Center for International Policy

@cipolicy

Advancing a more peaceful, just & sustainable world by centering people & the planet in US foreign policy. Home of International Policy Journal and UnDiplomatic Pod, The Iran Podcast and Black Diplomats. Learn more at internationalpolicy.org

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Center for International Policy@cipolicy· 7d

Statement with alt text (also text available at the link above)

Support Schumer's Anti-Corruption Bill; Reverse the Corrosion of American Politics
"We welcome Sen. Schumer's push to place anti-corruption efforts front and center for Democratic reforms. We also commend the bill for taking aim far beyond just Trump himself.
Corruption has seeped so far into American politics, especially into American elections, that a new bureau is sorely needed to combat it, and to reverse the corrosion of American politics.
We look forward to working with anti-corruption advocates to continue the much-needed work to take back our democracy from wealthy, powerful and unaccountable interests"
CASEY MICHEL, SENIOR NONRESIDENT FELLOW

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· 11d

NEW STATEMENT 🚨 CIP Senior Nonresident Fellow @cjcmichel.bsky.social issued the following response to Sen. Schumer's announcement of new legislation to create an Anti-Corruption Bureau:

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· 15d

By taking the war seriously, and conditioning arms sales, Congress can instead stop adding fuel to the fire. internationalpolicy.org/publications...

SOLUTIONS, DISTILLED:
CONGRESS CAN STILL ACT TO PREVENT ATROCITIES
IN SUDAN
• Condition the arms relationship with the UAE: Enact the Stand Up for Sudan Act, suspending designated U.S. defense sales until the President certifies Abu Dhabi has ended material support for the RSF.
• Reconcile the two bills toward the House text: Keep the stronger House provisions, which require sanctions and bar weapons sales to countries arming the war, rather than leaving it to the President to decide.
• Put the political endgame on the table: Any future negotiations must center the political future of Sudan and its transition to a civilian-led government alongside ceasefire terms
Michael Ishak for the International Policy Journal

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· 19d

As Congress debates authorization of funds for the military, members should know the numbers they're being told don't reflect even the Pentagon's own public accounting, and should demand accurate estimates of costs and obligations. internationalpolicy.org/publications...

◦ The Pentagon should correct the errors that this report identifies in the Pentagon's congressionally mandated "Overseas Cost Summary" (OCS) so that the OCS accurately reflects the costs of maintaining U.S. bases and troops in South Korea and all other foreign countries.
◦ Congress should fulfill its oversight role by ensuring the Pentagon provides an accurate OCS annually.
◦ Until the Pentagon corrects the report's errors, members of Congress should request a Government Accountability Office report detailing the financial costs of maintaining bases and troops in other countries.
◦ Congress members, analysts, and the public should carefully consider the $100 billion in annual taxpayer spending required to maintain around 800 or more U.S. military bases abroad.
◦ The Congressional Research Service should conduct a study of alternatives to the overseas basing of the U.S. military, comparing current costs to other approaches focused on diplomacy and conflict resolution in places such as the Korean peninsula, where the Korean war is technically ongoing.

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· 19d

In a new piece for @thenation.com, @sinatoossi.bsky.social and @nancyokail.bsky.social argue that the failures of US policy on Iran run deeper than Trump, even as Trump drives longstanding policy to its logical conclusion.

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· 19d

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· 20d

While it is increasingly unlikely that the Trump administration will take it, there exists (or existed) a path for Trump and Congress to honor their end of the MOU, and it meant broadly following existing appropriations law, rather than carving out exceptions

US should condition security assistance to Israel as obliged to do so under the existing law of the Foreign Assistance Act.
US security assistance should be additionally conditioned on Israel halting its operations in Lebanon as outlined in the MOU
Congressional provision of future aid should be conditioned on the acceptance and provision of humanitarian relief
Congress should prepare terms acceptable for a more durable end to the conflict, terms that decouple the United States and Israel military cooperation.

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· 27d

Thrilled to welcome two new senior fellows to @cipolicy.bsky.social! Yuman Rizvi joins as our Leahy Fellow on human rights & security, focusing on immigration & militarism, & @cjcmichel.bsky.social joins as Senior Fellow on corruption, as CIP builds an affirmative, progressive foreign policy

thrilled to welcome two new fellows to @cipolicy

Yumna Rizvi: Leahy Fellow for Human Rights and Security

Casey Michel: senior non-resident fellow on corruption

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Jul 8

Congress can act to prevent this presidential overreach and expansion of violence, from hearings to conditioning funds to demanding oversight and accountability.

Hold public hearings requiring the Pentagon and White House to explain the legal, strategic, and humanitarian rationale for procuring cluster munitions and restarting domestic production.
Condition, limit, or prohibit funding for the procurement, production, transfer, or use of cluster munitions through the NDAA.
Require comprehensive reporting and consistent monitoring from the Pentagon on stockpile levels, dud rates, procurement plans, use, and compliance with international humanitarian law.
Demand that congressional oversight and policymaking reflect the documented long-term humanitarian consequences of these weapons.
Support civil society, experts, survivors, and communities affected by cluster munitions and ensure policy reflects lessons from past use and accounts for the enduring risk cluster munitions pose to civilians.

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Jul 8

TOMORROW: "Towards a Democratic AI & Digital Sovereignty” Join CIP President and CEO @nancyokail.bsky.social for a talk on AI and democracy hosted by @broadbent.bsky.social as part of the Road to the 2026 Panamerican Congress.

A progressive vision for AI & Digital Sovereignty? Panamerican Congress Road To Montevideo 2026 Featured Speakers Avi Lewis, leader of Canada's NDP, Aisén Amelia Etcheverry Escudero, former minister of Innovation for Chile, Nancy Okail, President and CEO of the Center for International Policy, Sigrid Segura, Deputy, Frente Amplio, Costa Rica

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Jul 6

Ending the abuses of Trump and future president means scaling back the overbroad and enduring powers granted presidents in the wake of 9/11 internationalpolicy.org/publications...

Ban discretionary terrorist designations, repeal laws that punish nonviolent conduct as terrorism
Repeal legal authorities that let presidents wage open-ended military campaigns outside actual armed conflicts
End and prohibit military detention at Guantanamo Bay
Declassify and release Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s “torture report,” provide redress to victims, hold those responsible accountable.
Abolish all programs that militarize local law enforcement agencies

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Jun 15

Should Congress want to, it could easily work to reduce violence in Mexico by making it harder for criminal and corrupt actors to legally access firearms sold in and exported from the US. This is largely a question of will and enforcement. internationalpolicy.org/publications...

Solutions, Distilled:

Fully fund and empower the ATF to address gun trafficking
Support more ATF inspections of gun dealers, especially in Arizona and Texas
Pass the ARMAS Act to control for end use of firearms legally exported from the US
Prohibit the retail sale to civilians of .50 caliber rifles

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Jun 15

"Mexico legally imports, by far, more firearms from the United States than any other Latin American country, in some years nearly as much as the rest of the region *combined*." writes John Lindsay-Poland in the International Policy Journal. internationalpolicy.org/publications...

US Firearms, munitions, parks, explosives exported to mexico and the rest of latin america, 2020 - 2025

y axis: value in dollars
x axis: 2020 through 2025

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Jun 15

NEW STATEMENT 🚨 CIP Executive Vice President @mattduss.bsky.social issued the following response to reports that the United States and Iran have reached a ceasefire agreement to be signed by the end of the week: #Iran 🇮🇷 #UnitedStates 🇺🇸

“With news of a ceasefire agreement to end the disastrous and unnecessary US-Israeli war on Iran, the tragic failure of Donald Trump’s Iran policy has now played out exactly as antiwar critics warned it would.

“Trump said that his war on Iran would be quick, decisive and force the regime to totally capitulate or collapse. We warned it would become a quagmire that would fail to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program, ignite a regional conflict that could threaten the global economy, further strengthen the Iranian regime’s hold on power and cost thousands of lives–including American servicemembers. We were right.

“This diplomatic agreement is critically needed to bring the disaster to an end, and must be fully and swiftly implemented. Nonetheless, the United States will be left in a weakened strategic position – not because of the contents of this agreement, but because of the utter failure of the reckless approach taken by Trump at the urging of pro-war groups in Washington, and a racist, corrupt Israeli Prime Minister.

“US lawmakers from both parties should support the agreement to end this historic and completely avoidable foreign policy disaster. Just as importantly, both Congress and the White House must end the definitively failed approach of ever-increasing sanctions and belligerence toward Iran, and seek to build on this new opening for diplomacy to address the full range of issues–as well as potential opportunities–in the US-Iran relationship.”

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Jun 11

As the Trump administration opens the world cup with detentions and delays for players and referees, it's worth revisiting what it would mean for the international community to use sport not as an excuse to bypass values, but a way to uphold them. internationalpolicy.org/publications...

SOLUTIONS, Sports Diplomacy Under Pressure in
DISTILLED: a Fractured Democratic Landscape
• The U.S. federal government should establish a dedicated World Cup mobility framework guaranteeing transparent, expedited, and rights-based visa and entry procedures for fans, athletes, journalists, and civil society actors
• FIFA should condition hosting agreements on binding human-rights and mobility guarantees, including independent monitoring of border and enforcement practices during the tournament.
• Host cities and states should adopt clear protocols limiting the role of immigration enforcement agencies in and around sporting venues to prevent intimidation and arbitrary detention.
• The European Union and partner governments should articulate minimum democratic standards for mega-event hosting, using Milano-Cortina 2026 as a benchmark for rights-based governance.
• The International Olympic Committee should treat LA 2028 as a pilot case for democratic hosting, integrating freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and independent oversight as core Olympic requirements.
Raül Romeva i Rueda for the International Policy Journal

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· May 20

CIP EVP @mattduss.bsky.social is calling out Trump's zero-enrichment demand as a "poison pill" - pushed by Netanyahu and Washington warmongers who wanted war, not a deal. His message: a deal becomes possible the moment Trump reverses that mistake. Follow @cipolicy.bsky.social for expert analysis

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· May 19

The scale and shape of these arms sales are likely to endure, even if the US is led by a Congress or president that wants to scale back such militarized spending. Which means the form of the weapons sold now and in the future will shape future policy. Some suggestions:

1. Prioritize Restraint-Oriented Systems Over Offensive Platform Sales to encourage information-sharing, escalation management, and responsible military modernization.
2. Link Arms Transfers to Crisis Management Mechanisms to shape how that capability is used under stress—particularly in a nuclearized environment.
3. Re-engage Pakistan at a Functional Level to preserve limited channels of influence and reduce the risk of strategic miscalculation.
4. Integrate Arms Transfers into a Broader Regional Strategy that includes crisis diplomacy, economic ties, and multilateral coordination.

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· May 19

What comes next for the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran? WATCH: CIP Senior Fellow Negar Mortazavi breaks down the latest developments and the strategic risks ahead with @jeremyscahill.com. Link to the full interview: youtube.com/live/sqVXK1Y...

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· May 6

Better diplomatic results hinge on the capacity make negotiations work, skilled knowledgeable practioners capable of executing them, and a belief that the US will honor commitments in the future. Start there. internationalpolicy.org/publications...

SOLUTIONS, DISTILLED:
A NEW CHINA POLICY
REQUIRES AN AMERICAN
REALITY CHECK
• Rebuild and reinforce the diplomatic corps pipeline, ensuring competent and field-knowledgeable staff
• Promote and protect cultural inclusivity, especially by reaching out and guaranteeing asylum to communities under threat
• Protect programs for international students, building connections and strengthening oversight over academic freedom
• Reject the xenophobia of prior foreign policy by the Biden and Trump Administrations, and acknowledge who it harmed
• Build on areas of cooperation, cooling tensions while meeting other challenges
Rui Zhong for the International Policy Journal

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Apr 29

The End of Managed Conflict: WHO Still Controls Escalation? Join CIP President @nancyokail.bsky.social for a talk on the Iran war and U.S. Foreign Policy at Northwestern University.

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Apr 28

The best thing the international community can do for Iran and each other is urge an end to the war, whose aims appear beyond the reach of force. That will take partners who want and can commit to peace, commitments Trump has repeatedly abandoned. internationalpolicy.org/publications...

Sanam Naraghi Anderlini
for the International Policy Journal
What next?
Peace: The US and the wider international community has a once in a generation opportunity for a grand bargain to bring peace and security for Iran, Israel, Palestine, and Lebanon.
Life: There should be a coalition-based approach to engage Iran to reintegrate into world AND address domestic human rights issues.
Freedom: Iran needs a national dialogue, truth and reconciliation process for a transformed future.

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Apr 28

Both the pain of the war and geopolitical benefits have accrued asymmetrically. Iran has suffered but its hold on the Strait, and hardliners hold on the state, has only magnified.

Operationally, the Trump administration expected its shock and awe assassinations of key Iranian figures on the first day of the war to wrap things up quickly. Instead, the killing of the 100 children in the schoolyard in Minab grabbed the headlines.
Tactically the Iranians deployed a decentralized security system yielding better resilience, despite the 30,000 missiles and bombs that the Us and Israel dropped on the country in the first 25 days. The Iranian regime also revealed a sophisticated array of missiles with accurate targeting capacity. It is texibook asymmetrical warfare.

Strategically, the Iranian regime gained the upper hand at least for now.
Knowing it could not dominate the nuclear-armed US and Israel militarily, Iran opted to target the US's weakest spot - the global economy - and trust in the status quo of a world dominated by the US. By controlling the Straits of Hormuz, Iran pinched the world, and the world cried out in economic pain.

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Apr 28

We are two months into Trump's war on Iran, in a ceasefire that threatens to break at any moment and with resolution or even deescalation unlikely. Sanam Naraghi Anderlini of @whatthewomensay.bsky.social takes stock of the present pause. internationalpolicy.org/publications...

The International Policy Journal
TALLYING THE LOSSES IN TRUMP'S WAR ON IRAN
Sanam Naraghi Anderlini

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Apr 24

What is the U.S.’s ability to sustain a blockade on Iranian ships? Andrew Miller: “The blockade can be sustained indefinitely – the question is the opportunity cost.”

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Apr 23

To meet the crisis, the EU could waive restrictive deficit spending rules for renewable energy projects, tax oil windfall profits, look to renewable success stories like Spain, and more to ensure energy supply more resilient to future shocks. internationalpolicy.org/publications...

The EU should suspend spending debt and deficit rules and rapidly expand funding for renewable energy projects.
Oil windfall profits should be taxed while programs alleviating unemployment and high energy prices for workers will provide immediate relief. .
EU member states should follow the examples of Spain, rapidly expanding its renewable capacity and decouple electricity prices from international fossil-fuel markets
States should directly invest in public energy projects to ensure renewable power generation is built and held sovereign
States must identify key industries to support and protect for economic and geopolitical security.

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Apr 23

STARTING SOON 🚨: Ending the US-Israeli War on Iran and Lebanon Webinar Register: internationalpolicy.org/event/ending...

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Apr 22

TOMORROW 🚨🌐 Ending the US-Israeli War on Iran and Lebanon Join the Center for International Policy and @winwithoutwar.bsky.social for a panel with top regional experts to discuss the state of negotiations in coming days and weeks.

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Apr 20

WEBINAR: Ending the US-Israeli War on Iran and Lebanon 🌐 With the US-Iran ceasefire expiring Wednesday and negotiations at a critical juncture, join Andrew Miller, CIP Fellow Negar Mortazavi, and @abujamajem.com this Thursday for an expert discussion moderated by CIP's @nancyokail.bsky.social.

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Apr 14

“The United States and all other countries need to cut off weapons to Israel immediately” – VP for Government Affairs @dylanwilliams.bsky.social in @commondreams.org

Center for International Policy@cipolicy· Apr 14

EVP @mattduss.bsky.social in @theguardian.com: "We really need to break away from militarism"