International Affairs
Trump Defends Russian Diesel Deal as Bipartisan Criticism Mounts
A reported diesel deal under which Russia would supply more than 300,000 metric tons has drawn criticism from lawmakers in both parties, and President...
Trump Administration Expands Tariffs Under Alternative Trade Laws
A new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report outlines how the Trump administration has used alternative legal authorities to impose tariffs after a...
China Remains Key Source of Fentanyl Precursors Despite Controls
Since China's 2019 domestic controls curtailed almost all direct fentanyl shipments to the United States, China has become the primary source of the...
Congress Weighs El Salvador Immigration Policy Amid Human Rights Concerns
The status of more than 170,000 Salvadorans living in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) remains unresolved as Congress weighs...
Iran Conflict Exposes Gulf Security and Energy Vulnerabilities
The Iran conflict has exposed vulnerabilities in Gulf security and energy infrastructure while leaving the United States' military presence and partnerships...
Defense Industrial Base Falls Short of Allied Integration Goals
The United States and four allies have a shared framework for defense research and production, but analysts say it has not achieved the integration Congress...
U.S. Reports 81 Aircraft Lost or Damaged in Iran Operations
A new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report identifies 81 U.S. fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, including drones, reportedly lost or damaged in...
Senate Panel Grills 5 State Dept. Nominees on China, Sahel
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing Sept. 30 titled "Hearings to Examine Certain Pending Nominations," with five nominees listed as...
Senate Panel Warns of Narrowing Window on Nicaragua Crisis
The Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues...
Congress Enacts First Law Restricting U.S. Investment in China
Congress has enacted the first ever program to regulate investment in China. A Congressional Research Service (CRS) report published Oct. 1 examines the...
Southeast Asia Scam Centers Cost Americans $12.5B in 2025
Americans lost an estimated $12.5 billion in 2025 to online scam centers operating from Southeast Asia, and the problem is growing, according to a new...
UAE-U.S. Ties Tested by War, AI Deals, and Sudan Arms Concerns
U.S.-UAE relations are facing several simultaneous pressures. The UAE hosts U.S. forces, has purchased more than $33.5 billion in Foreign Military Sales...
Congress Examines Governance of US-Canada Shared Bodies of Water
What happens when an applicant violates an International Joint Commission (IJC) Order of Approval?
Senate Rejects Push for Report on Israel Human Rights Practices
The Senate this week rejected an effort to require the State Department to report on Israel's human rights practices and the killings of American citizens...
State Department Lacks Data On Decision Process For USAID Programs
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) terminated approximately 6,780 of 7,510 foreign assistance awards between January 2025 and March 2026,...
Senate Bill Targets Foreign Support Fueling Sudan's Civil War
A bipartisan Senate bill would expand U.S. sanctions, diplomatic efforts, and financial restrictions aimed at pressuring the warring parties and their...
Senate Bill Seeks Coordinated U.S. Strategy in South China Sea
The South China Sea Strategy Act would require the State Department to develop a formal U.S. diplomatic strategy for the South China Sea as Washington seeks...
Iran's Nuclear Compliance Can No Longer Be Independently Verified
Iran nuclear program compliance can no longer be independently confirmed after United States and Israeli strikes broke inspection continuity, according to a...