Geopolitical Perspectives - WestExec Advisors

Michael Camilleri in La Nacion: “Venezuela on the Brink”

"For the famously fractious Venezuelan political opposition, these have been weeks marked by uncharacteristic unity and strategic thinking. While achieving their ultimate goal—the ouster of Nicolás Maduro and restoration of democracy—remains uncertain, the opposition has strengthened to a point where transition seems possible, if by no means certain. "For the past several months, Venezuelan opposition figures have focused anyone who would listen on the date of January 10, 2019. That day, they argued, would mark the start of a new presidential [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T16:58:47-04:00January 28, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Antony Blinken in The New York Times: “No People. No Process. No Policy.”

"Senator John McCain liked to remind us that it is always darkest before it goes completely black. That may prove an apt metaphor for President Trump’s foreign policy. The past two years have been plenty dark, with a long list of self-inflicted wounds: tearing up the Iran nuclear deal, pulling out of the Paris climate accord, walking away from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, separating children from their parents at the border, insulting allies while embracing autocrats. "But the administration has [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T16:59:11-04:00January 28, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Matt Waxman on the Council on Foreign Relations’ “The President’s Inbox” Podcast

Matt Waxman sits with the Council on Foreign Relations' James Lindsay to discuss presidential emergency powers and executive actions. Listen to the full podcast here: Full Podcast

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T17:01:08-04:00January 25, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Mike Singh in The Wall Street Journal: “Beijing’s Curious Silence on the Syria Withdrawal”

One of the more troubling yardsticks by which to measure President Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria was the gratification it seemed to offer American adversaries. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the decision “correct,” and senior Iranian regime cleric Ayatollah Hassan Ameli asserted that it “hands [Syria] to Iran.” The state-run media of Syria’s Assad regime gloated predictably. Conspicuously quiet on the matter, however, was the country the U.S. increasingly regards as its chief rival—China. Beijing’s silence reveals how [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T17:02:04-04:00January 8, 2019|Cybersecurity & Defense, Geopolitical Perspectives|

Michael Camilleri in the Miami Herald: “Who will save Brazil’s democracy if Jair Bolsonaro tries to destroy it?”

When Jair Bolsonaro was sworn in as Brazil’s president on New Year’s Day, he announced that, “One of my priorities is to protect and reinvigorate Brazilian democracy.” The hardline former army captain was known for many things during his 27 years in Brazil’s Congress, but champion of democracy was not one of them. Bolsonaro expressed nostalgia for Brazil’s military dictatorship and dedicated his vote to impeach then-President Dilma Rousseff to the colonel who led a dictatorship-era torture squad... Read the full [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T17:02:18-04:00January 7, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Antony Blinken and Robert Kagan in The Washington Post: “‘America First’ is only making the world worse. Here’s a better approach”

Foreign policy was the last thing on voters’ minds in the midterm elections, but as we look toward 2020, one thing is clear: President Trump’s “America First” foreign policy — or its progressive cousin, retrenchment — is broadly popular in both parties. Trump’s recent decision to withdraw all troops from Syria and 7,000 from Afghanistan has been condemned by Democrats and Republicans alike in Washington. But it is not at all clear that Americans beyond the Beltway are equally outraged. The [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T17:02:28-04:00January 1, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Dan Shapiro in The Atlantic: “Trump Leaves Israel in the Lurch”

Ask Israelis what they appreciate about President Donald Trump, and they can tick off a substantial list: the long-sought move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem; the abandonment of the much-maligned Iran nuclear deal; the lack of pressure (so far) on Israel to curtail settlement expansion or make concessions to the Palestinians; and the absence of tensions with Israel’s leaders, which plagued the relationship between former President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But dig a bit deeper, and you [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T16:35:35-04:00December 28, 2018|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Dennis Ross in The Washington Post: “There’s no reason Congress and Trump can’t achieve their goals for Saudi Arabia”

Policies — not just politics — are deeply polarized today. Every choice becomes binary with no middle ground. In response to the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, either we should punish Saudi Arabia and try to force Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman out of power, or our interests are so great in the kingdom that we should simply put this behind us. President Trump has chosen the latter course, disregarding our values in declaring that our interests in Saudi Arabia matter more [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T16:34:41-04:00November 29, 2018|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Ely Ratner in Foreign Affairs: “There Is No Grand Bargain With China”

In true showmanship fashion, U.S. President Donald Trump is keeping the world in suspense about whether he will soon double down on the United States’ trade war with China or call a truce. The big reveal will come after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the margins of the G-20 in Buenos Aires later this week. Trump has at times been optimistic, telling reporters, “I think a deal will be made. We’ll find out very soon.” Don’t believe the [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T16:34:27-04:00November 27, 2018|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Dennis Ross in The Hill: “US must impose a price on Saudis, but one with a clear purpose”

The Hill | October 30, 2018 The murder of Jamal Khashoggi has dominated international attention for weeks. Sadly, his death may have more impact on Saudi Arabia and its future than did his articles for the Washington Post. In the best case, where his killing was not ordered but was the result of overzealous Saudi operatives, there is still something grievously wrong with a policy designed to silence dissidents or critics, either by rendition or intimidation. As important as Saudi Crown [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-07T16:33:46-04:00October 30, 2018|Geopolitical Perspectives|