All articles tagged with #usforeignpolicy
Iran has spent decades building an asymmetric, decentralized military and an economic strategy to disrupt energy markets and strain the U.S.-led Gulf security order. By leveraging the IRGC, proxies, and strategic vulnerabilities like the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran aims to outlast adversaries and widen gaps between Washington and Gulf partners, potentially leaving Iran resilient and the U.S.-Gulf alliance weakened after the conflict.
A new AP-NORC poll shows about 60% of Americans believe U.S. military action in Iran has gone too far, with rising concern about gas costs and broad support for preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Trump’s overall approval remains steady, but the war could become a political liability, as most Americans oppose expanding the conflict, prefer keeping oil prices low, and show party-line differences on escalation.
Three leading U.S. Catholic archbishops—Cupich, McElroy, and Tobin—call for a genuinely moral foreign policy, criticizing the Trump administration’s principles and urging military action only as a last resort after citing Venezuela, Ukraine, and Greenland; they frame this as the most significant moral debate about America’s world role since the Cold War, inspired by Pope Leo.
Venezuela's political situation dominates US congressional discussions, with debates over leadership and US military involvement following the recent capture of Nicolás Maduro, amid divided Republican opinions and upcoming votes on military action and funding.
The US State Department revoked visas of foreigners who celebrated Charlie Kirk's assassination, citing concerns over threats to free speech and political violence, following Kirk's death and a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom award.
Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., expressed his agreement with President-elect Donald Trump's stance that the U.S. should avoid involvement in Syria to prevent another prolonged conflict. Alford emphasized that Israel is effectively managing the situation by targeting strategic weapons in Syria, thus reducing the threat from jihadist groups. He highlighted the importance of allowing Israel to handle its security concerns in the region, particularly near the Golan Heights, without U.S. intervention.
Photojournalist Robert Nickelsberg's book "Legacy of Lies" documents the brutal civil war in El Salvador during the early 1980s, highlighting the impact of U.S. foreign policy in the region. Through black-and-white photographs and essays, the book captures the violence fueled by U.S. support for El Salvador's right-wing military government against left-wing guerrillas, resulting in significant civilian casualties and social upheaval. The work provides a visual narrative of the Cold War's influence on Latin America and the enduring consequences of U.S. intervention.
In the wake of Iran's missile launch into Israel, President-elect Donald Trump's administration, with Marco Rubio as the nominee for Secretary of State, is expected to adopt a less hawkish stance towards Iran compared to previous policies. Rubio has advocated for maximum pressure and direct measures to influence Iran's actions, reflecting a shift in the U.S. approach to Middle East tensions.
President Joe Biden is set to become the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon, highlighting his commitment to global climate efforts despite a mixed international record. While Biden has made climate change a central part of his domestic agenda, his administration has faced challenges in securing foreign aid for global climate initiatives and has struggled to meet its own emissions reduction targets. The visit underscores Biden's dedication to environmental issues, even as geopolitical tensions and domestic political challenges threaten to undermine his climate legacy.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on a diplomatic mission in the Middle East, meeting with leaders in Jordan, Qatar, Turkey, Greece, and other nations to address the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas. Despite calls for a ceasefire, the U.S. supports Israel's military campaign, which aims to neutralize Hamas's control over Gaza. Blinken's discussions focus on curbing civilian casualties, increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza, and preventing regional spillover of the conflict. The U.S. opposes the forced removal of Palestinians from Gaza and is working on a postwar strategy that excludes Hamas from future governance.
The Middle East is experiencing escalating tensions that could lead to a larger regional conflict, with recent attacks involving US drone strikes, Iranian-backed militias, and proxy warfare. The Biden administration is attempting to prevent further escalation, but the situation is complicated by technological advances in warfare, such as armed drones, and the growth of proxy forces, particularly those supported by Iran. Despite efforts to focus on other global threats, the US continues to be drawn into Middle Eastern affairs due to alliances, energy interests, and competition with Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is set to visit multiple Middle Eastern countries from January 4-11, 2024, to discuss a range of issues including the protection of civilians in Israel and Palestinian territories, the release of hostages, humanitarian assistance in Gaza, and regional peace efforts. His tour aims to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to peace in the Middle East, emphasizing the vision of a future Palestinian state coexisting peacefully alongside Israel.
Russia is advancing its plans to purchase short-range ballistic missiles from Iran, raising concerns within the Biden administration as this move could bolster Russian military capabilities against Ukraine. The potential arms deal comes at a time when U.S. congressional support for continued military aid to Ukraine is diminishing, with lawmakers still debating further funding for the country amidst the ongoing conflict.
Tariq Habash, a Palestinian-American political appointee at the Education Department, resigned in protest of the Biden Administration's handling of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. In his resignation letter, he criticized the administration for endangering lives and accused it of turning a blind eye to what he described as ethnic cleansing and atrocities against Palestinians. Habash's resignation follows a similar protest resignation by State Department official Josh Paul in October over U.S. military support to Israel.
The United States urged the UN Security Council to take immediate action against Houthi rebels for attacking ships in the Red Sea, implicating Iran for supporting the rebels with advanced weaponry in violation of UN sanctions. The attacks have disrupted global trade, with some companies rerouting vessels to avoid the area, increasing shipping times and costs. A US draft resolution seeks to condemn the attacks and enforce an arms embargo on the Houthis. While there is broad condemnation of the Houthi actions, Russia emphasizes the need to address the underlying conflicts in Yemen and Gaza to prevent further escalation.