The following is a guest post by , senior fellow for trade and international political economy, and , research associate for international economics, at the Council on Foreign Relations.On February 18, the European Commission a new European trade strategy. The announcement was expansive, covering everything from to . For those concerned about the health of the existing trade regime, however, the Commission’s most important comments were on the prospects for reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO).More on:The WTO has been in the clutches of a slow-moving crisis for years. At...…The following is a guest post by , senior fellow for trade and international political economy, and , research associate for international economics, at the Council on Foreign Relations.On February 18, the European Commission a new European trade strategy. The announcement was expansive, covering everything from to . For those concerned about the health of the existing trade regime, however, the Commission’s most important comments were on the prospects for reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO).More on:The WTO has been in the clutches of a slow-moving crisis for years. At...WW…

In 2015, China added the Digital Silk Road (DSR) to its massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While Beijing uses DSR to offer a suite of technologies to BRI countries, Huawei’s effort to provide next-generation communication networks to countries has drawn the most scrutiny in the United States.U.S. officials have frequently that Huawei is effectively an extension of the Chinese Communist Party. Under China’s 2017 , Huawei, like all Chinese companies and entities, appears legally required to conduct intelligence work on behalf of the Chinese government. According to this analysis, the...…In 2015, China added the Digital Silk Road (DSR) to its massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While Beijing uses DSR to offer a suite of technologies to BRI countries, Huawei’s effort to provide next-generation communication networks to countries has drawn the most scrutiny in the United States.U.S. officials have frequently that Huawei is effectively an extension of the Chinese Communist Party. Under China’s 2017 , Huawei, like all Chinese companies and entities, appears legally required to conduct intelligence work on behalf of the Chinese government. According to this analysis, the...WW…

Something of a democratic recessional is underway in sub-Sahara, with a weakening of civil society and democratic institutions. This both reflects and facilitates assaults on civilian, secular governments by domestic insurrections—as well as jihadi and criminal elements—against the backdrop of an economic slowdown and COVID-19. As the August coup in Mali shows, military seizures of power have not disappeared entirely. Nevertheless, the old style of coups—occupation of the state radio and television stations, the presidential palace, and perhaps the central bank, with the arrest of the...…Something of a democratic recessional is underway in sub-Sahara, with a weakening of civil society and democratic institutions. This both reflects and facilitates assaults on civilian, secular governments by domestic insurrections—as well as jihadi and criminal elements—against the backdrop of an economic slowdown and COVID-19. As the August coup in Mali shows, military seizures of power have not disappeared entirely. Nevertheless, the old style of coups—occupation of the state radio and television stations, the presidential palace, and perhaps the central bank, with the arrest of the...WW…

SummarySince the end of World War II, European countries have sought to deepen their integration in pursuit of peace and economic growth. The institutions that became the European Union have steadily expanded and strengthened their authority as member states have passed more and more decision-making power to the union.More From Our ExpertsHowever, the EU has been buffeted by a series of crises in recent years that have tested its cohesion, including the 2008 global financial crisis, an influx of migrants from Africa and the Middle East, and . In early 2020, the bloc struggled to craft a...…SummarySince the end of World War II, European countries have sought to deepen their integration in pursuit of peace and economic growth. The institutions that became the European Union have steadily expanded and strengthened their authority as member states have passed more and more decision-making power to the union.More From Our ExpertsHowever, the EU has been buffeted by a series of crises in recent years that have tested its cohesion, including the 2008 global financial crisis, an influx of migrants from Africa and the Middle East, and . In early 2020, the bloc struggled to craft a...WW…

Many Iraqi lawmakers vowed to evict U.S. troops from their country after a U.S. air strike near the Baghdad airport in early January killed Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, commander of the Iran-backed, mostly Shiite militias collectively known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). That hasn’t happened, but the Donald J. Trump administration could be in the middle of evicting itself.More From Our ExpertsThe United States recently announced plans to reduce the U.S. troop contingent in Iraq , and in late September, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo...…Many Iraqi lawmakers vowed to evict U.S. troops from their country after a U.S. air strike near the Baghdad airport in early January killed Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, commander of the Iran-backed, mostly Shiite militias collectively known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). That hasn’t happened, but the Donald J. Trump administration could be in the middle of evicting itself.More From Our ExpertsThe United States recently announced plans to reduce the U.S. troop contingent in Iraq , and in late September, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo...WW…

SummaryThe $20 trillion U.S. economy relies on a vast network of infrastructure from roads and bridges to freight rail and ports to electrical grids and internet provision. But the systems currently in place were built decades ago, and economists say that delays and rising maintenance costs are holding economic performance back. Civil engineers raise safety concerns as well, warning that many bridges are structurally deficient and that antiquated drinking water and wastewater systems pose risks to public health. Meanwhile, Americans’ international peers enjoy more efficient and reliable...…SummaryThe $20 trillion U.S. economy relies on a vast network of infrastructure from roads and bridges to freight rail and ports to electrical grids and internet provision. But the systems currently in place were built decades ago, and economists say that delays and rising maintenance costs are holding economic performance back. Civil engineers raise safety concerns as well, warning that many bridges are structurally deficient and that antiquated drinking water and wastewater systems pose risks to public health. Meanwhile, Americans’ international peers enjoy more efficient and reliable...WW…

It has been only six days since Russia invaded Ukraine, but Moscow’s unprovoked and ill-considered war of aggression has already transformed world order, albeit in ways Russian President Vladimir Putin never anticipated or desired. In one fateful step, the Russian president has managed to revive Western solidarity, reenergize U.S. global leadership, catalyze European integration, expose Russia’s weaknesses, undermine Moscow’s alliance with Beijing, and make his authoritarian imitators look foolish. Quite an accomplishment in less than a week. Amidst the unceasing onslaught of breaking news,...…It has been only six days since Russia invaded Ukraine, but Moscow’s unprovoked and ill-considered war of aggression has already transformed world order, albeit in ways Russian President Vladimir Putin never anticipated or desired. In one fateful step, the Russian president has managed to revive Western solidarity, reenergize U.S. global leadership, catalyze European integration, expose Russia’s weaknesses, undermine Moscow’s alliance with Beijing, and make his authoritarian imitators look foolish. Quite an accomplishment in less than a week. Amidst the unceasing onslaught of breaking news,...WW…

China’s Belt and Road: Implications for the United StatesHome“The Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy undertaking and the world’s largest infrastructure program, poses a significant challenge to U.S. economic, political, climate change, security, and global health interests.”The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese President Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy undertaking and the world’s largest infrastructure program, poses a significant challenge to U.S. economic, political, climate change, security, and global health interests. Since ’s...…China’s Belt and Road: Implications for the United StatesHome“The Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy undertaking and the world’s largest infrastructure program, poses a significant challenge to U.S. economic, political, climate change, security, and global health interests.”The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese President Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy undertaking and the world’s largest infrastructure program, poses a significant challenge to U.S. economic, political, climate change, security, and global health interests. Since ’s...WW…