FOREIGN POLICY

FEBRUARY 11. 2026

What War With Iran Would Look Like

Decapitation strikes against the regime are likely. An invasion is not.

Why Thai Conservatives Just Won Big

An epochal win may yet mask a deeper desire for reform in the electorate.

FEBRUARY 10. 2026

Will Britain’s Labour Party Survive the Epstein Files?

Pressure mounts for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign from Downing Street.

The Year of the Fire Horse Finds Xi on Edge

China’s president looks secure on the world stage, but trouble is brewing on the home front.

Beyond Blocs

Europe and China will not align nor compete, but selectively cooperate

Will the United States Attack Iran?

Tehran is threatening to “regionalize the war” if Washington uses force.

Trump’s Trade Policy Is Teaching Partners Washington Can’t Be Trusted

From South Korea to Canada, allies are hedging their bets.

Challenges Overshadow Hope in Gaza

Major fighting has ended, but irreconcilable positions will bedevil Trump’s peace plan.

Keir Starmer Lived, and Will Die, by Narcissism

The Labour Party’s decades of backbiting and pettiness have collapsed on it.

FEBRUARY 9. 2026

Takaichi’s Landslide Victory

A rare supermajority grants the Japanese prime minister a sweeping mandate to enact economic and defense reforms.

The Real Risk After New START Isn’t Arms Racing

Without the treaty, nuclear forces will become hard to verify and harder to trust.

How Long Will Japan Be a One-Woman Show?

Despite a landslide victory, questions remain over the prime minister’s popularity and her fiscal plans.

Who Killed the Liberal International Order?

A contested idea has seen many alleged deaths.

Why Missile Defense Now Raises the Risk of War

The delusion of invulnerability tempts leaders to take risks.