US Foreign Policy
Rigorous, nonpartisan analysis of American diplomacy, defense, sanctions and trade, and congressional oversight — sourced, cited, and refreshed daily.
Latest Briefing
U.S. UN Dues Strategy in 2026
Peacekeeping arrears, congressional caps, and burden-sharing math are no longer accounting details. They are now shaping U.S. leverage at the United Nations.
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Foreign Aid Reset Meets Budget Reality
Washington's aid overhaul is now a congressional appropriations test, as State seeks to absorb USAID functions while lawmakers rewrite FY2026 and FY2027 funding lines.
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U.S.-Iran Sanctions Reset Hits Limits
Washington is signaling sanctions relief to secure Iran diplomacy while expanding OFAC designations, exposing legal, congressional, and enforcement limits.
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U.S.-Japan-Philippines Deterrence Test
Washington's trilateral with Tokyo and Manila moved from summit optics to alliance architecture. The next test is funding, posture, and legal durability.
Live Wire — latest foreign-policy news
Aggregated daily from public news and government RSS feeds, with attribution and links back to each source.
Last updated July 19, 2026
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An Israeli paraglider tries to save migrating swifts that nest in the Western Wall
Swifts have nested in Jerusalem's Western Wall since biblical times. Now one Israeli paraglider is trying to save them.
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Deadly overnight Russian attack on Ukraine targets the capital
Russia launched 41 missiles and 125 attack drones across Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force.
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Cuban artist and dissident exiled from country after 5 years in prison arrives in US
A famous Cuban dissident artist and musician, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, arrived in Miami on Saturday after being released from a five-year prison sentence on the condition that he leave his country.
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Josh Kerr of Britain breaks 27-year-old world record in the mile
Kerr announced his bid to break the world record months in advance, and pulled off the plan in London on Saturday.
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Mamdani floats arresting Netanyahu if he visits NYC for UN General Assembly
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) says he is reviewing whether his administration could arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his anticipated visit to the city for the U.N. General Assembly this fall. The mayor made…
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U.S. launches new airstrikes to 'punish' Iran for troop deaths
Two U.S. service members were killed in action while "partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks," U.S. Central Command said Saturday.
Global economic indicators
Foreign-policy-relevant economic series, refreshed daily.
Last updated July 19, 2026
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Nominal Broad U.S. Dollar Index
120.5046 Index Jan 2006=100
▼ -0.25
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Trade Balance: Goods and Services, Balance of Payments Basis
-77585 Millions of Dollars
▼ -23015.00
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Crude Oil Prices: West Texas Intermediate (WTI) - Cushing, Oklahoma
79.2 Dollars per Barrel
▲ +6.75
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Imports of Goods and Services
4328.659 Billions of Dollars
▲ +193.08
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Exports of Goods and Services
3508.703 Billions of Dollars
▲ +158.10
Recent Analysis
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U.S. UN Dues Strategy in 2026
U.S. strategy at the UN now hinges on peacekeeping dues, congressional caps, and burden sharing. The diplomatic cost of arrears is rising in 2026.
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Foreign Aid Reset Meets Budget Reality
Washington's aid overhaul is now a congressional appropriations test, as State seeks to absorb USAID functions while lawmakers rewrite FY2026 and FY2027 funding lines.
-
U.S.-Iran Sanctions Reset Hits Limits
Washington is signaling sanctions relief to secure Iran diplomacy while expanding OFAC designations, exposing legal, congressional, and enforcement limits.
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U.S.-Japan-Philippines Deterrence Test
Washington's trilateral with Tokyo and Manila moved from summit optics to alliance architecture. The next test is funding, posture, and legal durability.
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Intelligence Community Revises China-Taiwan Timeline, Warns of Escalating Homeland Threats
The 2026 IC report no longer projects a 2027 Taiwan invasion, but warns China, Russia, and North Korea are developing missiles that can reach U.S. soil.
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Pentagon's AUKUS Review Raises Doubts About Virginia-Class Submarine Deliveries
A Pentagon review and CRS report raise questions about whether Australia will receive Virginia-class submarines under the $240 billion AUKUS pact.
About US Foreign Policy
US Foreign Policy provides rigorous, nonpartisan analysis of American diplomacy and global strategy — State Department initiatives, defense and security policy, sanctions and trade regimes, and congressional oversight of foreign affairs. Independent site — not a government website. Displays public data with attribution to its sources.