Research Library

A renewed “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran appears likely under Donald Trump, but his second administration will confront a very different landscape than his first, write Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Jim Krane, and Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar.

Christopher Landau, former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and Donald Trump’s nominee for deputy secretary of state, joined Tony Payan to discuss what lies ahead for the U.S.-Mexico relationship under Trump and Claudia Sheinbaum.

South Korea could strengthen its relationship with the U.S. by emphasizing how its major industries, such as shipbuilding and energy, can support U.S. efforts to compete with China. Additionally, South Korea could consider offering aid to Ukraine. In a commentary in Korea Law Times, nonresident fellow Henry Haggard explores how managing U.S.-South Korea relations can be mutually beneficial for both countries, economically and diplomatically, especially as they manage their complex interactions with China.

New U.S. regulations, responding to U.S. national security concerns, are set to take effect in mid-January and will prohibit imports of Chinese- and Russian-made “connected” software and hardware used in manufacturing vehicles. If combined with Trump’s proposed 10%–20% tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts, these regulations could adversely impact Mexico’s economy, reduce the global competitiveness of North America’s automotive sector, and disrupt U.S. trade agreements.

The Center for U.S. and Mexico’s Mexico Country Outlook 2025 offers expert insights on key issues shaping the future of the region, including economic reforms, regulatory changes, security concerns, and shifting political dynamics. This annual report also examines major challenges facing the Sheinbaum and Trump administrations and assesses their potential impact on U.S.-Mexico relations in the year ahead.

Former CIA senior executive Glenn Corn joined the “Baker Briefing” podcast to discuss how the incoming Trump administration might change the approach to Russia’s war in Ukraine — and why the war’s outcome matters for American interests.

Chinese companies are playing a key role in the Persian Gulf region’s energy transition, partnering with state-linked Gulf entities. By prioritizing political stability & long-term gains, these joint ventures enable quicker decision-making. A new brief from the Middle East Energy Roundtable, a collaboration between the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East and the Center for Energy Studies, explores this collaboration and U.S. perspectives.

With the development of the COVID-19 vaccine in late 2020, vaccine skepticism in the U.S. expanded dramatically. Kirstin R.W. Matthews and Rekha Lakshmanan explore the discourse surrounding vaccines, their politicization, and what’s ahead for vaccine policy under the incoming Donald Trump administration.

The significant economic benefits of the U.S.-South Korea relationship, including billions in Korean investments in American industries, have created thousands of U.S. jobs. In a new Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) commentary, nonresident fellow Henry Haggard suggests that reducing tariffs, expanding visa opportunities, and fostering more joint ventures in sectors like steel and shipbuilding could further enhance prosperity and security for both nations.

Developing global partnerships could provide essential research and funding for nuclear energy and the energy transition. In a new policy brief for Brussels School of Governance’s Centre for Security, Diplomacy, and Strategy, nonresident fellow Henry Haggard highlights potential collective efforts that JUKE could undertake to leverage their shared strengths for a more sustainable future.