Center for the National Interest

Jacob Heilbrunn of the National Interest explains why Congresswoman Liz Cheney (not President Biden) is the biggest obstacle to the goals of the Trump wing of the GOP in his latest article for Spectator World.

Liz Cheney’s high noon - The Spectator World Liz Cheney, the neocon ogress, finds her voice on the January 6 commission, while Mark Meadows flails and undermines himself

"Now in exile, some Afghan women struggle to accept that the progress they contributed to came crashing down so quickly," writes Nazila Jamshidi.

Exile in America Brings Feelings Of Grief and Opportunity For Afghan Women Now in exile, some Afghan women struggle to accept that the progress they contributed to came crashing down so quickly. They start their days by reading stories about new atrocities, new waves of women fleeing the country, and new signs of despair. Yet, some live with the hollow hope that they will....

David May and Abdel Abdelrahman explain why "Hamas is pushing for Israel to release Fatah arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti from prison, a step that would further inflame already volatile tensions with chief rival Fatah."

Hamas’ Efforts to Release Marwan Barghouti Come at Fatah’s Expense By championing Barghouti’s release, Hamas hopes to increase fissures within Fatah, apply pressure to an already stressed Palestinian Authority, and bolster Hamas’ standing within Palestinian society—all with minimal risk of unleashing a potential opponent.

"Until the Biden administration or its successors realize that they cannot rely on the Taliban to stamp out terror, terrorist groups in Afghanistan will only metathesize," warns Michael Rubin in his latest article for the National Interest.

Supporting the Afghan Resistance Is an American Interest Until the Biden administration or its successors realize that they cannot rely on the Taliban to stamp out terror, terrorist groups in Afghanistan will only metathesize.

CFTNI's Senior Director Harry Kazianis sounds off on the biggest foreign policy challenges facing President Biden today in his recent interview with KTRH News. Give it a listen!

Is Joe Biden Ready For A Trio Of Conflicts On The Big Stage? (Russia, China, Iran) - Harry Kazianis Listen in to popular podcasts and radio shows from around the world or start your own with Spreaker!

November saw the biggest gain in the Consumer Price Index since 1982. Will it continue to push prices even higher?

New analysis from Stephen Silver.

Inflation Madness: November Saw the Biggest Gain in CPI Since 1982 Will it continue to push prices even higher?

"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will not end overnight—it will take time to resolve this crisis—but the EU’s involvement could be an important step in the negotiation process," argues Mark Temnycky.

Can Armenia and Azerbaijan Settle Their Differences at the Eastern Partnership Summit? The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will not end overnight—it will take time to resolve this crisis—but the EU’s involvement could be an important step in the negotiation process.

"Though the Pacific Fleet does not find itself engaged in tensions with NATO forces as routinely as its Baltic and Black Sea counterparts, the Kremlin is increasingly wary of being tangled up in a larger regional conflict between China and the West."

Russia's Pacific Fleet is Getting New Tanks–To Offset NATO in the East? Though the Pacific Fleet does not find itself engaged in tensions with NATO forces as routinely as its Baltic and Black Sea counterparts, the Kremlin is increasingly wary of being tangled up in a larger regional conflict between China and the West.

The world's first death caused by the Omicron Variant has officially been recorded. Meanwhile, in America, although booster shots are considered to be “optimal care,” the U.S. government is staying firm on the definition of fully vaccinated, writes Ethen Kim Lieser.

United Kingdom Registers World’s First Omicron Death Meanwhile, in America, although booster shots are considered to be “optimal care,” the U.S. government is staying firm on the definition of fully vaccinated.

Writing on Russia's European aggression, Harun Karčić argues that "how the United States responds to these overt military threats will have far-reaching consequences for the security of Europe and the transatlantic alliance."

Russia’s New Front In the Balkans Heats Up Much like in brokering peace following the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s, the only force capable of confronting Moscow’s designs today in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the United States.

A recent piece on America's Taiwan policy penned by CFTNI expert Paul Heer received a shoutout in the latest edition of Politico's National Security Daily Newsletter. Read Paul's article and tell us what you think!

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Calling all undergraduate and graduate students: don't forget to register for CFTNI's 2021 Student Essay Contest! Submissions close after 11:59 PM EST on Monday, December 21. Details at the link below.

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Paul R. Pillar argues that the truest friends of Israel would not enable such self-destructive behavior and would not espouse policies that condemn Israel to living forever by the sword, never knowing genuine peace and security.

When Being ‘Pro-Israel’ Isn’t Really The truest friends of Israel would not enable such self-destructive behavior and would not espouse policies that condemn Israel to living forever by the sword, never knowing genuine peace and security.

Colonel Douglas Macgregor and CFTNI's George Beebe argue that, while Putin does not want war over Ukraine, "if Washington refuses to recognize that Russian redline, he may well be prepared to fight—and there is not much the United States could do to stop him."

The Ghost of Ukraine’s Future Vladimir Putin would probably prefer to find an alternative way to derail a U.S. alliance with Ukraine if Biden is prepared to bargain. But if Washington refuses to recognize that Russian redline, he may well be prepared to fight—and there is not much the United States could do to stop him.

Mark Episkopos laments that "the Summit for Democracy has staked out the worst of both policy worlds, muddying American values with its gross inconsistencies whilst betraying core national interests with its many needless provocations."

Biden’s Summit for Democracies Betrayed U.S. Interests The summit was billed by the Biden administration as a global rallying point for democracies united around shared values and a common vision for the future. What emerges instead is a jumbled affair, as strategically wrongheaded as it is morally dubious.

"As China and Russia loom large over Myanmar’s fate, Japan’s continued engagement with the Tatmadaw would be a much-needed democratic counterweight restraining the global ascendancy of authoritarianism affecting the future of the Indo-Pacific."

On Myanmar, Japan Alone Must Hold the Line As China and Russia loom large over Myanmar’s fate, Japan’s continued engagement with the Tatmadaw would be a much-needed democratic counterweight restraining the global ascendancy of authoritarianism affecting the future of the Indo-Pacific.

"As the United States looks to Asia, ARSC teams should be a planned option within the U.S. military’s spectrum of medical capabilities that are utilized when the mission requires their agility rather than as an ad hoc stopgap," writes Jenna Biter.

Will Great Power Competition Sideline America’s Most Agile Surgical Teams? As the United States looks to Asia, ARSC teams should be a planned option within the U.S. military’s spectrum of medical capabilities that are utilized when the mission requires their agility rather than as an ad hoc stopgap.

Mark Episkopos writes that, "in the years following the 2014 Euromaidan crisis, the Baltic region has seen a sharp spike in military tensions between Russian and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces."

NATO Take Note: The Russian Navy is Practicing Missile Strikes in the Baltic Sea In the years following the 2014 Euromaidan crisis, the Baltic region has seen a sharp spike in military tensions between Russian and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces.

Researchers have shown that the passage of the child tax credit was successful in reducing the rates of child poverty and child hunger. Could the program really be coming to an end?

New from Stephen Silver.

Will Next Week’s Child Tax Credit Payment Be the Last? Researchers have shown that the passage of the child tax credit was successful in reducing the rates of child poverty and child hunger.

The UK’s support for Bosnia and Herzegovina has been an unexpected and powerful display of solidarity, but much more needs to be done to put the region and Bosnia back on the Euroatlantic path, argues Ismet Fatih Čančar.

Can Britain Turn Bosnia Away from Secessionism? The UK’s support for Bosnia and Herzegovina has been an unexpected and powerful display of solidarity, but much more needs to be done to put the region and Bosnia back on the Euroatlantic path.

"With Russia squeezing Ukraine in a military and energy vice, and NATO sounding the alarm, the government in Kyiv must urgently focus on bolstering its military and energy security," writes Janusz Bugajski and Margarita Assenova.

To Resist Russia, Ukraine Must Help Itself Perpetual political infighting, media wars between oligarchs, and accusations of domestic coup attempts, together with a failing energy policy undermines Ukraine’s stability and statehood. It will further weaken the economy and foster social unrest that Russia exploits to its advantage.

Jack Devine and Jonathan D. T. Ward make the case for why "the United States and its allies must cultivate a modern-day containment strategy towards our authoritarian challengers" with an eye towards China and Russia.

Strategic Clarity Can Counter Chinese and Russian Aggression To prevent the onward geopolitical march of China and Russia and the dystopian outcome of a world in which adversary systems have truly global range, the United States and its allies must cultivate a modern-day containment strategy towards our authoritarian challengers.

"Moscow and Beijing see deterrence as a tool to stop the United States from acting in a defensive manner while also allowing Moscow and Beijing to act offensively in the pursuit of hegemonic objectives," argues Peter Huessy for the National Interest.

China and Russia’s Nuclear Ambitions are Leaving America Vulnerable Moscow and Beijing see deterrence as a tool to stop the United States from acting in a defensive manner while also allowing Moscow and Beijing to act offensively in the pursuit of hegemonic objectives.

CFTNI Vice President George Beebe discusses the implications of Russia's military buildup along its border with Ukraine in his recent interview for the Tipping Point With Kara McKinney.

Tipping Point - George Beebe - Russian Troops Amassing on the Ukraine Border George Beebe - Russian Troops Amassing on the Ukraine Border

Mahmoud Javadi explains why "the EU could and should seize the moment to provide security against non-military threats in the region, both deepening its influence and avoiding a new wave of (climate) migration to European shores."

Can the Middle East Fulfill Europe’s Security Provider Aspirations? While Europeans are seeking to concentrate more on “hard” insecurities, “soft” insecurities across the Middle East—those not arising from military threats—are about to evolve into critical security challenges for states in the region and beyond, including the EU.

You have ONE WEEK to send in your submission for CFTNI's Student Essay Contest! Follow the link below to learn more about this exciting opportunity to win cash prizes and have your work published in the National Interest.

CFTNI Announces its 2021 Student Essay Contest – Center for the National Interest The Center for the National Interest is proud to announce its 2021 Student Essay contest! Please see below for details and for information about how to participate:

"While most commentary warns of—or embraces—a non-existent military option, the Israeli model may be a more realistic source for policies aimed at keeping the nuclear peace in the Middle East," argues Geoffrey Aronson.

Will Iran Follow Israel and Keep Its Bombs in the Basement? While most commentary warns of—or embraces—a non-existent military option, the Israeli model may be a more realistic source for policies aimed at keeping the nuclear peace in the Middle East.

"Security and prosperity demand peace between people. The Biden administration should accordingly push for a broader effort at cultural reform with the potential to generate the popular support necessary to sustain a peace process," argues Ahmed Charai.

Arab-Israeli Peace Is Occurring Before Our Eyes Security and prosperity demand peace between people. The Biden administration should accordingly push for a broader effort at cultural reform with the potential to generate the popular support necessary to sustain a peace process.

Are Russia and Ukraine destined for a military clash? Andreas Umland writes that, "in principle, the Russian people do not want war with Ukraine, and they may be less inclined toward foreign adventures during times of economic stagnation."

Why Russia Escalates But May Not Go to War Over Ukraine While the situation looks grim, not all hope is lost.

CFTNI expert Paul Heer explains how testimony from officials in the State Department and Defense Department this week included subtle but important shifts in the U.S. policy toward Taiwan in his new article for the National Interest.

Has Washington’s Policy Toward Taiwan Crossed the Rubicon? Testimony from officials in the State Department and Defense Department this week included subtle but important shifts in the U.S. policy toward Taiwan.

"The Vienna negotiations have been supported in rhetoric by both President Joe Biden and Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, who promised to return to the deal at his August inauguration. So far, negotiations have stalled," writes Trevor Filseth.

Defense Secretary Austin: Other Options Available if Iran Rejects JCPOA The Vienna negotiations have been supported in rhetoric by both President Joe Biden and Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, who promised to return to the deal at his August inauguration. So far, negotiations have stalled.

"By carefully manipulating the strategic levers of power, Kim is not just surviving but, by all appearances, thriving," writes Patrick M. Cronin for the National Interest.

The Secret of Kim Jong-un’s Success By carefully manipulating the strategic levers of power, Kim is not just surviving but, by all appearances, thriving.

COVID-19 update: Ethen Kim Lieser reports that "The number of new coronavirus cases in South Africa has more than doubled over the past week amid the quick spread of the highly mutated Omicron coronavirus variant that was first detected in the country two weeks ago."

South Africa Sees Doubling of Coronavirus Cases as Omicron Spreads Due to the rise of Omicron, the United Kingdom is on track to reach one million cases by the end of the month.

Did the White House promise Putin that it would convince Ukraine to cede territory to Russia? CFTNI's Christian Whiton explains why he doubts the veracity of this report (and weighs in on the Summit for Democracy) in his recent appearance on Fox Business.

Christian Whiton: America 'anything but strong' right now Former State Department official discuss Biden's foreign policy strategy on 'FOX Business Tonight.'

Stephen Silver explains how why public health experts believe the Omicron Variant could permanently alter the course of the coronavirus pandemic.

WHO Let the Omicron Out: New Variant Could Alter Path of Pandemic These companies are developing an Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine and expect it to be ready for delivery within one hundred days.

As South Korea weighs how to handle the 2022 Olympics, CFTNI expert Harry Kazianis tells Voice of America that the US should be understanding of the delicate balancing act its ally must walk regarding its relationships with both China and the US.

Beijing Winter Olympics Test US-South Korea Cooperation on China South Korea is facing a dilemma over whether to join the Biden administration’s boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics

Writing on the evolving situation in Ukraine, CFTNI fellow Nikolas K. Gvosdev observes that "we can be cautiously optimistic that the Putin-Biden call may have put the conflict back in the icebox, for now—but the fundamental problem remains."

A Temporary Pause, But No Solution on Ukraine We can be cautiously optimistic that the Putin-Biden call may have put the conflict back in the icebox, for now—but the fundamental problem remains.