Projects - American Statecraft
Pivotal States Series
Projects - American Statecraft
Pivotal States Series
About the Project

The United States today faces a mounting set of global challenges that risk spiraling out of control, ranging from Ukraine to Taiwan to climate change, nuclear proliferation, and pandemics. Washington needs new habits of statecraft, the courage to make difficult trade-offs, and the wisdom to work with a diverse array of global partners. The American Statecraft Program’s Pivotal States Series examines U.S. foreign policy through the lens of key bilateral relationships, mapping the way to a foreign policy more responsive to the realities of the mid-twenty-first century.

Programs

American Statecraft

The American Statecraft Program develops and advances ideas for a more disciplined U.S. foreign policy aligned with American values and cognizant of the limits of American power in a more competitive world.

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All work from Pivotal States Series

13 Results
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Navigating a Way Forward on U.S.-China Relations
October 17, 2024

U.S.-China relations have deteriorated to the point that war is a possible outcome. What strategic options exist for the next U.S. president on China? And what pathways exist towards more positive bilateral relations by 2035?

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Pivotal States: No Choice but Crisis? The Next President’s Options for North Korea
September 20, 2024

The United States faces a looming crisis on the Korean Peninsula. Diplomacy has broken down, and the United States has focused mainly on strengthening its alliances with South Korea and Japan as the Kim regime grows more threatening. What options does the United States have to prevent war on the Peninsula?

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Pivotal States: Russia and U.S. Global Strategy
May 1, 2024

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought bilateral relations with the U.S. to their lowest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis. Yet Russia holds sway over many U.S. foreign policy priorities. How can the U.S. support European security without sacrificing its other interests?

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Pivotal States: Testing the Limits of the U.S.-Vietnam Relationship
January 31, 2024

The strong partnership between the United States and Vietnam is a testament to reconciliation between bitter enemies. As the United States seeks to expand its partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, what lessons should it draw from this key bilateral relationship?

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Pivotal States: Is the United States Overlooking Mexico’s Potential?
December 6, 2023

The U.S.-Mexico relationship is one of the most fraught in U.S. foreign policy and one of the most critical. Numerous challenges have poisoned relations. Yet Mexico also offers an opportunity to create more resilient supply chains. Do U.S. policymakers have a strategy to address these challenges and capitalize on the opportunities Mexico provides?

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Pivotal States: Where Does the U.S.-South Africa Strategic Partnership Go From Here?
November 9, 2023

Sharp geopolitical differences have brought U.S.-South Africa relations close to the breaking point. Yet the country remains a key player on the African continent. As the United States revamps its Africa strategy, should South Africa's importance outweigh its disagreements with Washington?

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Pivotal States: Is It Poland’s Strategic Moment?
October 11, 2023

Poland is a critical hub for European security but faces criticism for its democratic backsliding, while its hawkish impulses diverge at times from the U.S.’s. How should the United States balance Poland’s strategic importance with its counterproductive role on other issues?

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Pivotal States: Revamping the U.S.-Indonesia Partnership
September 5, 2023

Indonesia possesses growing geopolitical importance but its role within U.S. statecraft has often been misunderstood. What should the U.S. strategy toward Indonesia be? What trade-offs and challenges will shape the future of U.S. policy toward this Southeast Asian giant?