Foreign Affairs Interview
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Conversations on the ideas shaping global politics from Foreign Affairs.
Episodes
- When Two Superpowers Meet: A Conversation With Nicholas Burns
Nicholas Burns, former ambassador to China, joins Foreign Affairs Interview to discuss the upcoming meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping. The conversation covers key issues including trade, technology, Iran, Taiwan, and Ukraine, and examin…
- Trump, Putin, and Genghis Khan: A Conversation With Fiona Hill
Fiona Hill discusses leaders like Trump and Putin, their ambitions, and their impact on global order. The conversation also covers the wars in Ukraine and Iran, and the future of American power.
- Learning to Live With a Nuclear North Korea
This episode of Foreign Affairs Interview features Victor Cha discussing the failures of past U.S. policy toward North Korea. He proposes a new strategy for managing a nuclear North Korea, advocating for a "cold peace" rather than denuclea…
- Is America Losing the High Ground?
Jake Sullivan, former U.S. National Security Advisor, discusses the geopolitical challenges facing the United States, including conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, U.S.-Chinese competition, and the impact of AI on foreign policy. He shares insi…
- How the Iran War Is Shaping a Post-American World
This episode of Foreign Affairs Interview discusses how the Iran War is shaping a post-American world. It covers the global energy crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the receding of American power due to the conflict.
- Will the Cease-Fire With Iran Hold?
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a temporary cease-fire with Iran. Foreign Affairs Executive Editor Justin Vogt spoke with Suzanne Maloney, vice president of the Brookings Institution, about the cease-fire and its potential implicatio…
- America in a World of Upheaval
In this episode, William Burns, former CIA director, discusses the current global landscape, including wars in Europe and the Middle East, and U.S.-Chinese tensions. He shares his insights on what these developments mean for American power…
- Are Europe and the United States Finally Heading For Divorce?
This episode of Foreign Affairs Interview explores the strained relationship between Europe and the United States. It examines Europe's dilemma in responding to US policies, particularly concerning the war in Iran and its economic ramifica…
- How Strong Are Iran’s Strongmen?
This episode of the Foreign Affairs Interview discusses the strength of Iran’s authoritarian regime. Historian Stephen Kotkin examines how these regimes function, survive, and what their weaknesses are, particularly in the context of regim…
- Iran’s Tenacious Regime and the Future of the Gulf
This episode of Foreign Affairs Interview discusses the conflict involving U.S., Israeli, and Iranian forces. Experts analyze the war's impact on the Iranian regime and the wider Gulf region.
- America’s War of Choice on Iran
This episode of Foreign Affairs Interview discusses the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the subsequent retaliation. Experts analyze the situation, considering the motivations behind the strikes and the potential for wider confl…
- America the Predatory Hegemon
Stephen Walt, a Harvard professor of international relations, describes Donald Trump's foreign policy as "predatory hegemony." He argues that this approach, characterized by tariffs and military threats, aims to extract concessions from ot…
- Bonus: Is There an Endgame in Ukraine?
Four years after Russia's full-scale invasion, this episode of Foreign Affairs Interview explores the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Michael Kofman provides analysis on the current state of the war and its potential developments in the comin…
- Can America’s Allies Survive the Transatlantic Rupture?
Chrystia Freeland and Dan Kurtz-Phelan discuss how America's allies can navigate transatlantic relations. They explore negotiating with the Trump administration and the role of Ukraine in the alliance.
- The Myths and Realities of Global Migration
This episode of The Foreign Affairs Interview discusses global migration, highlighting the increase in migrants and the inadequacy of current systems to manage these flows. It explores the political and humanitarian challenges arising from…
- How to Navigate the Shifting International Order
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Dan Kurtz-Phelan discuss the shifting international order. They cover topics such as geopolitical challenges, the future of alliances, and the potential breakdown of the multilateral system.
- Is China Leaving the United States Behind?
Jonathan Czin, former CIA analyst and NSC director for China, analyzes Beijing's diplomatic successes and challenges under Xi Jinping amidst U.S. policy shifts. He discusses China's response to Trump 2.0 and the ongoing U.S.-Chinese rivalr…
- The Erosion of the Sources of American Economic Power
Lael Brainard discusses the long-term implications of Donald Trump's economic policies, including tariffs and challenges to the dollar's role, on U.S. power and prosperity.
- What Kind of Change Is Coming to Iran?
Karim Sadjadpour discusses the recent protests in Iran, the repressive nature and potential downfall of the current regime, and the possibilities and limitations of US intervention.
- What Comes Next in Venezuela
This episode discusses the aftermath of the US raid in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro, exploring the internal dynamics, the role of the new president, and the history and future of US policy in the region.
- How the Past Shadows China’s Future
Historian Odd Arne Westad analyzes how China's past influences its present foreign policy and role as a great power. He discusses potential paths to conflict, including war with the United States, and lessons from history for averting such…
- How Liberal Democracy Can Survive an Age of Spiraling Crises
Daron Acemoglu, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, joins Kanishk Tharoor to discuss the pervasive crisis facing liberal democracy, marked by economic inequalities and declining public trust. They also explore the impact of advanced technolog…
- The Fear and Weakness at the Heart of Trump’s Strategy
Kori Schake, a former NSC and State Department official, argues that the Trump administration's National Security Strategy is based on faulty assumptions and misunderstands American power, potentially alienating allies and destabilizing th…
- America Can’t Escape the Multipolar Order
Emma Ashford argues that US foreign policy must adapt to a multipolar world, moving away from past unipolar strategies. She discusses how current administrations grapple with these changes and proposes embracing multipolarity for future US…
- The Limits of the American Way of AI
Ben Buchanan, a scholar involved in the Biden administration's AI strategy, expresses concern in Foreign Affairs that the U.S. approach to developing artificial intelligence is reaching its limits, potentially eroding U.S. dominance in the…
- The Age-Old Contest Between Land and Sea
S. C. M. Paine argues that today's great-power competition is rooted in the historical tension between maritime powers, which rely on trade and promote order, and continental powers, which focus on territorial control. Paine notes that the…
- The Strength of Trump’s Foreign Policy
Robert O’Brien, Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, discusses the thinking behind Trump's foreign policy objectives and assumptions regarding China, Ukraine, and the Middle East. O'Brien also addresses the continuity and chang…
- Xi Jinping’s World of Treachery and Sacrifice
Orville Schell, a prominent China observer, analyzes the U.S.-Chinese rivalry and Xi Jinping's remaking of the Chinese state. He discusses power struggles and sacrifice within the Chinese Communist Party in an interview with Dan Kurtz-Phel…
- The Crack-Up of American Democracy
Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar examines Donald Trump's expansive use of presidential power in his second term, analyzing which actions are policy shifts and which threaten the American system. Cuéllar believes checks and balances in courts, fe…
- America’s Two-State Delusion
Robert Malley argues that the US insistence on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a failure, leading to destabilization in the region. In an interview with Dan Kurtz-Phelan, Malley critiques decades of US Mid…
- Will the War in Gaza Really End?
This episode discusses the tentative cease-fire in Gaza, analyzing the progress of Phase One of Donald Trump’s plan, including hostage and prisoner exchanges and aid delivery. It also explores the uncertainties of Phase Two, focusing on go…
- The Reeducation of Russia’s Military
Dara Massicot discusses Russia’s military performance in Ukraine, noting its surprising resiliency and capacity to learn and adapt. She argues that the Russian military will gain extensive combat experience and develop a future vision of w…
- Xi Jinping's Successor and the Future of China
The Foreign Affairs Interview episode explores the question of political succession in China following Xi Jinping's consolidation of power. Experts Tyler Jost and Daniel Mattingly discuss how the uncertainty surrounding succession is alrea…
- Poland’s View From the Frontline of Europe
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski spoke with Dan Kurtz-Phelan about the threat from Russia, Poland’s position on Europe’s frontline, and the shifting geopolitical landscape. The discussion occurred on September 24 in New York during t…
- Is America Ready for the Age of Cyber Warfare?
The "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack exposed significant Chinese infiltration into US telecommunications, highlighting American vulnerabilities in national security. Anne Neuberger warns of increasing risks from sophisticated cyber threats, espe…
- The World That Tariffs Will Make
Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, analyzes the impact of Donald Trump's "America First" trade policies, arguing that the global economic order has been irrevocably changed and a new system based on rules, not a…
- Can Israel Save Itself?
Former Israeli Navy commander Ami Ayalon argues that Israel's failure to plan for the
- The Rise of the Economic Security State
Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman explain the concept of "weaponized interdependence," where the US has exploited global networks for strategic advantage. They argue that other nations, like China, are now doing the same, leading to a major…
- Why Is America Going It Alone?
Historian Margaret MacMillan analyzes Donald Trump's unprecedented challenges to U.S. alliances, arguing it acts against American interests. She discusses the normalization of conquest, the war in Ukraine, and the future of U.S. alliances.
- Best of: Is the World Ready for the Population Bust?
Senior Editor Kanishk Tharoor discusses the global decline in fertility rates and the onset of depopulation with political economist Nicholas Eberstadt. They examine how changing demographic trends may reshape societies, economies, and geo…
- Best Of: What Drives Putin and Xi
Dan Kurtz-Phelan speaks with historians Stephen Kotkin and Orville Schell about the driving forces behind Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, comparing their global influence to that of Mao and Stalin.
- The Uncertain Future of U.S. Relations With India
Ashley J. Tellis argues in Foreign Affairs that India should align with the US to counter China, rather than pursuing multipolarity. Critics Nirupama Rao and Dhruva Jaishankar debate this stance, discussing India's foreign policy and the f…
- Joseph Nye and the End of the American Century
Robert Keohane reflects on the legacy of Joseph Nye, a prominent figure in American foreign policy known for coining "soft power" and co-authoring "Power and Interdependence." Keohane discusses Nye's contributions and their implications fo…
- The Coming Nuclear Hurricane
Vipin Narang and Pranay Vaddi discuss the alarming return of nuclear concerns, citing arms control failures, China's arsenal growth, Putin's threats, and increased proliferation risks. They argue nuclear strategy must be central to US fore…
- Preparing for the World After Trump
Rebecca Lissner and Mira Rapp-Hooper argue in Foreign Affairs that Donald Trump's second term has fundamentally altered American foreign policy and the global order, necessitating a new approach to leadership and international relations.
- What a Stronger Europe Means for America
Celeste Wallander discusses the significant increase in European defense spending and its implications for the transatlantic alliance. She warns that a more capable Europe will also be more independent, potentially challenging U.S. priorit…
- How Weak Is Iran?
This episode of The Foreign Affairs Interview discusses the recent US-Iran conflict, analyzing its escalation, de-escalation, and the implications for Iran, Israel, and the United States. Experts offer insights into Iran's nuclear ambition…
- Iran, Israel, and the Middle East in Tumult
Philip Gordon analyzes the recent escalation between Iran and Israel, discussing the dangers and the role of U.S. policy in preventing a wider conflict. Gordon, an expert on the Middle East and former U.S. policy practitioner, shares insig…
- What Trump Gets Wrong About the Global Economy
In this Foreign Affairs Interview, economist Adam Posen discusses his essay "Trade Wars Are Easy to Lose," arguing that the U.S. has a weaker hand than the Trump administration believes in the trade war with China. Posen explains that Chin…
- Another China Is Possible
In this Foreign Affairs Interview, Rana Mitter examines the flawed U.S. predictions about China's political and international trajectory. He argues that assuming China's current path is fixed is foolish, as "Another China remains possible,…