FOREIGN POLICY

JULY 17. 2026

The U. S. and Iran Signed a Memorandum of Misunderstanding

Detail and care matter in peacemaking, but not to this White House.

Does Cuba Really Have Iranian Drones?

Experts say Trump is laying the pretext for U. S. military action against the island.

Lebanon’s Peacekeepers Are Heading for the Exits

As UNIFIL leave Lebanon, it’s not clear who—if anyone—will replace it.

U. S. -China Relations Are More Volatile Than Ever

Trump and Xi have brutally undermined the institutions and personnel responsible for safeguarding diplomacy.

How to Isolate Tehran

Opening Hormuz requires marrying force with effective diplomacy.

Latin America’s Oil Boom

Some exporters are reaping financial benefits amid the Iran war.

Russia’s Arms Buyers Rejoice Over Trump’s Deal With Turkey

India and other Kremlin customers will benefit from an easing of restrictions.

JULY 16. 2026

The America First Contradiction

A Pentagon official’s X thread exposes the cognitive dissonance of Trump’s foreign policy.

Zelensky’s Cabinet Reshuffle Sparks Public Outcry in Ukraine

Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov was popular for his drone development push—but not enough to keep him in office.

German Military Power Needs to Go It Alone

NATO’s multinational forces are an unwieldy relic of a more peaceful past.

A Divided World Is North Korea’s Greatest Asset

Geopolitical fragmentation has hamstrung nuclear sanctions regimes. Pyongyang is taking advantage.

Nigeria Is Quietly Becoming a Diplomatic Powerhouse

Many analysts think Abuja’s foreign policy is on the decline. Here’s why that view is misguided.

Iranian Attacks Need Not Change the Gulf’s AI Ambitions

Ukraine offers lessons in how to keep infrastructure alive in wartime.

JULY 15. 2026

Russia Shifts Its Focus to the Black Sea

Moscow is targeting trade routes and deepwater ports to strain Ukraine’s wartime economy.