Asia,North America

This paper addresses the U.S.-South Korea alliance in the context of Asia’s evolving security architecture. At the crux of the issue is the Biden administration’s desire to uphold the rules-based…

By Emanuel Pastreich The conclusion of COP 25 (UN Climate Change Conference) in Madrid failed to produce any consensus, or plan, for responding to the acidification of the oceans, increasing desertification, rising sea levels or alternating droughts and hurricanes that spell catastrophe for humanity. This inaction was not a result of ignorance. The U.N. Environment…

By Andray Abrahamian It is difficult to recall a moment where the two Koreas were simultaneously more isolated from the other countries of the region. What does this mean for the coming years? For both, relations with China have been tricky in recent years. Beijing, has after all sanctioned both Koreas since 2017. When Seoul…

By Mark Tokola The Trump Administration’s precipitous decision to remove American troops from Northeast Syria, where they had been allied with Kurdish forces in opposing ISIS, and had been deterring Turkish forces from attacking the Kurds, raises questions regarding the wisdom of relying on the United States.  Of course, the U.S. commitment to have forces…

By Robert R. King The Hanoi Summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ended abruptly in a disappointing failure in February of this year.  During a brief, hastily prepared meeting, the two leaders, joined this time by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, met again briefly in June at Panmunjom on…