Foreign Policy Archives - Close Up Foundation

Energy & Environment Executive Branch Foreign Policy

The United States and Iran: How Did We Get Here?

April 17, 2026

The conflict between the United States and Iran has deep roots. When the U.S. military struck three nuclear facilities in Iran on June 22, 2025, President Donald Trump declared that the goal of disabling the sites had been achieved, though intelligence sources remained uncertain as to the extent of the damage.1 For some Americans, the […]

Should Congress Prohibit Federal Funding for the War in Iran?

April 13, 2026

Five weeks into the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, the human and economic toll continues to mount. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed in combat and more than 200 wounded; Iranian authorities report at least 2,076 people killed and more than 26,500 wounded inside Iran since strikes began on February 28, […]

Should Congress Reassert Its War Powers Over Venezuela?

January 07, 2026

On January 3, 2026, U.S. military forces conducted overnight strikes in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. President Donald Trump announced the operation from Mar-a-Lago, declaring that the United States would “run” Venezuela “until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition.” […]

Executive Branch Foreign Policy

A Fragile Hope: What the New Israel–Hamas Ceasefire Means for Peace

October 23, 2025

After nearly two years of devastating war in Gaza, Israel and Hamas have reached a new ceasefire agreement that many hope could mark a turning point. Under the deal, which President Donald Trump engaged in personal diplomacy and negotiations to secure, Hamas has released all remaining living Israeli hostages while Israel has freed more than […]

Foreign Policy

Tensions Increase Between China and Taiwan

June 03, 2025

In May 2024, Lai Ching-te was sworn in as the new president of Taiwan. Central to his campaign was rejecting any political claims to the island by mainland China (officially the People’s Republic of China or PRC) and establishing a fully independent Taiwan.1 This position is in clear opposition to the PRC’s “One China” principle, […]

USAID and Cutting International Aid

February 24, 2025

On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that implemented a 90-day freeze on aid to other countries. Since then, the offices of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have closed, staff have been furloughed, and there have been more funding freezes. The formerly semi-autonomous agency is now […]

Foreign Policy

The International Criminal Court Seeks Arrest Warrants for Leaders of Israel and Hamas

May 28, 2024

Karim Khan, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), announced on May 20 that he has applied for arrest warrants for leaders of Hamas and Israel for war crimes and crimes against humanity over the October 7 attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. A panel of judges will now consider Khan’s application […]

Foreign Policy Teaching the News

Middle East Conflict and the Regional and Global Impact

January 09, 2024

In the weeks since the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, Israel has conducted a military campaign with the stated goal of eradicating Hamas as both a military and governing organization.1 The death toll in Gaza currently stands at around 22,000 Palestinians and 170 Israeli soldiers, in addition to the more than 1,200 people Hamas […]

U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions in the Israel-Hamas Conflict: Part 2

November 29, 2023

As part of our ongoing series centered on the Israel-Hamas conflict, this post will review the U.S. foreign policy decisions. Part 1 of the series focused on the effects of the conflict within U.S. borders and the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia. To complete the series, Part 3 in the coming week will review how […]

Foreign Policy Government & Elections

U.S. Politics and Policy During the Israel-Hamas Conflict: Part 1

November 21, 2023

This is the first in a series of posts that will explore complex domestic policy, foreign policy, and global issues connected to the Israel-Hamas conflict. In the United States, there has been significant discussion and debate about what to do, both in terms of foreign policy and on the domestic front. In this series, we […]