While the U.S. remains the world's strongest military and economic power, its place and role on the international stage is shifting. There are potentially dramatic implications for international peace and security from a U.S. foreign policy that is increasingly inward-looking, less predictable, less multilateral, and more reliant on the threat or use of military force to achieve its objectives. In 2017, Crisis Group established its first program dedicated to analysing U.S. policy, understanding who makes and shapes it, and offering recommendations to help guide its trajectory.
The U.S. constitution divides war powers between the executive and legislative branches, so as to ensure that decisions about using force are collective and deliberative. Lawmakers’ role has receded, however, particularly in recent decades. Small steps would help them start reclaiming their prerogatives.
Cameroon Israel/Palestine Brazil Peru India-Pakistan (Kashmir) Pakistan Democratic Republic of Congo Rwanda
Ethiopia
Central African Republic
None
Whenever the American forces there [in Syria] are attacked, the question arises again: Why are they there?
The U.S. has traditionally seen Africa as a problem to be solved, but its competitors see Africa as a place of opportunity, which is why they are pulling ahead.
If U.S. democracy looks like it is back on life support, I think you'll see even good friends of the U.S. start to edge away from Washington on democracy issues.
The US-Saudi relationship has gone through periods of intense strain before, but in my view the current low point represents a crack but not a rupture.
Despite President Biden’s campaign promise to end the forever wars, Somalia remains one of the most active areas in the world for U.S. counterterrorism operations.
Egypt is something of a special case vis-a-vis the West because of both its robust relations with Russia and being a key US partner in the Middle East.
From the Baltic Republics to Crimea, Washington has opposed forcible annexation—and the Golan Heights should be no exception.
Washington Can Help Broker a Lasting Peace
Designating Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism will only backfire.
In a 4 October hearing before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. House of Representatives, Crisis Group Senior Analyst Delaney Simon spoke about the impact of sanctions on efforts to prevent and end armed conflict.
This week on Hold Your Fire! Richard Atwood speaks with Crisis Group’s Asia Director Laurel Miller about U.S. policy in Afghanistan, the Taliban’s foreign relations and what the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in the Afghan capital Kabul says about the threat from transnational militants in Afghanistan a year into Taliban rule.
As Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on, and reports of atrocities mount, many are calling on the U.S. to list the Kremlin as a state sponsor of terrorism. The costs of this risky step would greatly outweigh any benefits.
Receive the best source of conflict analysis right in your inbox.
This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Review our privacy policy for more details.