Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here.
            
 

January 18, 2019

Brookings on Twitter Brookings on Facebook
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he visits the banks of the Rio Grande River with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents during the president's visit to the U.S. - Mexico border in Mission, Texas, U.S., January 10, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC1CEF41B3C0
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives flanked by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) and U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton (R) for the annual meeting of the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 11, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst - RC1E1B893A40
United Nation Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau look up for a family photo at the opening of the opening of the Paris Peace Forum after the commemoration ceremony for Armistice Day, 100 years after the end of the First World War, in Paris, France November 11, 2018. Yoan Valat/Pool via REUTERS - RC13102CF520

Featured quote

Policymakers need to take concerns about immigration seriously if they hope to beat back populism.”

January 14, 2019 | James Kirchick, Brookings 2019 trends to watch

REGIONAL AND TOPIC UPDATES

Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia

Turkey and the West. Leaders in the United States and Europe face a conundrum in dealing with an increasingly authoritarian Turkey, write Kemal Kirişci and Ilke Toygür in a new paper: Should they pursue engagement not based on rules and liberal ideals, or rules-based non-engagement?

U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. The U.S.-led NATO mission in Afghanistan should be modified, writes Michael O’Hanlon, to focus squarely on making the Afghan security forces more resilient and capable.

The Syria withdrawal. Although the Trump administration did not create the current Syria conundrum, Amanda Sloat contends, its haphazard approach is hurting its key allies in the conflict.

Saudi royal politics. Saudi Arabia is in the midst of important and challenging transformations, Bruce Riedel explains—and the situation is more unpredictable than ever.

Tunisian migration. Many young Tunisians seek greener pastures in Europe, choosing an exit strategy that involves a dangerous sea passage. Larbi Sadiki explains what the government in Tunis is and isn’t doing to respond.

International affairs

The Brexit saga. After British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plan was roundly defeated in Parliament, Amanda Sloat explains what the various sides are saying and what could come next.

A changing energy picture. The shift away from coal energy in the United States has been driven mainly by market forces, not as much by policy measures, details Howard Gruenspecht in a new paper. In a related blog post, Samantha Gross outlines why the coal industry is unlikely to make a comeback.

Foreign policy in the 2020 election. Ryan Trapani outlines the key contours of the forthcoming debates on foreign policy as presidential contenders for the 2020 election start lining up.

Italy and immigration. The narrative against immigration continues to fuel the rise of euroskeptic and extreme-right parties that seek to gain momentum in the upcoming European Parliament elections in May, writes Giovanna De Maio.

Arms control and modernization. At a recent Brookings event, experts discussed the politics of New START and strategic nuclear modernization. Kate Hewitt summarizes the proceedings.

Stay Connected

Sign up for other Brookings newsletters
Brookings RSS Feeds
Brookings on Facebook
Foreign Policy on Twitter