America’s European allies are caught in the crosshairs, struggling to hang together while calculating their response to the US war effort— and to maintain a veneer of independencehttps://globalaffairs.org/commentary/analysis/war-middle-east-ushers-world-might-makes-right

War in the Middle East Ushers in a World of 'Might Makes Right'

The US-led postwar international order is being tested in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz and in the shrewd calculations of governments from New Delhi to Helsinki.

globalaffairs.org

My latest writing for the @ChicagoCouncil on Global Affairs. From Davos to Munich to the Board of Peace, recent events have made clear that the West is scrambling. It is an open question as to whether the West will hold together and can remain relevant. globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...

From Munich to the Board of Peace, the Trump Administration Struggles to Reassure its Transatlantic Partners; The Supreme Court Pushes Back

The United States and Europe are scrambling to reform their partnership. It is an open question as to whether the transatlantic partnership can continue to be an anchor for international order as the ...

globalaffairs.org

This week, American Enterprise Institute's @kschake.bsky.social joined Council President & CEO @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social to discuss how the relationship between between America's civilian leaders and its military is evolving. Watch the full conversation: bit.ly/4qOEMVp

And we’re live — @munsecconf.bsky.social starts in 4 days. Great contributions by @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social Anne-Marie Slaughter @james-rogers.bsky.social @jpuglierin.bsky.social @claudmajor.bsky.social Patrick Keller @nicolange.bsky.social @joerglau.bsky.social Sophie Eisentraut & columnists

Internationale Politik Quarterly@ipq.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Our special issue for the @munsecconf.bsky.social is now live. Read it online here: ip-quarterly.com/en/special-i... And pick up a physical copy if you're in Munich this week.

The Trump administration's recently released National Defense Strategy "wholly ignores one of the primary stressors in the global security environment: climate change," write Council Senior Nonresident Fellow @busbyj2.bsky.social and Greg Pollock. They explore the implications in @foreignpolicy.com:

Trump’s National Defense Strategy Tries to Imagine Climate Change Away

Sycophancy and ideology have replaced realistic assessments of dangers.

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Recently, the Council welcomed our 2026 cohort of Emerging Leaders, together with many program alumni. We are excited to kick off a new season of programming! Special thanks to Ashish Lal for supporting this event, and to Endy Zemenides and the Hellenic American Leadership Council for hosting!

Last night in Davos, Council President and CEO @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social joined a dinner co-hosted with Aon, the @ifrc.org, the World Bank, and the @iom.int, focused on reimagining humanitarian finance and reducing volatility in forced migration.

My latest, will Davos go to Detroit? globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...

Could a Dublin-Detroit-Davos Corridor Be an Engine for a Renewal of the Transatlantic Partnership?

News that the World Economic Forum may come down from the mountain is symbolic of the end of an era but also signals the beginning of new thinking about internationalism. In Davos, Trump, Carney, and ...

globalaffairs.org

Senator Durbin speaks live now at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs about transatlantic relations. The Senator travelled to Denmark as part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation. Media raises multiple questions about ICE m.youtube.com/watch?v=5BN5...

Press Briefing with US Senator Durbin on Greenland and Arctic Security

YouTube video by Chicago Council on Global Affairs

m.youtube.com

LIVE NOW: IL Senator @durbin.senate.gov holds a press conference at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs to discuss his recent bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to Denmark. Tune in now: bit.ly/4pOjsih

💯💯

Lawrence Freedman@ldfreedman.bsky.social · 7mo ago

We should know by now not to respond to one of Trump’s weekend posts as a definitive statement of policy. The content is as outrageous as it is absurd. For that reason there will be strong pushback from markets, Congress, perhaps Supreme Court as well as European governments.

My latest. This time on Greenland. Hope you will give it a read. In deploying troops to Greenland, Europeans are handing the president a gift: a pretense for backing down. globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...

Through 'Operation Arctic Endurance,' NATO Allies Signal a United Front Against Trump

After repeatedly threatening to acquire Greenland, US President Donald Trump is facing backlash from Americans and US allies. Where does it leave the transatlantic partnership?

globalaffairs.org

Which armed conflicts will define 2026? And what forces—whether local, regional, or global—will shape their trajectories? On 2/5, @crisisgroup.org President and CEO @comfortero.crisisgroup.org joins @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social to discuss what to watch in the year ahead. brnw.ch/21wZ7TH

Violent crackdowns, internet shutdowns, and a rising death toll. I spoke with Azadeh Moaveni of @nyu_journalism and @sanamvakil.bsky.social of @chathamhouse.org on the Deep Dish podcast this week about these developments and more in Iran. brnw.ch/21wZ7LC

Iran's Protests: Can the Regime Survive?

What's driving unrest in Iran—is this time different?

brnw.ch

How are recent conflicts stress-testing global alliances? This week, former US Ambassador to NATO and Council Distinguished Nonresident Fellow Julianne Smith joined @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social for a conversation on the future of alliances in today’s changing world.

I am thrilled to welcome Dr Evan Medeiros to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs @global-affairs.bsky.social as Distinguished Nonresident Fellow on China. Medeiros is currently the Penner Family Chair at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service brnw.ch/21wZ5A4

China Scholar Evan Medeiros Joins the Chicago Council on Global Affairs

January 14, 2026

brnw.ch

"You can feel this palpable sense of nervousness and anxiety on the other side of the pond," Council Distinguished Nonresident Fellow Ambassador Julianne Smith says of the current state of the transatlantic relationship. Watch her conversation with @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social ➡️ brnw.ch/21wZ3yC

There is little evidence that what we had come to assume was and should be the top geopolitical priority for the United States, namely managing the China challenge, is actually the top priority. globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...

Trump 2.0 Enters 2026 in Full Force

Trump’s first foreign policy moves of the new year included invading Venezuela, threatening to coerce Greenland into becoming a US territory, and withdrawing the US from 66 international organizations...

globalaffairs.org

From US threats over Greenland and Arctic tensions to instability in Venezuela and the Western Hemisphere, America's alliances are facing new pressures. On 1/13, Julianne Smith joins @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social to discuss how these actions are testing US alliances. brnw.ch/21wYU7l

Looking forward to speaking with Ambassador Julie Smith on Tuesday.

Chicago Council on Global Affairs@global-affairs.bsky.social · 7mo ago

From US threats over Greenland and Arctic tensions to instability in Venezuela and the Western Hemisphere, America's alliances are facing new pressures. On 1/13, Julianne Smith joins @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social to discuss how these actions are testing US alliances. brnw.ch/21wYU7l

Some initial thoughts by me and some super smart colleagues @global-affairs.bsky.social

Leslie Vinjamuri@leslievinjamuri.bsky.social · 7mo ago

"When oil trading begins on Sunday night..it will be the first test of whether Trump’s exhortations that the United States will “run” Venezuela will inspire confidence." Read our latest expert analysis by @rb312.bsky.social globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...

"This is a US that cares about geopolitical competition," the Council's @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social tells @cnn.com. "It's also willing to push the boundaries of what we have come to see as normal, expected, legitimate, international behavior." More on the US intervention in Venezuela ⤵️

Venezuela and Trump's Vision for the Western Hemisphere

YouTube video by Chicago Council on Global Affairs

youtu.be

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured by US military forces on Saturday amid a "large-scale strike" against the country. What comes next? Chicago Council experts assess the immediate and long-term stakes for the region and the world. ⤵️

What Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Means for the Region and the World

The US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a large-scale strike. Experts assess what the unprecedented US intervention means for Venezuela, US foreign policy, and regional and...

globalaffairs.org

"When oil trading begins on Sunday night..it will be the first test of whether Trump’s exhortations that the United States will “run” Venezuela will inspire confidence." Read our latest expert analysis by @rb312.bsky.social globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...

What Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Means for the Region and the World

The US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a large-scale strike. Experts assess what the unprecedented US intervention means for Venezuela, US foreign policy, and regional and...

globalaffairs.org

We continue to add new expert commentary to this link. Latest piece by @CooleyOnEurasia on the implications for Russia and China. Note that Venezuela is China's largest debtor in Latin America. globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...

What Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Means for the Region and the World

The US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a large-scale strike. Experts assess what the unprecedented US intervention means for Venezuela, US foreign policy, and regional and...

globalaffairs.org

This one well worth reading

Daniel Drezner@dandrezner.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Jack Goldsmith on the legality of the Venezuela operation: open.substack.com/pub/executiv...

I had not even considered this but ..

Paul Heer@pauljcheer.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Something was needed to distract attention from the fifth anniversary of January 6.

"The Trump administration’s attack on Venezuela gives Beijing another opening to portray China as a more responsible international actor than the United States."

Leslie Vinjamuri@leslievinjamuri.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Read commentary by @global-affairs.bsky.social experts at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Lord Jim O'Neill, @dandrezner.bsky.social, Paul Heer, and more. On Venezuela, Trump, and what to expect. globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...

If drug trafficking, an illegitimate electoral victory, or control of oil is the new bar for a US military takeover, we are in for quite a rough ride in 2026. My comment, alongside that of several colleagues @global-affairs.bsky.social globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...

What Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Means for the Region and the World

The US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a large-scale strike. Experts assess what the unprecedented US intervention means for Venezuela, US foreign policy, and regional and...

globalaffairs.org

Read @busbyj2.bsky.social "Washington’s capacity to manage and support a transition in Venezuela is suspect given the downscaling of diplomacy and development assets at State, the dissolution of USAID, and the reorientation of the Department of Defense" globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...

What Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Means for the Region and the World

The US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a large-scale strike. Experts assess what the unprecedented US intervention means for Venezuela, US foreign policy, and regional and...

globalaffairs.org