U.S. Policy

If Washington wants to counter destabilizing Iranian activities and guard against a radical Islamic State successor, it must work with European and Arab partners.

Two experts distill key points from their Mediterranean Advisory Group meeting on Russian policy in the Middle East and surrounding regions.

The more the regime believes that its foreign adventures threaten its internal foundations, the more likely it will be to temper its behavior.

If taken as a whole, the document supports a largely traditional brand of U.S. foreign policy, but many elements of it could be used to justify a very different approach to the world.

Clear evidence exists of Iranian arms smuggling to the Houthis, but the United States and its allies must get better and faster at sharing intelligence with the UN if they expect to garner more international support for border controls and sanctions.

When it comes to U.S. policy on the Gulf and Iran, Washington should abandon any wrong-headed notions about resurrecting the pre-1979 security architecture.

As more congressional deadlines and international meetings pass with no robust efforts to address the JCPOA's flaws, the chances of the Trump administration terminating the deal grow.

Any plans to end arms transfers to the SDF must be handled carefully if Washington hopes to prevent an Islamic State resurgence, alleviate tensions with Turkey, preserve a valuable local ally, and curb Iranian influence.

The challenge for the president is clear: acknowledge the de facto reality, but don't take a position on the city's final status.