FOREIGN POLICY

MAY 7. 2026

Starmer Braces for Upsets in U. K. Local Elections

British voters are expected to abandon the Labour Party for nonmainstream alternatives.

Who Is Xi’s Real No. 2?

The Chinese leader isn’t willing to give anybody else power.

How China Is Winning the Global AI Race

Cutting-edge U. S. models are too expensive for much of the world.

Vladimir Putin Is Much Weaker Than You Think

Used to outwitting his enemies, the Russian leader is running out of room for maneuver.

War Handed Public Space Back to Iran’s Regime

After years of quiet encroachment by ordinary people, the Islamic Republic reclaims the urban landscape.

MAY 6. 2026

U. S. Might Be Close to a Deal With Iran

A reported memorandum would end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and lay the framework for future nuclear talks.

The BJP Scores Big in West Bengal

India’s ruling party got a boost from four state elections this week—and unseated a longtime rival.

China Tests a Rare Tool in Its Sanctions Arsenal

Ahead of the Trump-Xi summit, Beijing is pushing back on Washington.

Washington Is Still Chasing the Perfect War

Iran shows that the delusions that caused Iraq and Afghanistan persist.

The Iran War Is Eroding Israel’s Nuclear Ambiguity

Officially or not, Washington is now breaking the taboo and talking about its ally’s bombs.

Why Did Beijing Kill a $2 Billion AI Deal?

The flow of global capital is hitting new walls.

Can a U. S. -Brokered State Budget Help Unite Libya?

Inside what analysts call a “pinky promise” between Libya’s rival factions.

Is the Iran War Pushing Southeast Asia into China’s Arms?

U. S. guarantees have not shielded Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam from economic shock.

The United States’ Korea Strategy Is Working Against Itself

By pulling Seoul into its rivalry with Beijing, Washington is undermining the alliance’s core mission.