Bipartisan and dedicated to defining the future of national security, for over 60 years the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has developed practical solutions to the world's greatest challenges. Since our founding, CSIS scholars have provided strategic insights and bipartisan policy solutions to help decision makers chart a course toward a better world. CSIS is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center's 250 full-time staff and large network of affiliated scholars conduct research and analysis and develop policy initiatives that look to the future and anticipate change.
The Hormuz energy crisis exposes critical vulnerabilities in Southeast Asia’s energy security, proving that even regional producers remain susceptible to global market shocks and maritime chokepoint disruptions. Addressing these risks requires moving beyond temporary buffers like national oil reserves toward structural...
The recent Trump-Xi summit centered on economic security, with both nations maintaining a fragile detente while avoiding major structural shifts. Key outcomes included a commitment to a future AI safety dialogue—rebranded by the U.S. as "superintelligence"—and an extension of the trade ceasefire until January. Despite ...
U.S.-China trade relations currently face significant contraction, with direct commercial goods trade declining as effective U.S. tariff rates on Chinese imports climb into the high 20s or low 30s. Ahead of the upcoming presidential summit, negotiations center on a potential "30 for 30" tariff reduction plan and the ex...
Rising diesel prices ahead of the midterm elections have triggered intense debate in Washington regarding potential export bans on distillate fuels. While proponents suggest that restricting exports could lower domestic costs for farmers and truckers, industry experts warn that such interventions risk creating refinery...
The recent U.S.-China summit represents a fragile ceasefire rather than a substantive détente, signaling a shift from overt confrontation toward a tenuous stability. Despite the ceremonial warmth, both nations maintained low expectations, resulting in limited concrete deliverables beyond a two-month extension of the ec...
China-North Korea relations are undergoing a significant reset, driven by Beijing’s desire to hedge against unpredictable U.S. policy, counter regional alliances, and manage an increasingly volatile Pyongyang. North Korea currently occupies the "driver's seat," effectively leveraging its deepening military and economic...
U.S.-China relations currently exist in a state of strategic stalemate, characterized by a delicate balance between economic interdependence and geopolitical friction. President Trump’s decision to greet President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews signals a shift in diplomatic optics, reflecting a desire for personal ra...
Escalating geopolitical instability and new sanction policies are driving significant volatility in global energy markets, particularly for middle distillates like diesel. The recently introduced Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act grants the U.S. president broad authority to impose substantial tariffs on ma...
The U.S.-South Korea trade and investment relationship stands at a critical juncture as negotiators finalize a multi-billion dollar agreement focused on AI, energy infrastructure, and civil nuclear reactors. This potential deal, valued at over $100 billion, faces delays stemming from political sensitivities in Seoul an...
The recent "vibe shift" in AI policy reflects growing alarm over the rapid development of self-improving superintelligence and the associated catastrophic risks. OpenAI’s success in solving the Navier-Stokes Millennium Problem using 10,000 coordinating agents highlights both the immense potential of AI in scientific di...
Rising long-term interest rates and a $40 trillion U.S. debt burden signal significant economic instability driven by reckless fiscal policies and persistent inflation. Rather than a sign of robust growth, the current market environment reflects a confluence of supply shocks, diminished foreign demand for Treasuries, a...
The upcoming summit between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., faces significant skepticism regarding its potential for substantive outcomes. Scott Kennedy, Trustee Chair of Chinese Business and Economics at CSIS, notes that despite the growing list of global challenges—including trade...
The Trump administration’s recent oil deal in Venezuela signals a fundamental shift toward an "age of power," where geopolitical expediency replaces traditional rule-based international systems. This agreement grants the United States a 35% interest in Venezuelan assets, aiming to leverage the country’s vast, underutil...
Beijing’s perception of American decline, rooted in ideological conviction rather than purely practical assessment, remains a central driver of Chinese foreign policy. To counter this, the Biden administration implemented a strategy centered on domestic technological reinvestment, the revitalization of alliances like t...
The Hormuz energy crisis highlights China’s evolving role as a "swing consumer" in global oil markets, leveraging its massive refining capacity and layered reserve system to stabilize supply shocks. Rather than relying on a single source, China is institutionalizing a resilient energy strategy that balances domestic pr...
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