Chinese-Built Headquarters Towers Over African Union Summit Kerry: U.S. Behind on Africa Investment, “We Need to Change That”   In the USA vs. China contest for influence in Africa, China was the clear winner at celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity.   Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang […]

Joseph Kony and his outlaw Lord’s Resistance Army now have a chance to regroup, thanks to the collapse of government in the Central African Republic and new sanctuary in Sudan.   Kony is on the run from the International Criminal Court, which wants to arrest him on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, […]

The United States and South Korea are major partners when it comes to the manufacture and sale of civilian nuclear power equipment. But that partnership, and maybe much more, could come under pressure if the two can’t come up with a broader agreement on licensing nuclear technology. A big part of the problem, not surprisingly, […]

Secretary of State John Kerry makes his first trip to Asia facing an increasingly aggressive North Korea and new leadership in South Korea, Japan, and China without the help of an assistant secretary for the region. “He will have an opportunity in Seoul, in Tokyo, and in Beijing to talk about our shared concern about […]

The Obama administration is at an awkward moment with Pakistan, eager to better secure the Afghan border and forestall an Iranian-Pakistan gas pipeline deal, but hamstrung by the temporary absence of an established central government in Islamabad. Secretary of State John Kerry wanted to go to Islamabad following surprise stops in Baghdad and Kabul this […]

  Ten years after the invasion to oust Saddam Hussein, the United States has little leverage with Iraqi leaders who are allowing Iran to resupply embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Tehran’s support for Damascus topped the agenda of Secretary of State John Kerry’s surprise visit to Baghdad over the weekend. He was hoping to stop […]

U.S. Trying to Preserve Status Quo, China Objects John Kerry is in his first week as America’s top diplomat and already he has a problem – the East China Sea where Chinese frigates are locking on to Japanese naval and air force patrols with weapons-fire-control radar. “Actions such as this escalate tensions and increase the […]

He Talks About His Boyhood Bicycle Ride Behind Iron Curtain Much has been made of the new U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s familiarity with the Foreign Service as the son of a former diplomat. In his first day at the State Department, he spoke about the challenges of Foreign Service families “who have to […]

Where does President Obama Go in His Second Term? Barack Obama’s decision to steer his foreign policy more toward Asia could face sharp challenges when it comes to the South China Sea. That’s where China is squaring off with some of its neighbors over who has sovereignty over the maritime region and its potentially vast […]