FOREIGN POLICY

JULY 20. 2026

Europe Is Back in 1952

France and Germany again locked into military rivalry is bad news for the rest of Europe.

A New Great Game Is Underway in Central Asia

The world’s great powers are engaging a new battleground in their search for critical minerals.

Fixing U. S. Security Assistance

A new bill aims to stop the United States from “funding abuse. ”

Britain’s New Prime Minister Must Stand Up to Trump

Keir Starmer allowed his country to be humiliated by Washington. Burnham should learn from his mistakes.

Flamingos Against Autocrats

How a Gen Z-led protest movement in Albania is calling out corruption and global oligarchy.

Banning AI Models Doesn’t Add Up to a Policy

What is needed is an actionable agenda that ensures safe release and stable access.

The Liberal Origins of the War Against the Deep State

In the 1970s, fears of an out-of-control executive branch emanated from Democrats, not Republicans.

JULY 17. 2026

U. S. , Iranian Forces Target Civilian Infrastructure

Attacks on bridges, power plants, and desalination facilities could be considered war crimes.

Spain and Argentina Share a Common Language and Love for Soccer—but Not Much Else

Their teams will face off in the upcoming FIFA Men’s World Cup final.

Beijing Is Trying to Turn Taiwan’s Sea Goddess Into a Chinese Agent

China wants to use the ancient deity Mazu to push unification narratives.

The Battle for Borsch

Ukraine is using the beet-based soup to fortify national identity in the face of Russian aggression.

The Soccer Surveillance State

How the United States used the World Cup as a testing ground for policing technologies.

Inside the Race to Protect Ukrainian

Kyiv’s language revitalization program seeks to save Ukrainians’ mother tongue through complex state law.

Syria’s Weak Parliament Still Matters

The country’s newly opened assembly is by no means democratic, but it can still be more than a rubber stamp.