Some U.S. foreign policy "realists" are cheering on President Trump's recent course change in the Middle East, saying that despite its clumsy implementation, the move cuts through contradictions at the heart of the American policy and puts the onus of regional powers to resolve Syria's eight-year-civil war and prevent an Islamic State resurgence there. Published October 17, 2019
Russian forces began sweeping in to fill a security void left by withdrawing American troops in northern Syria on Tuesday, with Moscow-backed mercenaries taking control of a strategic former U.S. special operations outpost and Russian troops engaging in armored patrols as the new buffer between Turkish and Syrian armies. Published October 15, 2019
President Trump has stoked his political base by touting the withdrawal of more than 1,000 U.S. troops from Syria as keeping his 2016 campaign promise to end American involvement in foreign "forever wars." The problem is that the Pentagon's near-simultaneous deployment of some 3,000 troops and advanced missiles to Saudi Arabia is likely to trigger an escalation with Iran that could undercut Mr. Trump's determination to get the U.S. military out Middle East entanglements. Published October 14, 2019
The U.S. military is significantly increasing troop deployments to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said Friday, announcing that 3,000 American personnel -- including two fighter squadrons and an air expeditionary wing -- will be sent to the Persian Gulf nation, as well as advanced missile defense systems. Published October 11, 2019
President Trump is personally responsible for deaths and injuries sustained by U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in northern Syria as a Turkish military assault advances, and he bears the blame for a looming resurgence of the Islamic State terror group, a spokeswoman for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) told The Washington Times on Thursday. Published October 10, 2019
Apple found itself in the crosshairs of Chinese government anger over the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong Wednesday, with a key state-media outlet in Beijing accusing the U.S. tech giant of promoting a mapping application for smartphones that helps protesters in Hong Kong evade police. Published October 9, 2019
The State Department on Tuesday imposed visa restrictions on Chinese officials that Washington accuses of engaging in an abusive crackdown against Muslim ethnic minorities in northwest China. Published October 8, 2019
President Trump's decision to pull American forces from key posts in Syria set U.S. counterterrorism officials on edge Monday amid concern that the move will lead to the headlong release of thousands of hardened Islamic State fighters from makeshift prison camps there. Published October 7, 2019
The much-anticipated resumption of stalled nuclear negotiations with North Korea got off to a rocky start Saturday, with Pyongyang saying talks had collapsed within hours, while U.S. officials claimed there were "good discussions" and expressed hope for another round later this month. Published October 5, 2019
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came to Foggy Bottom last year vowing to get the State Department "its swagger back," a motto that was music to the ears of career diplomats after the plunging morale that had gripped the department during the brief tenure of President Trump's first secretary of state, Rex Tillerson. Published October 3, 2019
North Korea's test Wednesday of what was believed to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile was a strategic move by Pyongyang to gain an upper hand over the U.S. in nuclear talks slated to restart this weekend after a months-long stall, national security insiders said. Published October 2, 2019
U.S. negotiators will push their North Korean counterparts for concrete steps toward denuclearization in exchange for limited counter steps by Washington when the two sides meet this weekend for their first working-level talks since February's failed Hanoi summit between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Published October 1, 2019
India's top diplomat on Monday defended his government's decision to purchase S-400 missile systems from Russia, saying that despite U.S. concerns that New Delhi should be allowed to buy what it wants from whomever it wants to meet its defense needs. Published September 30, 2019
Iran-backed rebels in Yemen said Sunday that they had killed 500 Saudi soldiers, adding to soaring tensions between Iran and the U.S., which has backed a Saudi-led military campaign against the rebels for the past four years. Published September 29, 2019
Mounting protests in Cairo against Egypt's president are prompting bipartisan unease among U.S. lawmakers, with the top Republican and Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee calling Friday for Egyptian authorities to avoid a violent crackdown against demonstrators. Published September 27, 2019
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Friday that President Trump had sent repeated behind-the-scenes messages to him vowing to ease sanctions on Tehran if Mr. Rouhani agreed to a one-on-one meeting at the U.N. General Assembly in New York this week. Published September 27, 2019
Iran's president described U.S. government officials as "criminals" in a speech before the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday. Published September 25, 2019
The U.S. government is leveling new sanctions against Chinese companies evading the Trump administration-led embargo on Iranian crude oil, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday in a speech on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Published September 25, 2019
Saudi Arabia's top diplomat said Tuesday that the major attack this month on his country's oil infrastructure was "an act of war" by Iran, but he downplayed the notion that Saudi and U.S. forces are preparing to counter with military strikes of their own against Iran. Published September 24, 2019
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said here Tuesday that the attack earlier this month on Saudi oil infrastructure was "an act of war" and that Riyadh is "certain" it was launched by Iran. Published September 24, 2019
