Joseph R. DeTrani

While leaders talk, children starve in Gaza and Ukraine

More than 30 million people in 22 countries are in a severe food crisis and are on the brink of starvation, according to the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.

July 29, 2025

China can do more to improve relations with the U.S.

Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, at the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and described the exchange as "constructive."

July 14, 2025

Golden Dome missile defense essential for America’s survival

More countries aspire to be nuclear-weapons states, and we should prepare for this eventuality. That's why the Golden Dome missile defense initiative is timely and needed.

July 9, 2025

Iran’s terror legacy: Ayatollah’s regime still poses a deadly threat to U.S. and Israel

Since 1984, Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism.

July 1, 2025

Abduction and uranium enrichment: Two issues poisoning U.S. relations with North Korea

In September 2002, North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong Il, admitted to visiting Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that North Korea had abducted 13 Japanese citizens.

June 24, 2025

Leadership corruption in China and Russia

In March, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence published an unclassified report titled "Wealth and Corrupt Activities of the Leadership of the Chinese Communist Party."

June 15, 2025

Lee Jae-myung’s victory signals new era for South Korea amid regional tensions

On June 3, South Korea turned the page and embarked on a journey of peace and prosperity.

June 10, 2025

Iran’s theocracy can’t be trusted

Iran suffers from massive unemployment, high inflation, growing poverty, pervasive corruption and a social system that disrespects women.

June 1, 2025

A U.S. president pursuing peace

It's gratifying to see President Trump personally pursuing peace and reconciliation in a world ravaged by war and conflict.

May 20, 2025

Pope Francis: A legacy of hope

Pope Francis' passing on April 21 was unfortunate for many reasons.

April 29, 2025

From partner to provocateur: How China turned U.S. support into strategic threat

The trade war with China is intensifying and could lead to conflict. President Trump paused tariffs for 90 days on about 80 countries but kept his tariff of 145% on China.

April 20, 2025

Dealing with nuclear proliferation

Numerous allies have expressed concerns regarding the nuclear weapons programs of Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.

April 9, 2025

The critical role of Reagan’s truthful news in ending Soviet control

President Reagan believed in the power of communication. He aimed to inform a global audience about American values and find ways to provide truthful information and analysis to those denied access by their own governments to the truth.

March 31, 2025

North Korea’s alarming military buildup

In 2021, Kim Jong-un announced that North Korea would have an intercontinental ballistic missile, submarines capable of launching ballistic missiles, a hydrogen bomb and hypersonic missiles.

March 19, 2025

Trump’s peace efforts for Ukraine need security assurances to succeed

President Trump's efforts to secure a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine are admirable. Equally important, however, is security assurances for Ukraine.

March 4, 2025

Without China’s help, Russia’s war in Ukraine would end

During a Feb. 24 telephone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin to China's President Xi Jinping, Mr. Xi reiterated China's "no limits" partnership with Russia.

February 26, 2025

Democracy under siege by authoritarian regimes worldwide

Based on my numerous assignments abroad and work for Director of Central Intelligence Bill Casey, I have concluded that authoritarianism is on the move and democracy is under siege.

February 18, 2025

A bold approach for dealing with North Korea

The absence of any diplomatic engagement with North Korea during the past four years has resulted in a more belligerent North Korea, now more aligned with Russia and China.

February 11, 2025

Trump should use cultural exchanges to promote peace and democracy abroad

President Trump has an opportunity to tell this story to the world. An opportunity to contribute to ending the conflicts in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip and other regions experiencing turmoil.

January 27, 2025

Trump’s relationship with North Korea’s Kim offers a chance to counter Putin’s influence

The Budapest Memorandum of December 1994 provided security assurances to Ukraine for giving up their nuclear weapons.

January 16, 2025