Visit us at Network2020.org. The architecture of international engagement is shifting, and subnational diplomacy is taking center stage. As federal governments scale back traditional foreign policy and funded diplomacy, cities and states are emerging as more prominent actors on the global stage, forging direct international ties to address global issues such as climate change, migration, trade, and public health. As local leaders are increasingly shaping the frameworks of cooperat...

Visit us at Network2020.org. Over the past decade, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras have experienced a resurgence of authoritarian practices. Leaders have expanded executive power, undermined judicial independence, curtailed press freedom, and increased the use of mass incarceration and militarized policing—all under the banner of security and stability. These developments echo past dictatorships but take on new forms in today’s political and technological context, connecting local ...

Visit us at Network2020.org. U.S. higher education is more than just a domestic institution— it is a pillar of the country’s foreign policy and global engagement. By attracting students, scholars, and researchers from around the world, American universities have helped shape generations of leaders, built lasting international networks, and boosted the U.S. economy and labor market. Yet, recent immigration and visa policies under the Trump administration have caused a 15 percent drop in intern...

Visit us at Network2020.org. The United States has long been recognized as the global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), a technology transforming trade, foreign policy, and military strategy. China, once seen as years behind, is rapidly closing the gap, most recently with the launch of DeepSeek. With competition heating up in both chip technology and AI innovation, Washington has sought to maintain its edge through export controls and a recently unveiled AI Action Plan. As the wor...

Visit us at Network2020.org. In June, strikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran’s nuclear facilities reignited one of the most dangerous questions in global security: how do you stop a country determined to keep its nuclear options open? What followed has tested not only Iran’s willingness to abide by international limits, but also the credibility of the entire nonproliferation system. In this episode, Kelsey Davenport, Director for Nonproliferation Policy at the Arms Control Associat...

Visit us at Network2020.org. Sudan’s war—between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, sparked in April 2023—has entered a deadlier phase. Recent attacks on the Abu Shouk camp near El-Fasher, a widening cholera outbreak, and aid blockages that leave much of the country in need have pushed the crisis to a breaking point. We’re re-running this episode to explain how a promised transition to civilian rule unraveled into open war, how Darfur’s past atrocities and broader questions of accou...

Visit us at Network2020.org. The U.S. has slapped a 25% tariff on most Indian exports and threatened further measures over India’s continued oil and arms deals with Russia. India isn’t backing down—defending those ties as “time-tested” while rejecting an American offer of F‑35 fighter jets. To make sense of this standoff, we’re revisiting a 2023 conversation on India’s foreign policy dilemma: Can the world’s largest democracy maintain strategic autonomy while deepening ties with the U.S...

Visit us at Network2020.org. The EU’s Readiness 2030 plan marks a significant shift in European defense, with €800 billion in planned spending driven by the war in Ukraine and growing doubts about U.S. security guarantees. As the bloc moves to strengthen its military capabilities and reduce reliance on external powers, key questions emerge: Could shared threats finally unify national defense strategies? Will common borrowing transform how Europe finances its security? And how might a mo...

Listen to part one on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your audio. In part two of our special series on the Israel-Iran conflict, we turn our attention to the Iranian perspective—one often lost amid headlines. Nearly two weeks have passed since Israel launched preemptive airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, pulling the two nations into open conflict and prompting U.S. involvement. While a fragile ceasefire is now in place, its future remains uncertain. But beyond geopoli...

This episode of Global Insights is part one of our special two-part series on the Israel-Iran conflict. What began as a diplomatic attempt to manage Iran’s nuclear ambitions escalated sharply on June 12, when Israel launched targeted airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities and military leaders—triggering open war between the two countries and drawing in the United States. Though a ceasefire is now in place, its stability remains uncertain. To unpack the strategic calculation...

Visit us at Network2020.org. The prospect of a U.S. sovereign wealth fund—most recently proposed by President Trump—has sparked renewed debate about America’s economic strategy at home and abroad. While sovereign wealth funds traditionally manage national surpluses for long-term strategic investment, the U.S. has never adopted one, despite the fact that the number of sovereign wealth funds globally has tripled since 2000. What is behind this global growth? What are the advantages and di...

Visit us at Network2020.org. Recent comments from President Trump targeting Canada, Greenland, and Panama have drawn renewed attention to a deeper global trend: the scramble for control over critical infrastructure. From the Panama Canal to Arctic shipping routes and mineral-rich territories, nations are positioning themselves to command the arteries of commerce and security. Infrastructure—whether canals, ports, or rare earth corridors—is increasingly about power, leverage, and access ...

Visit us at Network2020.org. In 2025, the United States and Vietnam will celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations—just two years after upgrading their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. But even as the relationship reaches new heights, it faces a sharp test. On April 2, 2025, the U.S. imposed a sweeping 46% tariff on all Vietnamese goods, among the world’s highest, as part of his global “Liberation Day” tariff reckoning. Just days later, a 90-day pause on the tariff was an...

Visit us at Network2020.org. As the Indo-Pacific grows more contested, U.S.-Japan relations face new tests and opportunities. Tokyo, seeking greater autonomy and strategic clarity, is recalibrating its foreign policy priorities to address growing threats from China and North Korea, deepen economic partnerships, and shape a rules-based regional order. At the same time, questions remain about Washington’s long-term commitment and vision for the region. This discussion will examine the evo...

Visit us at Network2020.org. Global communication infrastructure is at the center of a geopolitical battle as nations and corporations strategize for security and control over undersea cables, satellite networks, and internet access. With privately owned systems like Starlink and OneWeb revolutionizing connectivity, security risks, ownership disputes, and the potential for strategic manipulation are key issues in a hyperconnected world. As digital connectivity becomes both a tool of eco...

Visit us at Network2020.org. Once defined by unchallenged leadership and a focus on stable, alliance-driven relationships, U.S. foreign policy is now shifting toward unilateralism, emphasizing “America First” principles, reforming trade agreements, and reevaluating international commitments. The ascent of regional powers, the intensification of technological rivalries, and the rise of economic nationalism have all contributed to a more interconnected and complex international system, pr...

Visit us at Network2020.org. The Trump administration’s recent foreign policy decisions—including the pause on foreign aid, the closure of USAID, and an assertive approach to negotiations—have raised questions about the trajectory of U.S. soft power. In a world where power is increasingly diffuse and economic and political relationships are fuzzy, what will be the role of soft power in shaping international norms and achieving diplomatic goals? The cyclical nature of soft power, particularl...

Visit us at Network2020.org. Humanity stands closer than ever to catastrophe, warn the experts behind the Doomsday Clock. The tracker of human-caused destruction ticked one second closer to midnight last month, the closest it has ever been in its nearly eight-decade history. The shift reflects growing nuclear tensions, particularly the impending expiration of the New START treaty in 2026, which threatens to eliminate the last remaining arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia. With ...

Visit us at Network2020.org. The fall of the Assad Regime marks a significant shift in the Middle East, disrupting the balance of power and creating new opportunities for regional influence. Türkiye, which supported the rebels prior to Assad’s ouster and hosts millions of Syrian refugees, now sees an opening to achieve aims ranging from security to economic. What are President Erdogan’s objectives in navigating the complexities of a post-Assad Middle East? In this episode, we unpack how Assad...

Visit us at Network2020.org. As artificial intelligence continues to advance, its ability to both bolster and undermine democratic processes has never been more apparent. Deepfake technology, capable of creating hyper-realistic but entirely fabricated media, is emerging as a powerful tool for misinformation, threatening the integrity of elections and public trust in democratic institutions. In a world where disinformation spreads at unprecedented speed, the stakes are high. This episode wil...