Will Todman

Grateful to @chrismurphyct.bsky.social for sharing my piece. Far too few people are talking about what the war with Iran means for Syria’s recovery in the longer term.

The War with Iran Threatens Syria’s Recovery Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa has a strategy for Syria's recovery. The war with Iran could jeopardize that.

"For now, the direct impact of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran on Syria has been limited," writes @mideast.csis.org expert @willtodman.bsky.social. "Yet the conflict is quietly testing the foundations of Syria’s recovery strategy."

Read more: https://bit.ly/4sBKJpH

Is Cuba Next? YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies

Following President Trump's remarks that the Cuban government will fall “pretty soon” and that “it may not be a friendly takeover," Ryan Berg and Carrie Filipetti join @willtodman.bsky.social to discuss the president’s goals in Cuba.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVXmkWoruMg

The War with Iran Threatens Syria’s Recovery Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa has a strategy for Syria's recovery. The war with Iran could jeopardize that.

NEW: The greatest threat to Syria’s recovery may lie in the war’s long-term trajectory. For Sharaa, a stalemate would be the worst possible outcome. His recovery strategy depends on a stable region that encourages investment and economic integration. www.csis.org/analysis/war...

Today, CSIS announces retired Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, the 19th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been named our next CEO, succeeding John Hamre, who announced last year that he will retire after 26 years of transformational leadership.

Read more: bit.ly/4b383Ha

Can middle powers build a new world order as PM Carney says? | State of Play | CSIS Podcasts Chris Hernandez-Roy and Kristi Govella join Will to discuss whether or not key U.S. allies like Canada and Japan could do this, what it might look like, and what the risks are.

Tune into this week's @geopolitics.csis.org State of Play episode where @kristigovella.bsky.social, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, and @willtodman.bsky.social discuss whether or not key U.S. allies like Canada and Japan can build a new world order.

Listen here: https://bit.ly/45BELw8

Can middle powers build a new world order as PM Carney says? | State of Play | CSIS Podcasts Chris Hernandez-Roy and Kristi Govella join Will to discuss whether or not key U.S. allies like Canada and Japan could do this, what it might look like, and what the risks are.

Tune into our latest episode of State of Play where @kristigovella.bsky.social, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, and @willtodman.bsky.social answer the question: "Can middle powers build a new world order as PM Carney says?"

Listen here: www.csis.org/podcasts/sta...

How Syria Can Succeed in Integrating the Kurds Intensified conflict between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces could threaten Syria’s transition. Here’s what the government can do to ensure it doesn’t.

"The Syrian Democratic Forces overplayed its hand in negotiations with the Syrian transition government, but now President Ahmed al-Sharaa risks similar overreach," write @mideast.csis.org experts‬ @myacoubian.bsky.social and @willtodman.bsky.social.

Read more: www.csis.org/analysis/how...

Thank you everyone for coming to our book launch for China's Weaponization of Trade. Thanks to @willtodman.bsky.social, Melanie Hart, @bethanyallen.bsky.social and @victordcha.bsky.social for an important conversation on economic coercion, and a shoutout to all our interns who worked on the book!

What are CSIS experts' boldest geopolitical predictions in 2026? | State of Play | CSIS Podcasts 12 CSIS experts join Will to share significant developments in different parts of the world in 2025, and predictions for 2026.

On the latest episode of State of Play, 12 CSIS experts join @willtodman.bsky.social to discuss their predictions for geopolitical developments in the year ahead.

Listen here: www.csis.org/podcasts/sta...

Did Trump remake the global order in 2025? YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies

As 2025 draws to a close, @victordcha.bsky.social and Dr. Tom Wright of @brookings.edu joined me on State of Play to discuss the biggest geopolitical shifts of the year and what they are watching out for in 2026. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnZo...

Syria’s Promise and Challenges One Year After Assad’s Fall A year after Assad’s fall, the promise of a new Syria hinges on the transitional government’s ability to garner domestic and international support.

One year after the collapse of the Assad regime, Syria stands at a pivotal moment. The resilience of Syrians has opened space for freedom, but deep divisions and fragile institutions threaten progress. A new brief from Mona Yacoubian and @willtodman.bsky.social here: www.csis.org/analysis/syr...

Thanks so much for joining, Maria!

Where now for Europe and Ukraine after the NSS? | State of Play | CSIS Podcasts Max Bergmann and Maria Snegovaya join Will to discuss what we should expect from ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine.

New State of Play episode out now! @maxbergmann.bsky.social and I join @willtodman.bsky.social to unpack the new U.S. NSS, recent diplomacy on Ukraine, what to expect from possible ceasefire talks,and how tensions in transatlantic relations could shape any future deal.
www.csis.org/podcasts/sta...

Syria’s Promise and Challenges One Year After Assad’s Fall A year after Assad’s fall, the promise of a new Syria hinges on the transitional government’s ability to garner domestic and international support.

Drawing on insights from our trip to Syria, @myacoubian.bsky.social and I discuss the remarkable achievements and daunting challenges of Syria's transition. We also provide key recommendations for the U.S. government.

www.csis.org/analysis/syr...

@willtodman.bsky.social hosts @victordcha.bsky.social and @brianthart.bsky.social from @csis.org on the latest episode of @geopolitics.csis.org State of Play, breaking down whether President Trump’s Asia trip met expectations and U.S.-China relations.

🎧 Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjEZ...

@willtodman.bsky.social hosts @victordcha.bsky.social and @brianthart.bsky.social from @csis.org on the latest episode of @geopolitics.csis.org State of Play, breaking down whether President Trump’s Asia trip met expectations and U.S.-China relations.

🎧 Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjEZ...

7 Strategies to Deal with "America First" YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies

How are allies and partners responding to "America First" policies?

@geopolitics.csis.org experts explain 7 strategies adopted to respond to the second Trump term.

cc @victordcha.bsky.social, @maxbergmann.bsky.social, @henriettalevin.bsky.social, @willtodman.bsky.social

The formal confirmation of famine in Gaza is testing the credibility & effectiveness of global institutions.

Director Caitlin Welsh joins @myacoubian.bsky.social & @willtodman.bsky.social to unpack the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza, global institutions, & more.

🎧 Listen here: cs.is/4h0fy35

Monday, October 6, 2025 │ 9:00-11:00 AM ET

Join @geopolitics.csis.org experts for the launch of a new @csis.org compendium on the ways U.S. allies and partners have responded to the Trump administration.

Register here:
www.csis.org/events/responding-trumps-new-foreign-policy-paradigm

New: @myacoubian.bsky.social and Caitlin Welsh joined me to discuss the global reverberations of the Gaza war as we approach the third anniversary of October 7th. We discuss the atrophying of international institutions, and early signs of their reform or reimagining. www.csis.org/podcasts/sta...

On the latest episode of State of Play, CSIS's Mark Cancian and Ryan Berg join @willtodman.bsky.social to discuss what the U.S. military buildup in the southern Caribbean tells us about changing U.S. priorities.

Listen in: www.csis.org/podcasts/sta...

Israel Strikes Hamas in Qatar On September 9, the Israeli Defense Forces announced that the Israeli Air Force conducted an assassination attempt against Hamas leaders in Doha. This comes as Israel is escalating its efforts to forc...

Why did Israel strike Doha on September 9? How did Qatar and other countries in the region react? And what does this mean for mediation efforts in the Middle East?

@mideast.csis.org experts @myacoubian.bsky.social and @willtodman.bsky.social discuss: www.csis.org/analysis/isr...

Are U.S. tariffs bringing India and China together? YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies

Is President Trump really pushing PM Modi to embrace China? To discuss the longer-term trajectory of China-India ties and what it means for the United States, Henrietta Levin and Rick Rossow joined me this week: youtu.be/HP8itY3rW28?...

This is a metaphor for something… 🐀

Are allies or autocrats managing Trump better? | State of Play | CSIS Podcasts Will, Victor Cha & Max Bergmann explore what allies learn from Trump at summits and his patterns with autocrats.

On the latest episode of State of Play, "Are allies or autocrats managing Trump better?", @victordcha.bsky.social and @maxbergmann.bsky.social join @willtodman.bsky.social to discuss what East Asian and European allies are learning about summits with President Trump.
Listen here: buff.ly/XqHwRlf

Are allies or autocrats managing Trump better? | State of Play | CSIS Podcasts Will, Victor Cha & Max Bergmann explore what allies learn from Trump at summits and his patterns with autocrats.

This week, we discuss what President Lee told @victordcha.bsky.social over dinner about how he approached President Trump, how Putin ruined @maxbergmann.bsky.social's summer holiday, and what patterns are emerging about how strongmen are dealing with President Trump. www.csis.org/podcasts/sta...

Are U.S.-Japan relations at a turning point? | State of Play | CSIS Podcasts Kristi Govella and Nick Szechenyi join to discuss whether U.S.-Japan ties are shifting amid tariffs and political change.

On a new episode of State Of Play, @willtodman.bsky.social is joined by @japan.csis.org experts Dr. @kristigovella.bsky.social and Nick Szechenyi to discuss whether U.S.-Japan relations are shifting amid tariff negotiation, turbulent Japanese politics, and more.
Listen here:

Experts React: Starvation in Gaza CSIS experts react to Gaza’s descent into mass starvation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, international and domestic pressure on Israel, and more.

NEW: @mideast.csis.org and @foodwater.csis.org experts react to Gaza’s descent into mass starvation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, international and domestic pressure on Israel, and more.

🧵Read their insights: www.csis.org/analysis/exp...

Experts React: Starvation in Gaza CSIS experts react to Gaza’s descent into mass starvation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, international and domestic pressure on Israel, and more.

“For now, international and domestic pressure is producing a change in Israel’s tactics, not strategy, in Gaza.” My latest alongside @csis.org colleagues www.csis.org/analysis/exp...