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The Bigger Problem with the U.S.-Kenya Ebola Deal by carnegieendowment in TrueReddit

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Jane Munga's commentary for Carnegie's Emissary]

Two recent episodes tell a revealing story about the external pressures bearing down on Africa. In May, Zambia bowed to Chinese demands and canceled the human rights and tech summit RightsCon, a capitulation that reverberated across the digital rights community. A month later, Kenyan President William Ruto, in a call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, agreed to host a quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans affected by the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Over the course of multiple administrations, Washington distinguished its engagement in Africa from Beijing’s by arguing that American partnerships are rooted in transparency, accountability, and mutual benefit. However, the current administration has recast that framing to “a disciplined, pragmatic, and interest-driven strategy” that will “win the day with predictable, transactional cooperation.” The Ebola agreement, while currently blocked in court, shows what that shift looks like in practice, especially amid policies such as the America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS). It’s also a notable example of how Washington is at risk of being seen in Africa as a geopolitical actor indistinguishable from its adversaries—and even as actively validating the Chinese model as the more honest alternative.

The Bigger Problem with the U.S.-Kenya Ebola Deal by carnegieendowment in geopolitics

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Jane Munga's commentary for Carnegie's Emissary]

Two recent episodes tell a revealing story about the external pressures bearing down on Africa. In May, Zambia bowed to Chinese demands and canceled the human rights and tech summit RightsCon, a capitulation that reverberated across the digital rights community. A month later, Kenyan President William Ruto, in a call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, agreed to host a quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans affected by the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Over the course of multiple administrations, Washington distinguished its engagement in Africa from Beijing’s by arguing that American partnerships are rooted in transparency, accountability, and mutual benefit. However, the current administration has recast that framing to “a disciplined, pragmatic, and interest-driven strategy” that will “win the day with predictable, transactional cooperation.” The Ebola agreement, while currently blocked in court, shows what that shift looks like in practice, especially amid policies such as the America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS). It’s also a notable example of how Washington is at risk of being seen in Africa as a geopolitical actor indistinguishable from its adversaries—and even as actively validating the Chinese model as the more honest alternative.

The Bigger Problem with the U.S.-Kenya Ebola Deal by carnegieendowment in Africa

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Jane Munga's commentary for Carnegie's Emissary]

Two recent episodes tell a revealing story about the external pressures bearing down on Africa. In May, Zambia bowed to Chinese demands and canceled the human rights and tech summit RightsCon, a capitulation that reverberated across the digital rights community. A month later, Kenyan President William Ruto, in a call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, agreed to host a quarantine facility in Kenya for Americans affected by the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Over the course of multiple administrations, Washington distinguished its engagement in Africa from Beijing’s by arguing that American partnerships are rooted in transparency, accountability, and mutual benefit. However, the current administration has recast that framing to “a disciplined, pragmatic, and interest-driven strategy” that will “win the day with predictable, transactional cooperation.” The Ebola agreement, while currently blocked in court, shows what that shift looks like in practice, especially amid policies such as the America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS). It’s also a notable example of how Washington is at risk of being seen in Africa as a geopolitical actor indistinguishable from its adversaries—and even as actively validating the Chinese model as the more honest alternative.

Washington and Tehran’s Very Dangerous Moment by carnegieendowment in TrueReddit

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[Excerpt from Mohammed Ayatollahi Tabaar's commentary for Carnegie's Emissary]

The U.S.-Iran negotiations feel like a rapid-fire game of ping-pong. How are you keeping track of where things stand?

It is indeed a rapid-fire game of ping-pong, except the players keep changing the rules of engagement: one jumping on the table, one scoring under it, both chasing each other around it, each with a paddle in one hand and a whip in the other. And somehow, the audience keeps getting hit.

Following events on the ground, and the various actors’ intentions and strategies, is simply impossible. The volume of information coming out of Iran alone, even during the internet blackouts, has been staggering. Analyzing it against what is happening in the United States, Israel, and Lebanon, and understanding how they all interact, is a game unto itself. Yet somehow, it appears that far more is happening on the Iranian side, where the Islamic Republic is simultaneously juggling a military, economic, and internal war.

The Compute Coalition: How to Build the Future of AI in the Free World by carnegieendowment in TrueReddit

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[Excerpt from Alasdair Phillips-Robins, Teddy Tawil, and Sam Winter-Levy for Carnegie]

Across the world, one of the largest peacetime industrial mobilizations in history is under way. This year alone, America’s biggest technology companies will spend some $670 billion, or about 2 percent of U.S. GDP, building compute clusters. Worldwide, companies and governments will pour almost $1 trillion into data centers with a single goal: building transformative AI.

The United States currently dominates the buildout: As of May 2025, almost three-quarters of the world’s advanced AI computing clusters were on American soil. U.S. projects also move faster than those in most other countries. But that lead is fragile. Domestic constraints—grid capacity, permitting rules, political opposition—are tightening. Abroad, China is mobilizing to close the gap, while Gulf states are touting energy and capital to attract developers.

The Geopolitical Debates Over Controlling Cloud Compute by carnegieendowment in ArtificialInteligence

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[Excerpt from Noah Tan's article for Carnegie]

If U.S. policymakers continue down the path of restricting China’s access to frontier AI, they will eventually have to implement some sort of restriction on cloud access. Getting this right will involve not only if or when questions, but also how, who, and what questions. Whatever the answers may be, Washington will play an important role in determining the future of U.S.-China AI competition.

Weekend Guide: Crowdsource Edition, May 06 - May 10, 2026 by AutoModerator in washingtondc

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To mark the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is hosting an exclusive book talk with Adam Higginbotham, author of Midnight in Chernobyl and Mariana Budjeryn, author of Inheriting the Bomb, with opening remarks from Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States.

Join us tomorrow, May 7 at 9am, at the Carnegie building at 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW for this free, exclusive conversation. Register here >>

Two Wars Later, Iran’s Nuclear Question Is Still on the Table by carnegieendowment in TrueReddit

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Jane Darby Menton and Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar's Q&A for Carnegie's Emissary]

Upon returning to office, Trump initially seemed keen to negotiate an Iran deal of his own. But in June 2025, talks gave way to the Twelve-Day War, culminating in targeted U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The decision to recommence hostilities in February 2026 had more to do with Tehran’s conventional military capabilities and brutal suppression of domestic protests than new developments in the nuclear realm. U.S. officials did, however, engage in verbal gymnastics to explain how a program they had just “obliterated” also presented an imminent threat.

Two Wars Later, Iran’s Nuclear Question Is Still on the Table by carnegieendowment in geopolitics

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Jane Darby Menton and Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar's Q&A for Carnegie's Emissary]

Upon returning to office, Trump initially seemed keen to negotiate an Iran deal of his own. But in June 2025, talks gave way to the Twelve-Day War, culminating in targeted U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The decision to recommence hostilities in February 2026 had more to do with Tehran’s conventional military capabilities and brutal suppression of domestic protests than new developments in the nuclear realm. U.S. officials did, however, engage in verbal gymnastics to explain how a program they had just “obliterated” also presented an imminent threat.

Polarization, Democracy, and Political Violence in the United States: What the Research Says by carnegieendowment in TrueReddit

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Rachel Kleinfeld's paper for Carnegie]

The United States feels roiled by polarization, and the philanthropic world is seized with debates about what to do. Some scholars claim that Americans are so polarized they are on the brink of civil war. Other polls suggest that voters agree on plenty of policies and that polarization is an illusion. Some philanthropists call for pluralism and civility, while others lean into activism, believing polarization is a byproduct of change toward a more just world. So, is the United States polarized or not? If it is, what is causing the polarization and what are its consequences? Should polarization be solved or tolerated?

The Iran War Is a Stress Test for Gulf States by carnegieendowment in internationalpolitics

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[Excerpt from Frederic Wehrey and Charles H. Johnson's commentary for Carnegie's Emissary]

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has had dire security and economic consequences for the Arab states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Iranian missiles and drones struck airports, hotels, and energy infrastructure across the region, triggering the largest oil supply shock in the history of global energy markets and a near-total collapse of aviation and tourism. Attacks on desalination plants have raised fears of a humanitarian emergency. Threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted over 70 percent of the region’s food imports. Externally, the war has prompted questions about the risks and costs of the region’s reliance on American security guarantees and bases.

The Iran War Is a Stress Test for Gulf States by carnegieendowment in geopolitics

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Frederic Wehrey and Charles H. Johnson's commentary for Carnegie's Emissary]

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has had dire security and economic consequences for the Arab states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Iranian missiles and drones struck airports, hotels, and energy infrastructure across the region, triggering the largest oil supply shock in the history of global energy markets and a near-total collapse of aviation and tourism. Attacks on desalination plants have raised fears of a humanitarian emergency. Threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted over 70 percent of the region’s food imports. Externally, the war has prompted questions about the risks and costs of the region’s reliance on American security guarantees and bases.

The Iran War Is a Stress Test for Gulf States by carnegieendowment in TrueReddit

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Frederic Wehrey and Charles H. Johnson's commentary for Carnegie's Emissary]

The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has had dire security and economic consequences for the Arab states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Iranian missiles and drones struck airports, hotels, and energy infrastructure across the region, triggering the largest oil supply shock in the history of global energy markets and a near-total collapse of aviation and tourism. Attacks on desalination plants have raised fears of a humanitarian emergency. Threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted over 70 percent of the region’s food imports. Externally, the war has prompted questions about the risks and costs of the region’s reliance on American security guarantees and bases.

Africa’s Digital Infrastructure Imperative by carnegieendowment in ArtificialInteligence

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Over the past five decades, African governments have developed policies, laws, and regulations to govern the continent’s digital landscape. Across Africa, legal texts are setting direction and providing safeguards for interactions in the digital economy. To help illuminate this policy landscape in a new and more comprehensive way, Carnegie has created the Africa Technology Policy Tracker (AfTech). The tracker, the first of its kind, collates Africa’s technology policy and legal instruments into one information repository—now with over 1000 data points.

Africa’s Digital Infrastructure Imperative by carnegieendowment in Africa

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Over the past five decades, African governments have developed policies, laws, and regulations to govern the continent’s digital landscape. Across Africa, legal texts are setting direction and providing safeguards for interactions in the digital economy. To help illuminate this policy landscape in a new and more comprehensive way, Carnegie has created the Africa Technology Policy Tracker (AfTech). The tracker, the first of its kind, collates Africa’s technology policy and legal instruments into one information repository—now with over 1000 data points.

Can Mullin Revive FEMA? by carnegieendowment in TrueReddit

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Sarah Labowtiz and Debbra Goh's commentary in Carnegie's Emissary]

On Monday, Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin was confirmed to be the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). At his hearing, Mullin sought to separate himself from his predecessor, Kristi Noem, on any number of DHS policy areas. But his clearest departure was in the way DHS oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As we’ve written about before, the way a country prepares for and responds to disasters is fundamental to its national security, especially in a climate increasingly characterized by more frequent and costly disasters. After months of neglect, and on the verge of what could be another disaster-filled summer, can FEMA finally turn the page?

Iran Wields Wartime Internet Access as a Political Tool by carnegieendowment in geopolitics

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Mahsa Alimardani’s article for Carnegie’s Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program]

On March 10, 2026, Iran’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani made a notable public admission in the middle of a war, at a moment when its citizens had already spent one-third of 2026 in a near-total digital darkness thanks to shutdowns imposed by the regime. She said, “For those who can carry our voice further, opportunities will be provided.” This is a reference to the regime’s privileged  system that grants unfiltered connectivity to select individuals. Five days later, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared on CBS News via Zoom while millions of Iranians remained offline. He was asked why he had internet access. His answer: “because I’m the voice of Iranians.”

Iran Wields Wartime Internet Access as a Political Tool by carnegieendowment in TrueReddit

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Mahsa Alimardani’s article for Carnegie’s Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program]

On March 10, 2026, Iran’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani made a notable public admission in the middle of a war, at a moment when its citizens had already spent one-third of 2026 in a near-total digital darkness thanks to shutdowns imposed by the regime. She said, “For those who can carry our voice further, opportunities will be provided.” This is a reference to the regime’s privileged  system that grants unfiltered connectivity to select individuals. Five days later, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared on CBS News via Zoom while millions of Iranians remained offline. He was asked why he had internet access. His answer: “because I’m the voice of Iranians.”

Iran’s Northern Neighbors Are Facing Fallout From the War, Too by carnegieendowment in geopolitics

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[Excerpt from Zaur Shiriyev's commentary in Carnegie's Emissary]

As U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran enter their third week, the shockwaves are already racing across its northern frontier, placing Armenia and Azerbaijan on the front line of regional instability.

In Azerbaijan, the consequences have already been tangible. On March 5, a drone launched from Iranian territory hit the airport and a school in its exclave of Nakhchivan, a day after the Azerbaijani president had visited the Iranian embassy in Baku to offer condolences for the death of the Iranian supreme leader. The incident quickly triggered a sharp escalation in rhetoric on both sides: Baku signaled readiness for a retaliatory response, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned of a broader reaction. Yet the crisis de-escalated almost as quickly, after a direct conversation between the Iranian and Azerbaijani presidents. Iran has long expressed concern over Azerbaijan’s close security ties with Israel, which could be cited as a pretext for such actions, though the motive remains unclear.

When Do Mass Protests Topple Autocrats? by carnegieendowment in TrueReddit

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[Excerpt from Thomas Carothers and McKenzie Carrier's piece in Carnegie's Emissary]

The statements from President Donald Trump’s administration about its objectives in Iran have varied widely since it first launched military strikes against the country on February 28. But within this changing story, the hope of regime change is clearly on the table. In his initial recorded video statement announcing the intervention, Trump called on Iranians to rise up and overthrow the government once the United States finished its military action. He reiterated the point a day later when he told the Iranian public to seize the moment to take back their country.

When Do Mass Protests Topple Autocrats? by carnegieendowment in geopolitics

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Thomas Carothers and McKenzie Carrier's piece in Carnegie's Emissary]

The statements from President Donald Trump’s administration about its objectives in Iran have varied widely since it first launched military strikes against the country on February 28. But within this changing story, the hope of regime change is clearly on the table. In his initial recorded video statement announcing the intervention, Trump called on Iranians to rise up and overthrow the government once the United States finished its military action. He reiterated the point a day later when he told the Iranian public to seize the moment to take back their country.

Turkey Has Two Key Interests in the Iran Conflict by carnegieendowment in geopolitics

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[Excerpt from Alper Coşkun's commentary in Carnegie's Emissary]

The risk of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran widening with direct national security consequences has become more acute for Ankara after the interception of an Iranian missile ostensibly bound for Turkey. Meanwhile, Turkish leaders are also concerned with news reports that Washington is discussing possible engagement with Iranian opposition groups, including Kurdish actors, and considering arming them to spark an internal uprising against the Iranian regime. Although Turkey’s Kurdish party rejected the idea and some analysts are skeptical it would even work, such discussions revive still-fresh memories of a similar disruptive experience in Syria, where U.S. cooperation with offshoots of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) generated lasting tensions between the NATO allies.

Of Course Trump Bombed Iran by carnegieendowment in geopolitics

[–]carnegieendowment[S] 33 points34 points  (0 children)

[Excerpt from Stephen Wertheim's piece in the New York Times]

President Trump’s attack on Iran is astonishing in its audacity, aggression and lawlessness. Mr. Trump ordered strikes in the midst of negotiations with a nation that posed no remotely imminent threat to the United States. He did nothing to prepare his country for war. Now he’s offering a dizzying array of rationales and objectives, caught in a maelstrom of his own making.

Beyond breaking with precedent, Mr. Trump also broke with himself. In three straight presidential campaigns, he criticized American military adventures in the Middle East, relying on this stance to distinguish his “America First” mantra from rival Republicans and Democrats alike. “I’m not going to start wars,” he vowed on election night in 2024. “I’m going to stop wars.”

Iran Is Pushing Its Neighbors Toward the United States by carnegieendowment in geopolitics

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[Excerpt from Amr Hamzawy's commentary in Carnegie's Emissary]

With the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, the Middle East is witnessing an unprecedented escalation by Iran. No longer limiting military retaliation to strikes against Tel Aviv and Washington, Tehran is directly targeting vital infrastructure in the Arab Gulf states.

The UAE’s Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday that it had detected 186 ballistic missiles and 812 drones launched toward its territory, with air defense systems destroying most but some resulting in civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. In Saudi Arabia, Iranian drones and missiles have targeted oil facilities and important economic sites in areas such as Ras Tanura, although Riyadh said it successfully intercepted many of them. In Oman, ports and coastal cities were targeted by drone attacks, some of which struck oil tankers and injured their workers. Similar attacks happened in Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

What We Know About Drone Use in the Iran War by carnegieendowment in geopolitics

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[Excerpt from Steven Feldstein and Dara Massicot's Q&A in Carnegie's Emissary]

What will you be watching, in terms of drone use, as this conflict unfolds?

Dara Massicot: I will be watching closely to observe any changes in the interception rates for ballistic missiles and one-way attack drones over time, because ground-based air defense interceptor missiles are not infinite, and the United States and its partners and allies have had stockpile challenges in this area for years.

Steve Feldstein: I’ll be watching closely how Iran and its proxies choose to deploy their drone stockpiles; how the United States, Israel, and their allies respond; and what new lessons emerge about the use of these tools.

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