Explainers

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Backgrounders
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  • Trade

    What Are Tariffs?
    President Donald Trump has begun his second term imposing tariffs against some of the United States’ leading trading partners to correct what he says are decades of imbalances harmful to the U.S. economy. Here’s how these taxes work.  
    President Donald Trump has begun his second term imposing tariffs against some of the United States’ leading trading partners to correct what he says are decades of imbalances harmful to the U.S. economy. Here’s how these taxes work.  

    Backgrounder by Anshu Siripurapu and Noah Berman April 1, 2025

  • Public Health Threats and Pandemics

    Fentanyl and the U.S. Opioid Epidemic
    Opioid addiction has become one of the United States’ biggest killers, endangering public health, the economy, and national security. But closing the floodgates on fentanyl poses a significant foreign policy challenge.
    Opioid addiction has become one of the United States’ biggest killers, endangering public health, the economy, and national security. But closing the floodgates on fentanyl poses a significant foreign policy challenge.

    Backgrounder by Mariel Ferragamo and Claire Klobucista March 28, 2025

  • International Criminal Court

    The Role of the ICC
    The International Criminal Court was created to bring justice to the world’s worst war criminals, but debate over the court still rages.
    The International Criminal Court was created to bring justice to the world’s worst war criminals, but debate over the court still rages.

    Backgrounder by Mariel Ferragamo and Claire Klobucista March 27, 2025

  • Taiwan

    Why China-Taiwan Relations Are So Tense
    Differences over Taiwan’s status have fueled rising tensions between the island and mainland. Taiwan is the likeliest potential flash point in U.S.-China relations.
    Differences over Taiwan’s status have fueled rising tensions between the island and mainland. Taiwan is the likeliest potential flash point in U.S.-China relations.

    Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland and Clara Fong March 19, 2025

In Briefs
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  • Yemen

    Iran’s Support of the Houthis: What to Know
    Iranian support has boosted the military prowess of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, helping them project force into the Red Sea. Ramped up U.S.-led attacks on the group raise the prospect of military escalation with Iran.
    Iranian support has boosted the military prowess of Yemen’s Houthi rebels, helping them project force into the Red Sea. Ramped up U.S.-led attacks on the group raise the prospect of military escalation with Iran.

    In Brief by Kali Robinson March 24, 2025

  • Palestinian Territories

    The UN’s Palestinian Aid Controversy: What’s at Stake

    The leading UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees faces severe funding cuts and suspended services, with huge consequences for millions of Palestinians. It remains enmeshed in controversy over accusations that some of its employees were involved in Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel.
    The leading UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees faces severe funding cuts and suspended services, with huge consequences for millions of Palestinians. It remains enmeshed in controversy over accusations that some of its employees were involved in Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel.

    In Brief by Christina Bouri March 6, 2025

  • Panama

    What’s Causing the Panama Canal Logjam
    Low water levels have led to a traffic jam at one of the world’s busiest maritime passages. The bottleneck demonstrates how accelerating climate change is threatening global supply chains.
    Low water levels have led to a traffic jam at one of the world’s busiest maritime passages. The bottleneck demonstrates how accelerating climate change is threatening global supply chains.

    In Brief by Diana Roy September 29, 2023

  • Western Sahara

    What Does the Western Sahara Conflict Mean for Africa?
    After a decades-long cease-fire crumbled in 2020, Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front have resumed fighting over the disputed Western Sahara.
    After a decades-long cease-fire crumbled in 2020, Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front have resumed fighting over the disputed Western Sahara.

    In Brief by Esther Sun December 18, 2024

Podcasts
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  • Podcast

    Germany

    Germany's Rearmament, With Sophia Besch
    Sophia Besch, a senior fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Germany’s ambitious rearmament plans amidst deepening concerns about the U.S. commitment to European security.
    Sophia Besch, a senior fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Germany’s ambitious rearmament plans amidst deepening concerns about the U.S. commitment to European security.

    Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Sophia Besch April 1, 2025 The President’s Inbox

  • Podcast

    Biotechnology

    Unlocking Biotech’s Potential
    In this episode of The Interconnect, Stanford University Professor of Bioengineering Drew Endy and CFR Senior Fellow for Global Health Luciana Borio discuss the future of U.S. biomanufacturing and how biotechnology innovations—including bioluminescent plants and next-gen vaccines—are becoming more a part of daily life.
    In this episode of The Interconnect, Stanford University Professor of Bioengineering Drew Endy and CFR Senior Fellow for Global Health Luciana Borio discuss the future of U.S. biomanufacturing and how biotechnology innovations—including bioluminescent plants and next-gen vaccines—are becoming more a part of daily life.

    Podcast with Martin Giles, Luciana L. Borio and Drew Endy March 27, 2025 The Interconnect

  • Podcast

    Sanctions

    The New Era of Economic Warfare, With Edward Fishman
    Edward Fishman, senior research scholar and adjunct professor at Columbia University and author of Chokepoints: American Power in an Age of Economic Warfare, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the United States’ expanded use of financial and trade sanctions in recent years and whether they have enabled Washington to accomplish its foreign policy objectives.
    Edward Fishman, senior research scholar and adjunct professor at Columbia University and author of Chokepoints: American Power in an Age of Economic Warfare, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the United States’ expanded use of financial and trade sanctions in recent years and whether they have enabled Washington to accomplish its foreign policy objectives.

    Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Edward Fishman March 25, 2025 The President’s Inbox

Special Projects
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Videos
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    United States

    Foreign Policy in the 2024 Election: CFR on Campus
    As part of our Election 2024 initiative exploring the role of the United States in the world, how international affairs issues affect voters, and what is at stake as voters make their choices in November, CFR visited colleges and universities in four battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—to hold public forums with top experts on international issues and how they influence the lives of Americans. Our nonpartisan conversations, co-hosted with Arizona State University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Grand Valley State University, and Franklin & Marshall College covered the U.S. role in the world, the trade-offs presented by different policy options both locally and globally, and context on the international issues, choices, and challenges facing the next president.
    As part of our Election 2024 initiative exploring the role of the United States in the world, how international affairs issues affect voters, and what is at stake as voters make their choices in November, CFR visited colleges and universities in four battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania—to hold public forums with top experts on international issues and how they influence the lives of Americans. Our nonpartisan conversations, co-hosted with Arizona State University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Grand Valley State University, and Franklin & Marshall College covered the U.S. role in the world, the trade-offs presented by different policy options both locally and globally, and context on the international issues, choices, and challenges facing the next president.

    Explainer Video November 1, 2024

  • Play

    China

    Ten Most Significant World Events in 2023
    2023 was a tumultuous year, marked by violent conflicts, democratic erosion, and record-high temperatures. This year, experts at the Council on Foreign Relations, along with visiting world leaders and thinkers, unpacked these issues and more. Join CFR’s director of studies, Jim Lindsay, in looking back at his list of the ten most impactful events of the year.  
    2023 was a tumultuous year, marked by violent conflicts, democratic erosion, and record-high temperatures. This year, experts at the Council on Foreign Relations, along with visiting world leaders and thinkers, unpacked these issues and more. Join CFR’s director of studies, Jim Lindsay, in looking back at his list of the ten most impactful events of the year.  

    Explainer Video December 7, 2023

  • Play

    Taiwan

    The Stakes for Taiwan's Diplomacy in Three Questions
    Taiwan's relationship with the United States, China, and the rest of the world has a complex history that informs why the island is so consequential to today's geopolitics. To better understand these dynamics, David Sacks, CFR's fellow for Asia studies, answers questions about Taiwan's history and its significance to diplomacy in East Asia. For more on the relationship between the United States, China, and Taiwan, check out the Council on Foreign Relations–sponsored Independent Task Force, "U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era". cfr.org/us-taiwan
    Taiwan's relationship with the United States, China, and the rest of the world has a complex history that informs why the island is so consequential to today's geopolitics. To better understand these dynamics, David Sacks, CFR's fellow for Asia studies, answers questions about Taiwan's history and its significance to diplomacy in East Asia. For more on the relationship between the United States, China, and Taiwan, check out the Council on Foreign Relations–sponsored Independent Task Force, "U.S.-Taiwan Relations in a New Era". cfr.org/us-taiwan

    Explainer Video with Jeremy Sherlick and David Sacks August 16, 2023

  • Play

    Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    How Artificial Intelligence Could Change the World
    Artificial Intelligence (AI) could transform economies, politics, and everyday life. Some experts believe this increasingly powerful technology could lead to amazing advances and prosperity. Yet, many tech and industry leaders are warning that AI poses substantial risks, and they are calling for a moratorium on AI research so that safety measures can be established. But amid mounting great-power competition, it’s unclear whether national governments will be able to coordinate on regulating this technology that offers so many economic and strategic opportunities.
    Artificial Intelligence (AI) could transform economies, politics, and everyday life. Some experts believe this increasingly powerful technology could lead to amazing advances and prosperity. Yet, many tech and industry leaders are warning that AI poses substantial risks, and they are calling for a moratorium on AI research so that safety measures can be established. But amid mounting great-power competition, it’s unclear whether national governments will be able to coordinate on regulating this technology that offers so many economic and strategic opportunities.

    Explainer Video with Noah Berman, James Long and Thamine Nayeem May 25, 2023

InfoGuides
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Timelines
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  • Public Health Threats and Pandemics

    Major Pandemics of the Modern Era
    For more than a century, countries have wrestled with how to improve international cooperation in the face of major outbreaks of infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the world to a near halt in 2020 and killed nearly seven million people, underscored the urgency.
    For more than a century, countries have wrestled with how to improve international cooperation in the face of major outbreaks of infectious diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the world to a near halt in 2020 and killed nearly seven million people, underscored the urgency.

    Timeline by Claire Klobucista and Mariel Ferragamo March 10, 2025

  • India

    U.S.-India Relations
    Since India’s independence, ties with the United States have weathered Cold War–era distrust and estrangement over India’s nuclear program. Relations have warmed in recent years and cooperation has strengthened across a range of economic and political areas.
    Since India’s independence, ties with the United States have weathered Cold War–era distrust and estrangement over India’s nuclear program. Relations have warmed in recent years and cooperation has strengthened across a range of economic and political areas.

    Timeline by Lindsay Maizland, Eleanor Albert and Beina Xu February 25, 2025

  • Ukraine

    Ukraine’s Struggle for Independence in Russia’s Shadow
    Ukraine has shown resilience and perseverance despite facing multiple challenges—most notably Russian interference—since it achieved independence in 1991. Russia’s threats have culminated in the annexation of Crimea and Europe’s biggest land battle in eighty years.
    Ukraine has shown resilience and perseverance despite facing multiple challenges—most notably Russian interference—since it achieved independence in 1991. Russia’s threats have culminated in the annexation of Crimea and Europe’s biggest land battle in eighty years.

    Timeline by CFR.org Editors February 21, 2025

  • Colombia

    U.S.-Colombia Relations
    Over the two centuries since Colombia’s independence, the relationship between Washington and Bogotá has evolved into a close economic and security partnership. But it has at times been strained by U.S. intervention, Cold War geopolitics, and the war on drugs.
    Over the two centuries since Colombia’s independence, the relationship between Washington and Bogotá has evolved into a close economic and security partnership. But it has at times been strained by U.S. intervention, Cold War geopolitics, and the war on drugs.

    Timeline by Diana Roy January 27, 2025