U.S. technical consultation with Taliban authorities is necessary to advance specific and urgent interests, such as out-migration of Afghans processed for U.S. residency. But senior overtures to Taliban leadership would require a shift in the policy landscape. That may explain some recent actions taken by the Biden administration.
Though Thailand’s elections in May were won by pro-democracy parties, the result was a coalition government led by Pheu Thai that includes military-aligned parties. The question now is: Can Pheu Thai actually govern in a way that reunites Thais, strengthens democratic institutions and addresses Thailand’s many other problems?
For the past several years, Chinese President Xi Jinping has fundamentally changed the goals and methods of Beijing’s foreign policy, with the Middle East central to its ambitions as a global powerbroker. Given China’s increased relevance in the region, its response to the Israel-Hamas war has been surprisingly underwhelming.
