Water Wars
Water Wars: Lines in the Great Wall of Sand
Sean Quirk Mon, Aug 17, 2020, 8:01 AM
Summer in the South China Sea—a hardened U.S. policy, extensive naval operations and a Twitter skirmish.
Latest in Mike Pompeo
Data Protection
The Strategic Vision Behind the TikTok, WeChat Bans
Jim Dempsey Tue, Aug 11, 2020, 10:48 AM
The latest moves are part of a comprehensive strategy to purge anything Chinese from the U.S. telecommunications and internet ecosystem.
SinoTech
Tech Giants Halt Hong Kong Data Requests; The US Considers Banning TikTok
Richard Altieri, Benjamin Della Rocca Mon, Jul 20, 2020, 4:43 PM
Lawfare's biweekly roundup of U.S.-China technology policy and national security news.
South China Sea
What Did the U.S. Accomplish With Its South China Sea Legal Statement?
Robert D. Williams Fri, Jul 17, 2020, 3:34 PM
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement outlining the “U.S. Position on Maritime Claims in the South China Sea.” Does the statement advance U.S. strategic goals in the region?
Russia and Eastern Europe
The End of the Open Skies Treaty and the Politics of Compliance
Alexander Graef Mon, Jul 6, 2020, 8:01 AM
In a statement withdrawing from the treaty, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Russia of flagrantly violating its provisions. Were those allegations justified? If so, on what grounds?
Hong Kong
What to Make of Secretary Pompeo Decertifying Hong Kong Autonomy
Julian Ku Thu, May 28, 2020, 1:23 PM
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made history yesterday when he refused to certify that Hong Kong is autonomous from China. What’s the significance of that move?
Executive Power
Legal Issues Implicated By Trump’s Firing of the State Department Inspector General
Jack Goldsmith, Ben Miller-Gootnick Mon, May 18, 2020, 9:27 AM
The firing is almost certainly lawful, but it is unclear whether the president’s chosen replacement can immediately assume the role.
Iran
Maximum Pressure Still Won’t Sway Iran
Ariane Tabatabai, Colin P. Clarke Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 8:00 AM
The aggressive U.S. strategy has raised tensions in Iraq without creating prospects for a resolution.
Foreign Policy Essay
Reading Between the Lines of Afghan Agreements
Elizabeth Threlkeld Sun, Mar 8, 2020, 10:00 AM
The United States just made two different deals with the Taliban and the Afghan government. Can they be reconciled?
Europe
Dispatch from Munich: Seeking a Savior in a Time of Westlessness
Amanda Sloat Thu, Feb 20, 2020, 8:00 AM
European states want to exert more unity and strength on the world stage, but they lack the vision and consensus to do so.