Brookings is reporting on several key foreign policy issues, including the potential for U.S. and European cooperation in the Middle East. Philip H. Gordon argues that President Donald J Trump may recognize the benefits of allied support in Gaza and Iran, suggesting Europe should be prepared for such a moment.
On Taiwan, Lev Nachman and Wei-Ting Yen reveal through survey data that partisanship significantly influences nearly every aspect of contemporary Taiwanese politics, from cross-Strait relations to defense spending and perceptions of the United States.
Lynn Kuok warns that the Strait of Hormuz serves as a cautionary tale for the Indo-Pacific. Kuok states that without a sustained defense of transit rights and freedom of the seas, similar dynamics could unfold in the Indo-Pacific region.
Regarding China, Michael Poznansky and Michael E. O'Hanlon suggest that Beijing is unlikely to interpret an Iran war as a green light for a large-scale invasion or blockade of Taiwan. They warn that smaller-scale aggressive activities are more probable, noting reports of China accelerating artificial island construction in the South China Sea while global attention is focused on Iran.
A new book, "War at Arm's Length," by Richard Bennet and Alexander Noyes, offers a systematic look at military assistance in the 21st century. It addresses the mixed reputation of such aid, driven by past failures in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Vietnam, while asserting its continued importance to U.S. strategy.
Additionally, The Beijing Brief podcast discussed what Beijing gained from the May 15 Trump-Xi summit, with Ryan Hass, Patricia Kim, Kyle Chan, and Jon Czin unpacking the implications for the U.S.-China relationship.