CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department

Are U.S.-Japan relations at a turning point? | State of Play | CSIS Podcasts Kristi Govella and Nick Szechenyi join to discuss whether U.S.-Japan ties are shifting amid tariffs and political change.

On a new episode of State Of Play, @willtodman.bsky.social is joined by @japan.csis.org experts Dr. @kristigovella.bsky.social and Nick Szechenyi to discuss whether U.S.-Japan relations are shifting amid tariff negotiation, turbulent Japanese politics, and more.
Listen here:

What the Next Round of Sanctions Against Russia Should Look Like Moscow has successfully restructured its economy on an impressive war footing, but there are weaknesses under the hood.

Tomorrow is Trump’s deadline for Russia to strike a peace deal with Ukraine. @erep.csis.org's @msnegovaya.bsky.social + @nicholasfenton.bsky.social argue in @ForeignPolicy.com that if no deal is reached, the next round of US sanctions should target Russian civilian firms.

Read:

The Impossible State Live Podcast: U.S.- South Korea Trade Deal: What Do We Know? | CSIS Events Please join the Impossible State podcast for a timely discussion on the U.S.-South Korea trade deal struck on July 30.

TOMORROW 2 PM ET | Tune in to @korea.csis.org latest podcast episode "U.S.–South Korea Trade Deal: What Do We Know?"
Join @csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social, @philuck.bsky.social, William Reinsch & Kyunghyang Daily's Yoojin Kim for this timely analysis.

🔗 Register: buff.ly/DPXPfzv

A Long-Term Russia Strategy for Europe No matter the outcome in Ukraine, Russia will remain a strategic threat to Europe and European interests. A European containment strategy reworked for the particularities of the present can help…

A new report by the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, "A Long-Term Russia Strategy for Europe" suggests a new containment strategy for the EU. Europe needs an updated and unified strategy to deter Russian aggression in Europe, given the potential US disengagement.
Read: bit.ly/4l0Oyke

History, Memory, and the Party | Pekingology | CSIS Podcasts Henrietta Levin is joined by Dr. Rana Mitter to discuss the relationship between history and politics in today’s China, how memory of World War II shapes Beijing’s thinking on Taiwan, the worldview…

In the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies' latest episode of Pekingology Henrietta Levin meets with Rana Mitter, ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School, to discuss the worldview of the next generation of CCP leaders, and more.
Listen below:
www.csis.org/podcasts/pek...

Shifting Tides: The National Security Implications of the United States’ Pacific Drawdown As the Pacific becomes the front line of global power competition, recent U.S. actions on foreign assistance and trade have far-reaching implications for U.S. influence in this critical region.

A new paper by CSIS Australia Chair's Charles Edel, Kathryn Paik, and John Auge shows how recent U.S. actions such as aid cuts and tariffs are undermining credibility in the Pacific Islands and creating space for Chinese influence in a region critical to U.S. security.
www.csis.org/analysis/shi...

Kurt Campbell on China Strategy and Diplomacy | Pekingology | CSIS Podcasts Host Henrietta Levin, Senior Fellow with the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies, is joined by Kurt Campbell, former Deputy Secretary of State, to discuss how Beijing views American power, the…

The CSIS Freeman Chair's flagship podcast "Pekingology" is back! New host Henrietta Levin speaks with Dr. Kurt Campbell, former deputy secretary of state and President Biden’s “Asia Czar.”
Listen to the episode below:
www.csis.org/podcasts/pek...

China’s World Order: Does BRICS Still Matter?  | State of Play | CSIS Podcasts After Xi skips BRICS summit, experts join Will to ask: Does BRICS still matter—and how is China challenging the U.S.?

CSIS Freeman Chair Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin joined the CSIS Geopolitics State of Play podcast to discuss if BRICS still matters, if it's part of China’s alternative world order, and other ways China is competing with the U.S. in Latin America and beyond.
Listen:
www.csis.org/podcasts/sta...

President Trump’s “Carrot and Stick” Approach to Africa The Trump administration needs a more nuanced approach to Africa that doesn’t alienate the people and the markets that it is seeking to engage. To do so requires the president to somehow square his…

CSIS Africa's Cameron Hudson has released a new analysis: As the mini Africa Summit kicks off tomorrow, many hope for clarity on how the U.S. views Africa’s potential. So far, the “America First” policy has lowered expectations across the continent.
Read: www.csis.org/analysis/pre...

Denmark’s Role in European and Transatlantic Security | CSIS Events Please join Troels Lund Poulsen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Denmark and Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, for a hybrid event featuring a conversation…

TOMORROW: @erep.csis.org hosts an IN-PERSON discussion on Denmark's role in European and transatlantic security—ft. Deputy PM and Defense Minister of Denmark, Troels Lund Poulsen & Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
⏲️12 PM ET
www.csis.org/events/denma...

Rule of Law in China, 10 Years after the 709 Crackdown | CSIS Events Please join the CSIS Freeman Chair of China Studies to mark the 10th anniversary of the "709 Crackdown" and reflect its implications for rule of law in China today.

TODAY @ 2pm: Ten years after the 709 crackdown on rights lawyers, the CSIS Freeman Chair is convening leading experts on Chinese law, politics, and civil society to discuss rule of law in China, and what we can learn from 709 in understanding today's China. www.csis.org/events/rule-...

Denmark’s Role in European and Transatlantic Security | CSIS Events Please join Troels Lund Poulsen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Denmark and Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, for a hybrid event featuring a conversation…

On Tuesday, July 8th, at 12:00 PM ET @erep.csis.org will be hosting an in-person discussion on Denmark's role in European and Transatlantic security.

Link to register below:
www.csis.org/events/denma...

How the Israel-Iran War Crossed the Rubicon Max Bergmann and Mona Yacoubian join Will to unpack the ripple effects of the Israel-Iran war and what lessons other states are taking from it.

In this episode of the CSIS Geopolitics Department's State of Play podcast, @willtodman.bsky.social talks with Mona Yacoubian and @maxbergmann.bsky.social about the consequences of the war between Israel and Iran. www.csis.org/podcasts/sta...

What Do Strikes on Iran Mean for China, Russia, and North Korea? This event is online-only and will be livestreamed on this webpage. Please join the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department for a discussion on the fu...

Missed yesterday’s @geopolitics.csis.org discussion on the Axis of Upheaval after the Israel-Iran conflict? 🎥

Catch the recording for insights from @victordcha.bsky.social, @myacoubian.bsky.social, @msnegovaya.bsky.social & @brianthart.bsky.social on China, Russia, Iran & N. Korea ties.

NATO’s “Brain Death” in The Hague At the 2025 NATO Summit, allies pledged to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP. But spending targets alone ignore deeper issues. Europe must shift its focus to building capable, integrated…

What does a commitment to spend 5% of GDP on defense really mean for NATO allies?

CSIS @erep.csis.org Program Director @maxbergmann.bsky.social explains why focusing on the spending target is a mistake for Europe + what should come next:
www.csis.org/analysis/nat...

Taiwan Tensions - China's Strategy in the Trump Era: Bonny Lin / Director, China Power Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies - DEEPER LOOK | NHK WORLD-JAPAN What is the current situation in the Taiwan Strait and what is China's strategy? US-China expert Bonny Lin breaks down risks, the US response, and Japan's stake.

How could the situation in the Taiwan Strait sharply escalate in the coming years?
CSIS's Dr. Bonny Lin points to 5 factors she, and her co-authors Brian Hart and John Culver, believe could lead to heightened tensions. Watch her interview here: www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...

How the Israel-Iran War Crossed the Rubicon Max Bergmann and Mona Yacoubian join Will to unpack the ripple effects of the Israel-Iran war and what lessons other states are taking from it.

In this episode of the CSIS Geopolitics Department's State of Play podcast, @willtodman.bsky.social talks with Mona Yacoubian and @maxbergmann.bsky.social about the consequences of the war between Israel and Iran. www.csis.org/podcasts/sta...

Critical Minerals, Fragile Peace: The DRC-Rwanda Deal and the Cost of Ignoring Root Causes On June 27, the foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda are set to sign the Critical Minerals for Security and Peace Deal in Washington, DC. This long-awaited peace deal aims to calm the conflict in…

From CSIS Africa Program - New analysis by @MvembaDizolele:
On June 27 the foreign ministers of Rwanda & DRC are to signed the Critical Minerals for Security and Peace Deal in DC. While it aims to ease tensions in eastern DRC, it falls short of tackling root causes.
www.csis.org/analysis/cri...

LIVE NOW!

What Do Strikes on Iran Mean for China, Russia, and North Korea?

Special @geopolitics.csis.org event with:
- @victordcha.bsky.social
- @myacoubian.bsky.social
- @brianthart.bsky.social
- @msnegovaya.bsky.social

Watch here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnIf...

The Case for a Pacific Defense Pact | ChinaPower Project In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Ely Ratner joins us to discuss the case for a defense pact in the Indo-Pacific. Dr. Ratner starts by laying out his argument of why he thinks now is the…

Indo-Pacific military cooperation accelerating, how far should it go? The CSIS China Power Project's new podcast episode features Ely Ratner, who shares why now is the moment to pursue a Pacific defense pact—and how regional trends make it possible.
chinapower.csis.org/podcasts/the...

What Do Strikes on Iran Mean for China, Russia, and North Korea? | CSIS Events Please join the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department for a discussion on the future of the “Axis of Upheaval” after the Israel-Iran conflict.

TODAY @3 PM ET | What do strikes on Iran mean for China, Russia, and N. Korea?

Join CSIS Geopolitics for a timely panel on the future of the "Axis of Upheaval" featuring
Victor Cha, Mona Yacoubian, Maria Snegovaya & Brian Hart.

Online-only. Register: www.csis.org/events/what-...

What Do Strikes on Iran Mean for China, Russia, and North Korea? This event is online-only and will be livestreamed on this webpage. Please join the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department for a discussion on the fu...

ONE HOUR TO GO | What do strikes on Iran mean for China, Russia, and N. Korea?

Join @geopolitics.csis.org for a timely panel on the future of the "Axis of Upheaval" featuring Dr. @victordcha.bsky.social, @myacoubian.bsky.social, Dr. Maria Snegovaya & @brianthart.bsky.social

Tune in:

How the Israel-Iran War Crossed the Rubicon | State of Play | CSIS Podcasts Max Bergmann and Mona Yacoubian join Will to unpack the ripple effects of the Israel-Iran war and what lessons other states are taking from it.

🌎What does the American response to conflict between Iran and Israel tell us about the rapidly changing global order?

@maxbergmann.bsky.social joined @geopolitics.csis.org + @mideast.csis.org to bring in the European perspective, talk US unpredictability, and more 👉 www.csis.org/podcasts/sta...

What Do Strikes on Iran Mean for China, Russia, and North Korea? | CSIS Events Please join the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department for a discussion on the future of the “Axis of Upheaval” after the Israel-Iran conflict.

June 30 3 PM ET | What do strikes on Iran mean for China, Russia, and N. Korea?

Join @geopolitics.csis.org for a timely panel on the future of the "Axis of Upheaval" featuring Dr. @victordcha.bsky.social, @myacoubian.bsky.social, Dr. Maria Snegovaya & @brianthart.bsky.social

Online-only. Register:

Israel and Iran At War: What Comes Next? YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies

I hosted a superb conversation with @myacoubian.bsky.social, Dan Byman, and @doreenhorschig.bsky.social to explore what's next in the Israel-Iran war. Helpful nuance, context, and broader implications: www.youtube.com/live/tC0LW1Q...

Africa’s Complicated Democratic Landscape Africa’s upcoming year of elections signals both great promise and potential peril. Despite its growing population’s increasing demands for responsive governance, economic opportunity, and equitable…

CSIS Africa's latest report assesses Africa's electoral landscape, with the most critical elections of 2025 in countries where incumbents have used constitutional changes and institutional control to stay in power. By Cameron Hudson, Mvemba Dizolele and Khasai Makhulo.
www.csis.org/analysis/afr...

Israel and Iran At War: What Comes Next?  | CSIS Events CSIS experts Daniel Byman and Doreen Horschig join Mona Yacoubian to discuss current developments in the Iran-Israel conflict, moderated by Will Todman.

TODAY: Israel and Iran At War: What Comes Next?
⏰ 4:00pm ET
CSIS experts Mona Yacoubian, Daniel Byman and Doreen Horschig will explore the risks of further regional escalation, the attacks’ consequences in the region, and the future of Iran's nuclear program.

www.csis.org/events/israe...

Fifteenth Annual South China Sea Conference | CSIS Events The CSIS Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative are pleased to present the Fifteenth Annual South China Sea Conference.

The first session of the CSIS @seasia.csis.org‬ and the CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative's 15th annual South China Sea Conference has begun, examining the current state of play in the region.

Tune in below:
www.csis.org/events/fifte...

China Isn’t on the G7 Agenda, but It’s Still the Main Event As G7 leaders meet in Kananaskis, one top priority—China—won’t appear on the public agenda. Behind closed doors, however, leaders will grapple with how Beijing is reshaping the global order and…

The CSIS Freeman Chairs' Henrietta Levin writes on the G7 in Canada:

As G7 leaders meet, one top priority—China—won’t appear on the public agenda. Behind closed doors, leaders will grapple with how Beijing is reshaping the global order and challenging the G7.

www.csis.org/analysis/chi...

The Russian Wartime Economy | CSIS Events Join the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program for a panel discussion on the current state of the Russian wartime economy.

The CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program will be hosting an online event on their latest report - The Russian Wartime Economy: From Sugar High to Hangover.

📅 Tuesday, June 17
⏰ 11:00am ET

Please register using the link below:
www.csis.org/events/russi...