Key issues, like Iran’s nuclear program, remain unresolved. foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/15/u...

I wrote about how FIFA's 2026 World Cup betrays soccer fans worldwide and the egalitarian roots of the game. I'm attending two matches. Getting tickets was not easy/cheap. As excited as I am, I'm also disheartened by how this tournament was orchestrated. foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/11/f...

He wants to end the Iran war. But Iran, Israel, and Hezbollah have other ideas. foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/08/t...

FP’s @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social spoke to a mediation expert about how a cease-fire is defined, who decides when a violation is committed, and what constitutes a complete breakdown.

Sens. Kaine and Paul say that the military’s targeting criteria don’t include the presence of drugs or arms. foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/02/k...

There have been repeated exchanges of fire during the Iran ceasefire. The situation raises questions as to how a ceasefire is defined, who decides when a violation is committed, and what constitutes a complete breakdown. I spoke to an expert on mediation about this. foreignpolicy.com/2026/05/13/c...

NEW: Months into the fragile cease-fire, Trump’s Gaza peace plan has stalled amid an impasse over disarmament. Gaza now appears in danger of remaining in an indefinite limbo in which Hamas controls a portion of the territory while Israel occupies the rest. foreignpolicy.com/2026/05/05/t...

This week's SitRep with @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social: Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said his meeting with Pete Hegseth in Washington this week was "very positive" and "there was no hostility." Belgium's defense spending went up by 59% last year. foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/30/h...

With the cease-fire hanging by a thread, FP’s @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social examines five of the most pressing questions if the truce ultimately collapses.

With the U.S.-Iran cease-fire hanging by a thread, I wrote about five of the most pressing questions if the truce ultimately collapses. foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/22/w...

Trump's Friday Truth Social posting has been highly erratic even by his usual chaotic standards—capping off a terrible week for the U.S. president in which he fought with the pope and lost some of his closest European allies. foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/16/t... with @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social

The U.S. president is picking fights in every direction, alienating key supporters and allies. foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/16/t...

This week's SitRep from me and @iyengarish.bsky.social explores how Israel’s offensive in Lebanon is threatening the tenuous Iran war ceasefire. foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/09/i...

The fragile truce faces significant obstacles. foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/08/u...

More on the ceasefire itself from my colleague @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/07/i...

@jchaltiwanger.bsky.social and I also wrote about the (few) clues offered by Trump in his Wednesday night prime time speech about how and when the war with Iran might end, in this week's Situation Report newsletter: foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/02/t...

We still don't know what the tens of thousands of U.S. troops in Iran might be used for, but @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social explored the most dangerous possibility—a mission to seize Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpiles: foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/01/u...

Trump has vacillated over whether the U.S. needs to secure Iran's highly enriched uranium. That could be because an operation to do so would be extremely risky. I spoke with former U.S. officials who expressed grave concerns over the potential dangers. foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/01/u...

Read the latest SitRep from me and @iyengarish.bsky.social for a breakdown on the thousands of additional U.S. troops that Trump is sending to the Middle East and the operations they could potentially be involved in. foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/26/t...

A report earlier this month on potential Iranian drone attacks in California raised a lot of alarm. It turned out to be based on unverified info. But I spoke with multiple drone/security experts who warned that the U.S. still needs to be prepared for such threats: foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/25/i...

FP’s @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social and @iyengarish.bsky.social take a look at what the intelligence community’s annual threat assessment says about the primary U.S. adversaries, conflicts, and threats in 2026. foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/19/i...

Yesterday, Israel’s top diplomat in NYC told me strikes like the one on Iran’s South Pars gas field were “part of the plan” and suggested the U.S. knew that Israel would attack Iran’s energy infrastructure. Hours later, Trump was singing a different tune. foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/19/i...

FP’s @iyengarish.bsky.social and @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social explain the tools that Iran still has to maintain pressure on Trump.

The U.S. war against Iran has converged on the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane where the fight appears to be largely on Iran's terms at the moment. @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social and I look at how the Iranian regime is applying pressure to the critical waterway. foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/12/i...

However, Trump said that “for reasons of decency,” he chose “NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island.” foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/13/k...

Yet another example of the confusing messaging from this administration on the Iran war. And it's not just re: the timeline. They've also failed to offer consistent justifications and objectives.

President Gustavo Petro's left-wing coalition was on track to be the largest bloc in Colombia's next Congress after a better-than-expected showing in legislative elections. The vote comes ahead of a May 31 presidential vote to elect Petro’s successor. u.afp.com/Su9X

A country-by-country breakdown on how the war has spread. foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/09/i...

"We were sure the US had some secret weapon" against Shahed drones, a Ukrainian commander said. The war in Iran proved that wrong. Via BI's @byjepstein.bsky.social , Sinéad Bake and Matthew Loh: www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-tr...

Trump’s goals in Iran are expansive, shifting, and potentially impossible. More on that in the latest SitRep from me and @iyengarish.bsky.social: foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/05/t...

“The Iranian navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf," Hegseth said. "Decimated, destroyed, defeated.” Later, Caine said that the U.S. has "effectively neutralized" Iran's navy, but also said that "CENTCOM will continue to strike infrastructure and naval capability."

A bit of a theme is emerging in Pentagon briefings re: Iran. Hegseth makes sweeping statements. Then Caine offers more measured assessments. Hegseth today said Iran's navy is "no more." Then Caine made it clear that the effort to destroy the navy is ongoing. A notable disconnect.

The U.S. president and his officials can’t get their story straight. foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/03/t...

“This is not a so-called regime change war,” Hegseth said. foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/02/p...

The U.S. president said Tehran’s leaders want to talk even as they vowed revenge. foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/01/u...

The announcement comes as the war continues into its second day. foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/01/u...

From me and @iyengarish.bsky.social: Trump Says Iranian Supreme Leader Is Dead foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/28/t...

I wrote about the broader fight that led to that statement in today's @foreignpolicy.com Situation Report foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/26/p... via @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social

U.S., Israel Begin ‘Major Combat Operations’ in Iran 🎧 foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/28/u... w @jennruth.bsky.social @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social via @foreignpolicy.com

Former U.S. military leaders expressed concerns about the risks for U.S. forces and allies in the region if Trump gives the go-ahead for strikes, reports FP’s @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social.

Rep. Al Green was holding a sign that reads "Black People Aren't Apes" at the #SOTU:

Trump has tried to throw cold water on reports of Gen. Dan Caine's warnings about military action against Iran. I spoke with four former U.S. military leaders who also expressed concerns about the potential risks. foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/24/t...

New SitRep from me and @iyengarish.bsky.social: foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/19/t...

Final dispatch from MSC 2026 from myself and @iyengarish.bsky.social foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/15/m...

The Republican senator’s comments contradict U.S. President Donald Trump’s position on Russia. foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/14/r...

In Munich, I asked NATO chief Mark Rutte about the disconnect between Washington and Europe re: Ukraine peace negotiations. He insisted there is no such disconnect. "I think we’re on the same page," he said. Read more here:

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio marked Valentine’s Day by trying to kiss and make up with Europe, FP’s @iyengarish.bsky.social and @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social write. foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/14/r...

The scars of *that* Munich Security Conference speech by J.D. Vance--exactly a year ago--still run deep. Spotted this just outside the venue. More on where Europe stands now in @foreignpolicy.com's latest Situation Report with @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social foreignpolicy.com/2026/02/13/m...

FP’s @iyengarish.bsky.social and @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social cover defense, diplomacy, and technology for Foreign Policy. They will be answering your questions over on Reddit today ahead of the Munich Security Conference this weekend. Join the AMA here: www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/...

Heading into the Munich Security Conference this week, European self-sufficiency is clearly at the top of the agenda. FP’s @iyengarish.bsky.social and @jchaltiwanger.bsky.social will be reporting live from Munich all weekend—sign up here to receive SitRep in your inbox each day: