olympic sports and U.N. committee meetings may not seem to have much in common. But the …
Read More »Iran warns US against wasting time in nuclear talks
Iran’s hard-line foreign minister said Tehran will only pursue talks that bear tangible outcomes. Iran’s newly appointed foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said his country will not accept protraction in talks with the United States over the revival of the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of …
Read More »Iran, Saudi Arabia set to resume new round of talks in Iraq
Iranian officials say talks with Riyadh counterparts will resume in Baghdad soon. Iran will soon resume talks with regional rival Saudi Arabia, Iranian officials said, marking an expected fourth round of negotiations to be held in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said last night he spoke about …
Read More »Iran tests defensive missile system
The military exercise was the first since President Ebrahim Raisi took office. Iran tested a domestically made missile system on Tuesday. The Mersad 16 anti-aircraft system was fully developed in Iran. Tehran says it can identify targets at any altitude and transmit data to a command center for their destruction. …
Read More »International observers prepare for Iraq’s elections
Hundreds of international observers are gearing up for the legislative elections in Iraq on Oct. 10 in an attempt to help Iraqis conduct transparent and fair elections. With Iraq’s general elections quickly approaching in October, the country has invited international observers to ensure transparency and trust in the vote. Judge …
Read More »Libya’s FM signals elections could be delayed
Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush said the Dec. 24 elections could be postponed if lawmakers fail to agree on the electoral law. Libya’s foreign minister hinted on Tuesday at the possibility that nationwide elections scheduled for the end of the year could be postponed if lawmakers in the North African country …
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