Deep Dish on Global Affairs

Is the Quad Fracturing as US Priorities Shift?

The Quad was meant to anchor stability in the Indo-Pacific—a way for the United States, India, Japan, and Australia to stay aligned in a rapidly changing region. But shifting US priorities under the second Trump administration are putting it to the test. Derek Grossman of the Center for a New American Security explains how countries across Asia are adapting, what it means for the Quad, and where US alliances could be headed next.

The Most Surprising Success Stories Around the World Right Now

There seems to be no shortage of global challenges, from aging populations to political gridlocks to immigration. But solutions are emerging in unexpected places. John Kampfner, author of Braver New World, shares what he discovered traveling to 10 countries, including Japan, Estonia, and India, in search of ideas that are actually working. A self-described former "professional pessimist," he explores what countries can learn from each other and what's standing in the way.

Is China Quietly Winning the Iran War?

The war with Iran isn't just a Middle East story anymore. As attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz disrupt global energy markets, the economic impacts are being felt by Europe, the United States, and especially the Indo-Pacific. Does the ongoing conflict provide a strategic opening for China? And how is India navigating this new era of complicated alliances? James Crabtree, distinguished fellow in the Asia program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, breaks it down.

Is International Law Built for Today's Wars?

As the US-Israel war on Iran continues, the international rules, laws, and norms meant to govern it are collapsing and being rewritten. Does international law still matter? And how are modern conflicts reshaping accountability and impunity? Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour breaks down what's changing, whether laws and norms are eroding, and if these don't hold—what comes next.

The Cost of Trump's Pressure Campaign on Cuba

As the United States tightens sanctions and cuts off oil to Cuba, the island is facing deepening economic and humanitarian strain. President Trump has signaled he wants regime change, but what would that actually mean for Cuba, its people, and the region? María de los Angeles Torres of the University of Illinois Chicago unpacks the real impact of US pressure, why sanctions may be backfiring, and what could happen if this crisis deepens.