James Stavridis

Operating Executive, The Carlyle Group

Admiral James Stavridis is an operating executive at the Carlyle Group and chair of the board of counselors at McLarty Associates. A retired four-star admiral, Stavridis led the NATO Alliance in global operations as supreme allied commander, from 2009 to 2013, focused on Afghanistan, Libya, the Balkans, Syria, piracy, and cybersecurity. Earlier, he was commander of the U.S. Southern Command, from 2006 to 2009, responsible for Latin America.

Admiral Stavridis has published eight books and hundreds of articles in leading journals. He is a monthly columnist for Time magazine and chief international security analyst for NBC News. He has received more than fifty medals, twenty-eight of those from foreign nations. Admiral Stavridis holds a PhD in international relations from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

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.

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.

Backgrounder by Mariel Ferragamo and Claire Klobucista March 27, 2025

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.

In Brief by Kali Robinson March 24, 2025

Top Stories on CFR

Trade

Here’s How Countries Are Retaliating Against Trump’s Tariffs
Trade retaliation looms from Canada, China, Mexico, and the European Union in response to U.S. tariffs. Four timelines lay out their responses, and the experience of American soybean farmers in 2018 shows how damaging this could be. 

Article by Christopher Shim and Will Merrow March 21, 2025 RealEcon

United States

The Long, Proud History of Women in the Military

Women in the military have been removed from the Department of Defense and Arlington Memorial Cemetery's websites: why this is happening and how it can be reversed.

Post by Linda Robinson March 27, 2025 Women Around the World

United States

Mar-a-Lago Accord Is Not a Recipe for Success
The Mar-a-Lago Accord refers to a blueprint from one of President Trump’s top advisors that would mark an inflection point for the global economic order—but it is unlikely to get the cross-border coordination required to succeed.

Article by Rebecca Patterson March 26, 2025 Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies