Richard Fontaine

CNAS Insights | Eight Things to Watch for in 2026 Developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies.

What to expect when you’re expecting a new year. My eight things to watch for in 2026: www.cnas.org/publications...

CNAS Insights | Ten Days That Shook the War Developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies.

The past ten days have seen more Ukraine diplomacy than the previous ten months combined. As the flurry continues - today with meetings in Moscow - here is where things stand:

www.cnas.org/publications...

The world has lost a giant. Rich Armitage was a statesman, an incredible mentor, and a personal hero of mine. He will be so deeply missed. armitageinternational.com/news/remembe...

It's a full house at PWH for a book talk on "Lost Decade: The US Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power" with @cnas.bsky.social's @rhfontaine.bsky.social and Penn's Amy Gadsden! Watch live via Zoom: pwh-upenn-edu.zoom.us/j/9577003912...

Join us and @cnas.bsky.social CEO @rhfontaine.bsky.social for a discussion on the U.S. pivot to Asia, how to create effective policy for the region, and its possible effects on American security. *The first 25 attendees will receive a free copy of Fontaine's book* www.eventbrite.com/e/the-us-piv...

Super excited to be welcoming @rhfontaine.bsky.social, CEO of @cnas.bsky.social & PWH Visiting Fellow, to @perryworldhouse.bsky.social on April 9 to talk about The U.S. Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power! Join online or in person: perryworldhouse.upenn.edu/events/the-u...

Ep 187: Richard Fontaine on the “Reverse Kissinger” Podcast Episode · School of War · 01/04/2025 · 47m

Henry Kissinger in the 1970s used China to balance the Soviet Union. Could the US now flip Russia against China in a "reverse Kissinger?" I joined the School of War podcast to discuss the prospects: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e...

How Elon Musk’s DOGE Cuts Leave a Vacuum That China Can Fill The Department of Government Efficiency is shuttering organizations that Beijing worried about most, or actively sought to subvert.

The charge for the United States is to deter war with China without capitulation and to compete effectively across all the areas of soft power. If the cost-cutting goes too too far, it will amount to unilateral disarmament in the world’s most important contest. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/u...

Missed Milestones: Evaluating The Last Four Years in the EAP Region and Unseized Opportunities Under President Trump - Committee on Foreign Affairs Hearing notice Committee Repository

Testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the last four years of U.S. policy in Asia and on opportunities at hand now. Check it out: foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/miss...

The Superpower Has Left the Building: Munich 2025 - War on the Rocks National security’s Burning Man took place this weekend, as foreign policy types from around the world gathered once again in Bavaria. The Munich Security

Four themes struck me as emblematic of this year’s Munich Security Conference zeitgeist. My dispatch from Bavaria: warontherocks.com/2025/02/the-...

Richard Fontaine: The Russo-Chinese Alliance & U.S. Foreign Policy Podcast Episode · Diplomatic Immunity · 01/16/2025 · 32m

Talking about the China-Russia relationship and what it means for U.S. foreign policy 👇 ow.ly/UiHs50UIHqL

The First 100 Days The First 100 Days is a series of recommendations from CNAS experts. The recommendations span the most pressing issues that will test the administration.

Here are 15 national security actions the administration should take in its first 100 days 👇👇 www.cnas.org/publications...

Trump's foreign policy endgame - Washington Examiner President Donald Trump appears to be strong-arming unwilling leaders into negotiating, according to aides and foreign policy experts.

Foreign policy is something like an iceberg. The visible portion is gleaming and jagged and draws much of the attention. Yet it also has a far bigger and underexamined foundation, one that tends to remain mostly unchanged. www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-h...

The First 100 Days The First 100 Days is a series of recommendations from CNAS experts. The recommendations span the most pressing issues that will test the administration.

15 national security actions the new administration should take in its first 100 days: www.cnas.org/publications...

Set the Tone, Establish Policy, Hire Personnel—And Prepare for Crisis President Donald Trump enters office at a critical moment and faces multiple crises—it would do well to follow a few key maxims.

From @rhfontaine.bsky.social: "Set the Tone, Establish Policy, Hire Personnel—And Prepare for Crisis" www.cnas.org/publications...

An interesting article on the continuity of American politics.A recommended read to get a fuller picture

Author argues that despite all the vivid differences between the past and now current presidential administrations, there's more continuity in foreign policy than one could originally expect

The Trump-Biden-Trump Foreign Policy Eight years shaped by surprising continuity—and four more to come.

For all the differences between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, there will likely be far more foreign policy continuity between the two administrations than meets the eye. On Inauguration Day in @foreignaffairs.com: www.foreignaffairs.com/trump-biden-...

Set the Tone, Establish Policy, Hire Personnel—And Prepare for Crisis President Donald Trump enters office at a critical moment and faces multiple crises—it would do well to follow a few key maxims.

Set the Tone, Establish Policy, Hire Personnel—And Prepare for Crisis. Foreign policy for the first 100 days:

www.cnas.org/publications...

The First 100 Days The First 100 Days is a series of recommendations from CNAS experts. The recommendations span the most pressing issues that will test the administration.

On Inauguration Day, @cnas.bsky.social is publishing the First 100 Days Agenda. Here, CNAS experts lay out their recommendations for the Trump administration's top priorities and early actions: www.cnas.org/publications...

The Trump-Biden-Trump Foreign Policy Eight years shaped by surprising continuity—and four more to come.

For all the differences between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, there will likely be far more foreign policy continuity between the two administrations than meets the eye. On Inauguration Day in @foreignaffairs.com: www.foreignaffairs.com/trump-biden-...

Dig into the full volume here: www.cnas.org/publications...

Featuring insightful contributions from @rhfontaine.bsky.social, @klkuzminski.bsky.social, @beccawasser.bsky.social, @vivekchil.bsky.social, and @jacobstokes.bsky.social, along with many other colleagues.

The First 100 Days The First 100 Days is a series of recommendations from CNAS experts. The recommendations span the most pressing issues that will test the administration.

Dig into the full volume here: www.cnas.org/publications...

Featuring stellar contributions from @rhfontaine.bsky.social, @klkuzminski.bsky.social, @beccawasser.bsky.social, @vivekchil.bsky.social, and @jonathanlorddc.bsky.social, along with other incisive colleagues without bsky accounts.

The Trump-Biden-Trump Foreign Policy Eight years shaped by surprising continuity—and four more to come.

For all the differences between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, there will likely be far more foreign policy continuity between the two administrations than meets the eye, argues Richard Fontaine.

US urged to bolster Global South ties to counter China-Russia partnership Washington must build up relations with ‘global swing states’ and offer a more ‘affirmative and assertive’ trade policy, say authors.

Writeup of our report on China-Russia cooperation: amp.scmp.com/news/china/a...

The hometown in happier times. Love NOLA.

One of Jimmy Carter’s accomplishments was to elevate the role of human rights in U.S. foreign policy. That welcome move represented a dramatic change. And the priority endured, with ups and downs, in every administration since. RIP

One of Jimmy Carter’s accomplishments was to elevate the role of human rights in U.S. foreign policy. That welcome move represented a dramatic change. And the priority endured, with ups and downs, in every administration since. RIP

New book review:
Jennings on Blackwill, Robert D.; Fontaine, Richard: _Lost Decade: The US Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power_. Oxford University Press, 2024. Published by H-Diplo.
Read here: networks.h-net.org/node/20054238

Thank You from CNAS In 2024, CNAS tackled the nation’s most pressing national security challenges, leading the conversation with bipartisan analysis and innovative solutions.

In 2024, @cnas.bsky.social tackled the nation’s most pressing national security challenges. Our mission will be even more important in 2025, amid a turbulent world and political change in Washington.

Our end of year message: www.cnas.org/publications...

Thank You from CNAS In 2024, CNAS tackled the nation’s most pressing national security challenges, leading the conversation with bipartisan analysis and innovative solutions.

In 2024, @cnas.bsky.social tackled the nation’s most pressing national security challenges. Our mission will be even more important in 2025, amid a turbulent world and political change in Washington.

Our end of year message: www.cnas.org/publications...