Why Ukraine Will Get Its Debt Restructured
Push is quickly coming to shove over Ukraine’s $35 billion in government debt, $23 billion of which must be either paid or restructured in June. This is a must-watch for its wider implications. The question is stark: Who is going…
Kerry-Putin Talks Could Deliver a Global Surprise
At 8:12 a.m. last Tuesday, Secretary of State Kerry Tweeted from Sochi, the Black Sea resort, with this mind-blower: “Had frank discussions with President #Putin& FM #Lavrov on key issues including #IranTalks, #Syria, #Ukraine.” In 140 characters and a photograph,…
The Tory Victory Puts Cameron in the UK Hot Seat
The resounding victory in British elections last week giving Conservatives their first absolute majority in the House of Commons for almost two decades is the last thing Britain needs now. This is not a straight-out political judgment regretting Labor’s defeat…
The Abe-Obama Trans-Pacific Trade Deal Is in Trouble
The Trans-Pacific Partnership, until recently background noise for many Americans, is about to become another field of battle in Washington. As of last week, when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe concluded an unusually long state visit, we’re on notice: This…
The Global Immigration Crisis Is Changing the Face of Europe
A rickety, overcrowded ship sinks in the Mediterranean and the long-festering problem of illegal migrants crossing into southern Europe is suddenly an emergency. The Financial Times calls the human flow into the European Union “one of the most serious challenges…
Obama’s Deals with Cuba, Iran, TPP Split Congress
Ia single week, two interesting Congressional bills caught my attention. On Tuesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted unanimously to send a bill to the floor requiring President Obama to subject any deal reached with Iran governing its nuclear program…
Why Greece Should Consider a Eurozone ‘Grexit’
Slower than a roller coaster but faster than a glacier, Europe advances toward a denouement on the Greek questions—and there are several at this point. Fearful of the answers, Europeans are doing what they seem to do best, which is…
Obama’s Good First Step in Iran Leaves More to be Done
Plenty of work remains, and there is plenty of arguing to do, before a final accord governing Iran’s nuclear program can be concluded by the June deadline diplomats have set. Let both proceed: This deal is as historic as the…
Obama’s Middle East Mess and How to Clean It Up
“I think what we’re seeing is a rerun of the Iran/Iraq war” Kerry said, “We have to negotiate with Assad.” Yes that Assad. The U.S. Backs Sunnis, no Shiites, no Saudis, no Iranians…Huh? This has to be a singular moment…
China’s New Development Bank: How Obama Blew It in the Pacific (Again)
When China launched a new multilateral lending institution last October amid fanfare in the Great Hall of the People, the Obama administration had already spent many months opposing it. It urged Beijing not to go forward; then it lobbied allies…
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