Department of State
282 Articles
The Pretext Behind the Trump Administration Labeling Cuba a State Sponsor of Terrorism
Cuba is not a state sponsor of terrorism. Its inclusion on the list reflects changing U.S. policy and the Trump administration's politicization of the "terrorist" designation.
I Was Afghanistan’s Attorney General. Here Is What Justice Looked Like — and What Destroyed It.
Afghanistan’s justice system took 20 years to build and 11 days to destroy. Former Attorney General Mohammad Farid Hamidi outlines the ongoing fight for accountability.
Is the United States (Still) at War? How Wars Begin and End
Armed conflict is not a matter of political branding, rhetorical convenience, or domestic law positioning. It is a legal status that turns on objective facts.
1,000 Days and Counting: A Father, A Professor, and a Government That Won’t Let Go
The son of Azerbaijan economist and anti-corruption activist Gubad Ibadoghlu appeals for the release of his father and uncle, both political prisoners.
An Unserious Justification for an Unnecessary War: Assessing the U.S. “Article 51” Letter to U.N. on Iran War
Former US State Department attorney writes that the United States' "Article 51" letter to the UN Security Council fails to identify legal basis for Iran attack.
If the U.S. Wants Durable Peace, It Must Protect the Institutions That Build It
A year ago, the Trump administration seized the U.S. Institute of Peace and began to dismantle it, gutting a key capability to reduce and prevent violent conflict.
New U.S.–AU Infrastructure Working Group Could Thrive With Strong Values-Based Safeguards
If the Strategic Infrastructure and Investment Working Group is to succeed, the United States must anchor its offerings in rules-based governance.
New U.S. Foreign Aid Emphasis on Government Partnerships is Encouraging — If Done Right
The Trump administration's government partnerships for healthcare aid will require processes that prioritize transparency, meaningful local ownership, and accountability.
The Trump Administration’s Deregulatory Playbook
A deep dive into the Trump administration’s first-year deregulatory agenda, Supreme Court influences, and the evolving limits of agency authority.
Who Will Stand Up for Human Rights in 2026 – and How?
The deterioration in human rights in 2025 heightens the risks for defenders going forward, all worsened by donors' deep funding cuts, especially those of the United States.
Legal and Practical Implications of the U.S. Withdrawal from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change
The U.S. withdrawal from the UNFCCC is a further blow to climate cooperation and a demonstration of U.S. foreign policy volatility.
Why a Ukraine-Russia Amnesty Would Violate Geneva Convention Obligations
An amnesty in any future peace plan would be unlawful and a moral abdication of the pursuit of accountability for victims in Russia's war in Ukraine.