Alexandra Sharp
@alexandrassharp.bsky.social
World Brief writer @foreignpolicy.com | Chicago pride | She/Her/Hers | Send tips to: alexandra.sharp@foreignpolicy.com
Russian missile strikes expose Ukraine’s Patriot interceptor shortage. Kyiv blames allies’ reluctance to help for its diminished arsenal. foreignpolicy.com/2026/08/05/u...
Ukraine’s Deadly Missile Defense Shortage
Kyiv has run out of Patriot interceptors, but allies remain reluctant to supply more.
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Qatari mediators confirm that the United States and Iran are actively negotiating a peace deal to end the monthslong conflict. foreignpolicy.com/2026/08/04/i...
Iran’s ‘Last Chance’ for Peace Talks
Qatar confirms that indirect U.S.-Iran negotiations are making progress.
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Tehran denies engaging in direct peace talks with Washington, a day after the White House cancels military strikes on Iran. foreignpolicy.com/2026/08/03/u...
Iran Denies Peace Talks After the United States Cancels Military Strikes
Trump’s “imminent” deal remains elusive.
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Around 60,000 people from Morocco surged into the tiny Spanish exclave of Ceuta, sparking a migrant crisis with EU repercussions. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/31/s...
Spain Records Unprecedented Migrant Crossing
Some 60,000 people from Morocco surged into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta.
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NATO accuses Russia of firing a missile into Polish airspace, once again raising fears that the Russia-Ukraine war could spill into neighboring countries. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/30/p...
NATO Says Russian Missile Violated Polish Airspace
Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that Moscow’s “reckless” actions risk spreading the Ukraine war.
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Joint U.S.-Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq risk adding a new front to the rapidly expanding Iran war. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/29/u...
U.S.-Saudi Strikes Add a New Front to the Iran War
Iraqi militias backed by Tehran are the latest targets in the ever-expanding conflict.
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U.S. President Donald Trump attempts to juggle two massive conflicts in one day, separately hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/28/t...
Trump’s Diplomatic Doubleheader
The leaders of Ukraine and Israel both came to Washington to curry U.S. favor.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is finally getting his White House meeting, and the stakes are higher than ever before. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/27/n...
What to Expect at the Trump-Netanyahu Showdown
Once close allies, the two leaders are at odds on the Iran war.
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From strategic fortresses to economic powerhouses, here are the nine most consequential islands in Iran’s arsenal—and what a U.S. military campaign could conceivably achieve. An @foreignpolicy.com explainer! foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/27/i...
Iran’s Arsenal Starts With Its Islands
From strategic fortresses to economic powerhouses, Iran’s islands may be the key to any full-scale invasion. Here’s a guide to Tehran’s nine most consequential territories.
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U.S. President Donald Trump imposes sweeping tariffs on 60 U.S. trading partners, igniting fierce foreign condemnation. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/24/u...
Trump Swaps Out Tariffs for Even More Tariffs
Foreign leaders accuse the White House of using forced labor allegations as a smokescreen for protectionist measures.
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Houthi attacks on Saudi shipping risk adding a new front to the Iran war, as U.S. President Donald Trump vows to hold Tehran responsible for the rebel group’s actions. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/23/h...
Is the Red Sea the New Hormuz Crisis?
Houthi attacks on Saudi shipping risk adding a new front to the Iran war.
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U.S. President Donald Trump approves a landmark nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia but forgoes requiring constraints on uranium enrichment. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/22/t...
Trump Approves Nuclear Deal With Saudi Arabia
But without “gold standard” constraints, the pact could allow Riyadh to eventually develop a warhead.
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Canada, Mexico, Brazil—and now, the world. The United States is preparing to impose new sweeping tariffs on dozens of economies. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/21/t...
Who Is Trump’s Next Tariff Target?
Trump’s latest protectionist measures will likely exacerbate trade tensions and reignite legal battles.
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Houthi rebels in Yemen declare a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. The move could increase pressure on already-strained global energy markets. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/20/h...
Houthis Declare a Naval Blockade on Saudi Arabia
The move could increase pressure on already-strained global energy markets.
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U.S. and Iranian forces widen their military operations, damaging civilian infrastructure. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/17/u...
U.S., Iranian Forces Target Civilian Infrastructure
Attacks on bridges, power plants, and desalination facilities could be considered war crimes.
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Thousands of people protest the dismissal of Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/16/u...
Zelensky’s Cabinet Reshuffle Sparks Public Outcry in Ukraine
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov was popular for his drone development push—but not enough to keep him in office.
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Russian forces escalate their Black Sea offensive, targeting major trade routes and deepwater ports in an effort to strain Ukraine’s economy. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/15/r...
Russia Shifts Its Focus to the Black Sea
Moscow is targeting trade routes and deepwater ports to strain Ukraine’s wartime economy.
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U.S. President Donald Trump scraps his 20 percent Strait of Hormuz toll in favor of Gulf investment deals. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/14/t...
Trump Pivots His Strait of Hormuz Strategy—Again
Pressure from Gulf leaders prompted Trump to abandon proposed tolls.
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U.S. President Donald Trump vows to charge a 20 percent toll on all commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz and to reimpose the U.S. military blockade on Iran. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/13/t...
Trump Is Taking a Page Out of Iran’s Playbook
The White House vows to charge all commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
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U.S. and Iranian forces return to the brink of all-out war, as intensifying strikes leave the future of peace talks uncertain. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/09/u...
U.S., Iran Return to the Brink of All-Out War
As both sides intensify strikes, future peace talks appear uncertain.
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U.S. President Donald Trump suggests that the cease-fire with Iran is over, calling peace talks a “waste of time” as strikes resume. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/08/u...
Is the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Over?
Trump calls continued peace talks a “waste of time” as strikes resume.
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Explosions in Damascus fail to shake French President Emmanuel Macron’s faith in Syria, as the French leader commits to bolstering ties with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/07/e...
Explosions in Damascus Won’t Shake Macron’s Faith in Sharaa
France remains committed to bolstering cooperation with Syria.
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It’s a precarious time for the world’s largest military alliance. Here’s what to expect at the 2026 NATO leaders’ summit. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/06/n...
What to Expect at the 2026 NATO Summit
It’s a precarious time for the world’s largest military alliance.
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Russia hammers Kyiv with a deadly missile and drone attack, killing at least 21 people and wounding more than 90 others. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/02/r...
Russia’s 11-Hour Assault on Kyiv
The deadly missile and drone bombardment was retaliation for recent Ukrainian attacks on critical Russian infrastructure.
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The United States decides not to renew its trilateral trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, instead opting to conduct annual reviews. foreignpolicy.com/2026/07/01/u...
USMCA Was Once Trump’s Brainchild. Now, It’s a Dead Deal Walking.
The White House hopes that annual reviews will curb the United States’ trade deficit with Mexico and Canada.
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Thousands of anti-immigrant demonstrators across South Africa are demanding that all undocumented migrants leave the country immediately. foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/30/s...
Anti-Immigrant Marches Held Across South Africa
Demonstrators had given undocumented migrants until Tuesday to self-deport or face consequences.
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The United States and Iran prepare to hold indirect talks in Qatar to discuss control over the Strait of Hormuz. While Tehran insists that it has sole authority over the waterway, Washington isn’t convinced. foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/29/u...
U.S., Iran Prepare for Talks on Strait of Hormuz
Tehran insists that it has sole authority over the waterway. Washington isn’t convinced.
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U.S. forces strike Iran in retaliation for recent Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/26/u...
U.S. Strikes Iran Over Attack on Hormuz Ship
Washington said Tehran violated the cease-fire.
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Thousands of people across Venezuela are feared dead after twin earthquakes devastate large parts of the country. foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/25/v...
Venezuela Reels From Twin Deadly Earthquakes
With thousands of people missing, the death toll is expected to rise.
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