FOREIGN POLICY

JANUARY 28. 2026

Look Northward, Pakistan

A major border feud with Afghanistan should force Islamabad to reevaluate its latent ties with Central Asia.

Iran Escalates Protest Crackdown but Says Open to U. S. Talks

“We are not looking for war, but we are prepared for war, ” Iran’s foreign minister warned.

Europe’s Rearmament Paradox

The European countries most able to fill Washington’s military role are those that most want to stay at its side.

JANUARY 27. 2026

New Military Purge Rocks the CCP

The targeting of two top generals bodes poorly for China’s military readiness.

India, EU Clinch Long-Delayed Trade Deal Amid Trump’s Tariff War

The agreement highlights a wider global trend to diversify markets away from the United States.

More Pressure Needed to Secure Congo’s Peace

Despite White House-brokered accords, the war in eastern Congo is getting worse

Trump’s Board of Peace Will Help Strong Countries Dominate Weak Ones

In Gaza, it will legitimize Israeli land grabs and ethnic cleansing.

How Trump Should Think About the Arctic

Acquiring Greenland has been a costly distraction from longer-term challenges posed by Russia and China.

Red Sea Rivalries Risk Unraveling the Horn of Africa

If Sudan’s civil war spreads to Ethiopia, it will be a humanitarian and strategic disaster.

Trump’s Board of Peace Cracks the BRICS Wall

The myth of a global south resisting U. S. hegemony melted away in Davos.

The Middle East Has Two New Rival Teams

The competition between Abrahamic and Islamic coalitions is reshaping the region.

Vietnam’s To Lam Stakes His Ascent on Rapid Growth

He has boosted the private sector and fired tens of thousands of civil servants.

JANUARY 26. 2026

Minneapolis ICE Shooting Tests Limits of Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

Protests, legal challenges, and bipartisan backlash are converging on the administration’s tactics.

Trump’s Venezuela Coup and Cuba Threats Are Old U. S. Habits

Interfering in Latin American affairs is Washington’s bread and butter.