How Washington’s Fear of Chinese Investment Hurts American Competitiveness; What the Youngest Continent Stands to Gain From Growing Old; How Washington’s Lack of Clarity Leads to Escalation
Foreign Affairs Today

August 17, 2026 | View in Browser

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U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, May 2026 

The Cost of Keeping China Out

How Washington’s Fear of Chinese Investment Hurts American Competitiveness

By Peter Cowhey and Meg Rithmire

 

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At a day center for the elderly, Nairobi, Kenya, February 2025 

Africa Can’t Afford to Squander Its Demographic Opportunity

What the Youngest Continent Stands to Gain From Growing Old

By Jakkie Cilliers

 
An Iranian missile system in Tehran, July 2026 

The Ambiguity Spiral in Iran

How Washington’s Lack of Clarity Leads to Escalation

By Erik Lin-Greenberg

 

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From historic crises to landmark trade agreements, Witney W. Schneidman recounts a five-decade journey across Africa at the highest levels of government, business, and law. This Africa Idea offers a rare insider’s perspective and serves as an inspiring call to engage with a continent that is actively shaping our global future.

 
Looking out at the Strait of Hormuz near Bandar Abbas, Iran, May 2026  

The Gulf’s China Problem

Beijing Wants Trade but Not Responsibility

By Mohammed Alsudairi, Andrea Ghiselli, and Aaron Glasserman

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