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Myanmar Junta’s Execution of Activists Casts Harsh Light on Lack of U.S. Sanctions on Oil and Gas

The world awoke on July 25th to news that Myanmar’s military junta had executed four democracy activists following a sham judicial process, the first death sentences carried…

The Biden Administration’s China Policy: An Inventory of Actions to Address the Challenge 

An overview shows a hardline approach partially inherited from Trump merged with an emphasis on working with allies and partners. 
US President Joe Biden provides updates on the Ukraine-Russia conflict in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 21, 2022. - President Biden on Thursday vowed that Russian President Vladimir Putin would never take control of Ukraine, as the United States announced new military aid for Kyiv.

The “Leahy Laws” and U.S. Assistance to Ukraine

For practical and principled reasons, human rights compliance will continue to be paramount for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression.
Man (David Satterfield) speaking against blue backdrop

How To Fix the Broken Position of U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa

The second successive early departure from the role highlights the need for reform.

With West Africa and Priority Countries Set, Potentially Game-Changing Global Fragility Act Still Faces Hurdles

Congress and the Biden administration still must move on funding and authorities to jump start the already delayed 10-year program.

Haitians Have Built Consensus on a Democratic Way Forward. Why Is an Undemocratic Leader Still in Office?

The Biden administration faces another inflection point in its support for a leader opposed by a civil society-led alliance.
Sudanese demonstrators take part in a rally to protest last year's military coup, in the capital Khartoum, on January 30, 2022. The October 25 coup led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan derailed a civilian-military power-sharing deal negotiated in the wake of the 2019 ouster of autocrat Omar al-Bashir. (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Senate Hearing on Sudan: Is the US Ready for a Needed Reset?

US policy, including sanctions, should reflect the new reality on the ground and the Biden administration's stated commitment to democracy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) greets Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) during a bilateral meeting on Nov. 13, 2019 in Brasilia, Brazil. (Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

As Putin Lines Ukraine Border with Russian Troops, Is There a China Factor?

Even without the oft-discussed scenario of a simultaneous Chinese attack on Taiwan, Putin at least needs Xi's support for a new Ukraine invasion

Cuando la corrupción no tiene rastro de dinero: las sanciones pasan por alto casos cruciales

En Guatemala, se expulsan los últimos defensores contra la corrupción, una tendencia que debería generar tanta preoccupación como el soborno tradicional.

When Corruption Has No Money Trail: Sanctions Overlook Crucial Cases

Guatemala’s last anti-corruption stewards are being forced out, a trend that should raise as many alarms as traditional bribery and graft.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin is shown at a desk, attending a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus on Unity Day, via teleconference call, in Sevastopol, Crimea, on November 4, 2021.  (Photo by MIKHAIL METZEL/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Putin’s Gamble on Ukraine

The US will face many such challenges from Russia and China in the future, so it must learn how to suppress threats like this one.
US President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 27, 2021. (Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

The Impact on Israel’s National Security of Reopening – or Not – of a US Consulate for Palestinians in Jerusalem

The decision will affect three factors: Israel's relationship with the US, the Palestinian Authority's capacity, and Jerusalem's future.
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