Danny Russel quoted in The Nation article, “How Trump’s Foreign Policy Puts Troops at Risk of Covid-19”

"The coronavirus will likewise severely damage the economy. Daniel Russel, a former US diplomat who served as the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs until 2017, told The Nation that while pandemics have a devastating initial effect on public health, a brutal second wave can come in the form of an economic downturn—particularly in developing countries like Iran. "'I ran the Asia Bureau in the State Department, and I was constantly reminding people that no matter how [...]

2020-04-24T10:57:01-04:00April 22, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Dennis Ross writes in New York Daily News: “Will the Coronavirus Crisis Finally Lead Us Away from America First?”

"COVID-19 is forcing us to reimagine what life will be like going forward. Can it be a wake-up call for the costs of going it alone internationally? While debate over the scope of change domestically is a given, it is remarkable how little is being discussed about our approach internationally. "Even before COVID-19, America’s role in the world hardly figured in this year’s political debate. True, there were criticisms of President Trump’s readiness to berate our traditional allies while lauding Vladimir [...]

Dan Shapiro quoted in Foreign Policy article, “How the Coronavirus Saved Netanyahu’s Political Career”

"'[Netanyahu] has received fairly high marks from the public for his handling of the crisis because of the relatively low number of fatalities and the fact that the hospitals have not been overwhelmed,' said Daniel Shapiro, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel. 'It may be harder to sustain that support if there is a second wave, or if the economic recovery proves difficult. But for now, he has benefited from it...'" Read the full article here: Full Article

2020-04-24T10:52:14-04:00April 21, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Michèle Flournoy participates in Chatham House virtual roundtable, “US Global Leadership After COVID-19”

"The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the absence of US global leadership. Michèle Flournoy talks with Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri about the impact of COVID-19 on US domestic priorities and foreign policy commitments. "Flournoy discusses current US strategy towards China and the Middle East and how this might change under a Democratic administration..." Watch the full event here: Full Event

Mike Singh quoted in Arab News article, “WHO’s to Blame? World Health Organization Under Scrutiny Over Its Handling of Coronavirus”

"Michael Singh, managing director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said there was a firm consensus in the US capital that China failed to act on early indications of a brewing outbreak, and even took steps to suppress the information. “'While other governments were also slow in marshaling their responses, China’s failure is singular in that it may have cost the world the chance to avert this pandemic altogether by halting the virus spread before it began,' he told [...]

2020-04-24T10:55:41-04:00April 17, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Dennis Ross quoted in the Jerusalem Post article, “Will U.S. Presidential Candidates Care About the Middle East Peace Process?”

“'[Middle East policy] will not figure prominently,' Dennis Ross, a former special assistant to president Barack Obama, and now William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute, told the Post. 'COVID-19 and the economic realities will be the preoccupation [of this election cycle],' he predicted. “'Foreign policy, in general, will factor in, as it relates to getting broader control over the virus and the prospects for economic recovery,' he noted. 'Demand for oil will remain depressed, reducing the public’s interest in [...]

2020-04-24T11:13:50-04:00April 17, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Julie Smith quoted in Der Spiegel article, “How Trump Is Fueling a Corona Disaster”

"'Trump has systematically bled the government dry,' says Julianne Smith, who served as deputy national security adviser to Joe Biden when he was vice president. Trump has failed to fill many important positions in the government or he has dissolved them altogether. In one particularly disastrous move, he abolished the pandemic task force in the National Security Council that President Barack Obama set up after the Ebola outbreak in West Africa..." Read the full article here: Full Article

Michael Camilleri writes with Michael Shifter in The New York Times: “It’s Not the Time for War Games With Venezuela”

"With last week’s significant deployment of United States naval assets in the Caribbean, the Trump administration upped the ante in its confrontation with the Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. For the past 15 months, the administration has applied 'maximum pressure' on Mr. Maduro’s regime, with the hope that the upper echelons of the military — the regime’s main pillar of support — would fracture and trigger a return to democracy. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to [...]

Dennis Ross writes in New York Daily News: “Coronavirus Proves America First Is the Wrong Answer to Today’s Global Challenges”

"COVID-19 does not respect the powerful, the wealthy or borders. It attacks every country and every individual. No one is immune or has immunity until they have been afflicted with it. On the one hand, we are reminded that humanity is the target and 'we are all in this together.' On the other, individuals or nations can choose to hoard, protecting themselves first. Both realities exist today. "It will take time to emerge from this crisis, especially because we will likely [...]

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