All articles tagged with #us foreign policy
Democrats in Congress are demanding an immediate vote on War Powers resolutions after overnight U.S. strikes on Iran were launched without authorization, seeking to curb potential escalation; Republicans are divided, with hawks praising the action, while critics warn about unchecked executive power and remind of past failed efforts to constrain war powers as both chambers plan reconvening.
House leaders are drafting a bipartisan war powers resolution to prevent U.S. strikes on Iran without Congressional approval, planning a vote as early as next week; supporters argue it would avert another costly war, while opponents warn of risking national security.
Behnam Ben Taleblu argues that Iran is at a historic low after recent strikes and widespread protests, and the United States should pursue a two‑stage plan: first, use covert operations to empower Iranian dissidents and undermine regime cohesion; then, launch air and missile strikes to degrade air defenses, destroy missile and nuclear infrastructure, and target political‑security institutions, with the aim of fracturing the regime and enabling Iranians to finish the transition themselves. The piece warns that limited strikes won’t suffice, calls for sustained US action, and acknowledges risks of escalation while insisting that allowing Iranians to lead the outcome is the best path to change.
Trump said he’d love not to use the U.S. military against Iran but indicated a force option remains possible, stressing there’s no final decision yet as talks continue and Iran cannot have nuclear weapons; he also warned there could be risk of a long, drawn-out conflict, while related developments include U.S. carrier movements near Israel and ongoing mediation efforts by Oman and other officials.
The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem authorized non-emergency personnel and their families to leave Israel citing safety risks as tensions with Iran escalate, with Washington reinforcing regional military readiness (including the Ford carrier group) while diplomacy with Iran continues in Geneva via Oman.
Porter argues that Trump-era fractures of the US-led postwar order have spurred Europe and others to seek a ‘third path’ or rely on uncoordinated, transactional alliances. Building a durable liberal, rules-based system without strong US leadership seems unlikely, risking a world split into rival blocs or even a ‘no order’ landscape unless Washington renews its engagement. The piece frames a likely shift from a coherent order to pragmatism and power politics, with China and the US looming as the two poles and varied influence for other states.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee’s interview remarks suggesting Israel has a biblical right to large parts of the Middle East drew swift condemnation from Arab and Muslim states, who called the comments extremist and harmful to peace. Huckabee said a viral clip misrepresents a longer discussion on Christian Zionism, while the controversy coincides with Israeli moves to tighten control in the West Bank and ongoing Western concerns about the region’s future.
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, told Tucker Carlson it would be “fine” if Israel took control of a large stretch of the Middle East, citing biblical land promises and arguing Israel would focus on protecting its people. Carlson pressed whether Israel should claim areas like Jordan, Syria or Iraq; Huckabee suggested they weren’t aiming for that, but said Israel should at least take land it now occupies. The remarks, seen as a departure from mainstream US policy, drew criticism from the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, and CNN said it had sought comment from the State Department.
President Donald Trump unveiled his 'Board of Peace' at the World Economic Forum's Davos gathering, kicking off its first meeting while several US allies voiced caution about the new body and its aims within a broader peace initiative.
Raja Mohan argues that the world is not entering a true multipolar order: the United States remains the sole global pole, while China and Russia, though powerful regionally, cannot project power globally or form cohesive counterweights. The multipolar narrative has instead enabled Washington to pursue unilateral action more freely, with allies hedging and institutions evolving around U.S. leadership. In short, multipolarity is aspirational at best and unipolar power endures in practice.
Ted Widmer argues that Trump’s Donroe Doctrine distorts the Monroe Doctrine, which was meant to promote pan‑American solidarity and nonintervention, not US domination. By tracing its origins to Adams and Canning and noting its reliance on the British navy, the piece urges a return to cooperative hemispheric diplomacy (à la the Good Neighbor era), while echoing Bad Bunny’s inclusive Super Bowl message.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faced online backlash after a meandering response to a reporter’s question about whether the United States would defend Taiwan with troops during a Munich Security Conference town hall, with critics citing a lack of a clear stance on foreign policy. The controversy spilled onto X, drawing comments from conservatives and pundits about her readiness and broader Gaza-related remarks on U.S. aid to Israel, highlighting ongoing scrutiny of her foreign-policy positions.
The piece argues that the original anti-interventionist meaning of 'America First' has been co-opted by hawks pushing regime change and more aggressive U.S. interventions, with figures like Bolton and Rubio reshaping the doctrine; while Trump claims ownership of the phrase, many allies and insiders have embraced a pro-war agenda, suggesting the traditional noninterventionist spirit may be fading and calling for a new foreign-policy ethos.
During a House Foreign Affairs hearing, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chair Maria Salazar urged strong U.S. action to defend religious liberty, spotlighting Nicaragua’s crackdown under Ortega and Murillo—expulsions of clergy, church closures, arrests of faith-based NGOs, and bans on processions—while stressing the resilience of Nicaragua’s Catholic and Evangelical communities and signaling a broader U.S. commitment to religious rights in the Western Hemisphere.
The administration is accelerating efforts to secure critical minerals outside of China by building international partnerships and investing in domestic and allied sources, aiming to diversify and strengthen supply chains; high-level talks with India and South Korea illustrate a push to counter China’s dominance in critical minerals.