The hottest Diplomacy Substack posts right now

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Top World Politics Topics

Beijing renews calls for Taipei to open up tourism upon my FT oped

Pekingnology • 79 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Beijing is urging Taiwan to lift travel restrictions and welcome mainland tourists again, saying reopening tourism would benefit cross‑Strait exchanges and people’s well‑being.
  2. Reopening mainland visits is framed as a practical, fast way to lower tensions by restoring everyday civilian contact and routines that make escalation harder.
  3. Both sides have signalled interest but still keep permit limits, so starting with reciprocal, limited steps—like group tours from nearby regions and restored routes—is offered as a feasible path forward.

Do Those Dominating a Situation Truly Bluff & Then Back Down?: Misreadings from Melos to Davos, & Beyond

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 330 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. To 'dominate' a space is to be at home in it and set its rules, not just to make a loud show; threatening and then backing down at Davos looks like improvisation and fragility, not genuine control.
  2. Reading Davos as a clever bluff ignores the institutional and ritual constraints at play; European pushback and coordinated expectations turned theatrics into a retreat rather than a strategic win.
  3. Using the Melian Dialogue to justify "might makes right" is a misreading of Thucydides; history shows that imperial arrogance often drives rivals to form alliances that undercut overreaching powers.

This Week in Canada: Carney Wins Because We Have So Much to Lose

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 366 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Mark Carney’s Davos speech argued that the old world order is breaking down and it earned a strong standing ovation, which will likely boost his political standing at home.
  2. He used Václav Havel’s greengrocer story to warn that systems survive when ordinary people go along, so complacency lets harmful norms persist.
  3. Canada’s geography and close economic ties, especially with China, make the country particularly exposed, so warnings about defending the rules-based order resonate domestically.

Trump Helps Putin Kill Ukrainians: A Case Study

Phillips’s Newsletter • 329 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Diplomacy
  1. Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike targeting Ukraine’s power and heating systems during an extreme cold snap, a deliberate move to maximize civilian suffering.
  2. The U.S. president publicly claimed he had secured a week-long pledge from Putin not to strike energy targets, but strikes continued, which undermines that claim and spread misleading information that aided Russia.
  3. There is urgent pressure for the U.S. to impose sanctions and restart military aid to Ukraine, since inaction or the spread of disinformation enables further attacks on civilians.

War of Attrition & War Propaganda

Glenn’s Substack • 619 implied HN points • 26 Jul 24
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. In a war of attrition, defeating the enemy is more important than capturing land, but this can lead to heavy casualties and slow progress.
  2. The media often downplays the reality of casualties to maintain public support for the conflict, creating a false image of victory.
  3. Calls for peace and negotiations are often dismissed or punished, even though they could help save lives and end the fighting.
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People Are Still Not Getting Trump Right

Phillips’s Newsletter • 472 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. The Greenland letter wasn’t a random tantrum but a deliberate move in a longer-term campaign to pressure Europe and push for US control of Greenland.
  2. European leaders have repeatedly flattered and conceded to him, making themselves look weak and leaving them vulnerable to unequal deals and further pressure.
  3. The Greenland drama distracts from Ukraine, undermining support and giving Russia time to attack and consolidate while global attention shifts away.

Weekend Update #171: The Week Trump Helped Putin Commit Two War Crimes

Phillips’s Newsletter • 253 implied HN points • 08 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Trump’s public claims about a humanitarian pause helped mask a Russian buildup that enabled two coordinated mass attacks that severely damaged Ukrainian power and heating infrastructure.
  2. The U.S. and Russia look to be negotiating big economic deals without Ukraine’s input, so Europe must demand a seat at the table to avoid being sidelined in decisions about Ukraine’s future.
  3. The claim that India agreed to stop buying Russian oil is false and the joint statements only show vague intentions, so press reports presenting it as a firm pledge were misleading.

LEAKED: Keir Starmer’s Memos Responding to Trump’s Request for Help Opening the Strait of Hormuz

I Might Be Wrong • 6 implied HN points • 18 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. European leaders largely rebuffed President Trump’s request for help reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
  2. There’s a clear rift between President Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with Trump publicly singling him out for criticism.
  3. Leaked drafts show Starmer personally wrote and revised multiple memos in response, and only the final version was officially transmitted with timestamps documenting the edits.

The Iran War: Our Complete Coverage

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 37 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🌐 International Diplomacy
  1. The Iran war is a fast-moving, world-shaping crisis that the United States is deeply involved in and that divides political opinion at home and abroad.
  2. The conflict’s outcome is unclear—experts debate regime change, who will lead Iran next, and whether groups like the Kurds will shape the country’s future.
  3. The war has big practical consequences: it threatens energy supplies and trade routes, raises the risk of wider regional or global escalation, and sparks legal and humanitarian debates.

Israel Had a Disorienting 2025. What Comes Next?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 746 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Israel felt a deep sense of disorientation in 2025, like vertigo, as familiar symbols of grief and protest suddenly disappeared.
  2. Some hostages have returned and are reintegrating into everyday life, even posting on Instagram, showing personal recoveries amid the trauma.
  3. Global attention moved away, leaving Israelis to pick up the pieces and figure out what comes next on their own.

María Corina Machado: The Nobel Prize Speech I Couldn’t Give in Person

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 918 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🌐 International Diplomacy
  1. MarĂ­a Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize but could not attend in person because she had been hiding for months and it was too dangerous to leave Venezuela.
  2. Her daughter accepted the prize for her and announced that Machado had secretly left the country and was expected to arrive in Oslo soon.
  3. The prize and her announced departure happened amid rising international pressure on Nicolás Maduro’s government, including a recent U.S. seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker.

Deadlocks and Credibility

Bet On It • 140 implied HN points • 12 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. The usual worry that countries will take a deal and then betray it is backward; leaders often refuse even to pretend to negotiate on core principles, and that refusal is what keeps many deadlocks in place.
  2. Publicly changing a fundamental stance would be a credible signal of real internal change and would likely trigger major domestic upheaval, so such shifts are rare and unlikely to be mere tricks.
  3. Grandstanding and ideals (Idealpolitik) shape international behavior more than cynical bargaining, so simple payoffs or bribes usually won’t break entrenched conflicts.

This Week in Canada: The Enemy of My Enemy Is My New Friend

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 352 implied HN points • 20 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. The prime minister’s visit to China is the first full official trip by a Canadian leader since 2017, marking a notable restart of high-level ties.
  2. Canada is leaning toward China because its relationship with the United States feels less predictable, and Ottawa wants more options and flexibility.
  3. The ceremonial reception and the deal Carney brought home show Canada is being pragmatic and willing to diversify partnerships after years of tension, including the collapse in relations following the detention of two Canadians.

Weekend Update #170: Russian Advances Are Slower Than The Battle Of The Somme

Phillips’s Newsletter • 274 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Russia is suffering extremely high casualties while gaining very little territory, so its offensive is grinding forward at a slow and costly pace.
  2. Russia’s economy and technological base are weak and losing steam, making it hard for Moscow to sustain a successful long-term war effort.
  3. The U.S. president’s public closeness to Putin and optimistic portrayal of talks is giving Russia political cover, undermining tougher action and feeding Ukrainian mistrust.

Niall Ferguson: The Beginning of the End of the Ukraine-Russia War

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1080 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. The U.S. proposed a 28-point peace plan with a Thanksgiving deadline that is informal and being revised as talks continue.
  2. Negotiations have involved leaked documents, meetings in Geneva and Abu Dhabi, and many outside parties, while both sides keep fighting to gain leverage.
  3. Both Ukraine and Russia now need a respite from war, so this initiative may have a better chance of working than skeptics think.

Weekend Update #169: A Corruption Riddle Solved

Phillips’s Newsletter • 327 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. The Board of Peace is built so its chairman has near-total control over large sums with little oversight, creating a clear risk that seized or donated funds could be funneled to the chair for personal or political use.
  2. Zelensky used his Davos speech to warn that the United States under Trump cannot be relied on, urging Europe to stop waiting for America, build its own strength, and recognize Ukraine’s central role in European security.
  3. Ukraine’s 2026 military plan aims to inflict very heavy Russian casualties—targeting up to 50,000 per month—while reducing Ukrainian losses through tighter management, precision operations, and intelligence-driven tactics.

I was just given a lifetime ban from Instagram for thanking Yemen for trying to stop the genocide of Palestinians.

The North Star with Shaun King • 4676 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Shaun King was banned from Instagram for thanking Yemen for trying to stop the genocide of Palestinians.
  2. Meta's decision sets a dangerous precedent by deleting Shaun King's account and preventing any appeal.
  3. Shaun King stands by his support for Yemen and Palestine despite the unjust ban from Instagram.

IS TRUMP A LIABILITY IN HIS OWN WAR?

Seymour Hersh • 45 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. His public remarks have revealed sensitive intelligence and likely put covert contacts inside Iran at risk, prompting searches and reprisals.
  2. Talking about bringing the Kurds into the fight could ignite ethnic conflict, since armed Kurdish groups seek autonomy and are already massed near borders.
  3. US intelligence officials worry that the president’s loose talk and poor judgment are undermining coordinated military and covert operations against Iran.

Lawrence Wong’s Words, Heard in Stereo

Pekingnology • 135 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Small states need to be masters of their own destiny, relying on resilience, social cohesion, and a clear commitment to self‑defence rather than size alone.
  2. Historical memories and great‑power narratives strongly shape regional reactions, so remarks about Japan or China can be amplified and interpreted through emotional, national lenses.
  3. Practiced diplomatic balance matters: staying principled and flexible lets a small country avoid dependency or unnecessary antagonism while navigating rising China–Japan tensions.

What Will the Future Look Like in the ‘New World Order?’ (w/ John Mearsheimer) | The Chris Hedges Report

The Chris Hedges Report • 174 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. A U.S. leader who favors unilateral use of military and economic power and dismisses international institutions and allies can dismantle the post‑war rules‑based order and leave the country isolated.
  2. The world has shifted from unipolarity to multipolarity with China as a formidable great power, making East Asia the primary strategic flashpoint and increasing the risk of dangerous crises despite deep economic ties.
  3. Eroding the rule of law at home and gutting soft‑power tools while doubling down on fossil‑fuel economics will weaken U.S. influence, harm long‑term competitiveness, and raise the chances of domestic authoritarianism or reckless foreign adventures.

The Ultimate Deception: How Trump and Bibi Outfoxed Iran

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 4780 implied HN points • 13 Jun 25
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Trump and Netanyahu were straightforward in their plans against Iran, avoiding complex political language. This clear communication was crucial in their strategy.
  2. Iran's top military leaders, who had threatened Israel, believed they were safe and went about their normal lives without fear. This showed a miscalculation of the threat posed by Israel.
  3. The consequence for Iran's leaders was severe, as they were ultimately targeted and eliminated, illustrating the risks of underestimating an opponent.

Upcoming Podcast: What Should I Ask State Department's Sarah Rogers?

The DisInformation Chronicle • 300 implied HN points • 11 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Diplomacy
  1. The State Department announced bans and potential deportations for five foreign individuals accused of coordinating censorship and demonetization of American viewpoints, naming figures like Imran Ahmed of CCDH.
  2. Under Secretary Sarah Rogers spent weeks in Europe pressing counterparts to push back on laws like the UK Online Safety Act, which sparked sharp criticism from some European officials who called the U.S. actions a witch hunt.
  3. There will be a podcast interview with Under Secretary Rogers about her Europe trip and related First Amendment issues, and listeners—especially paid subscribers—are invited to submit questions for the conversation.

Israel's two wars

Slow Boring • 6427 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. The conflict in Israel involves two wars - one in Gaza and one in the West Bank.
  2. The Gaza war is seen as just despite its humanitarian toll, while the West Bank conflict is viewed as unjust.
  3. Efforts for a peaceful resolution involve complex political negotiations and the need for international diplomatic intervention.

You Listen to Israel, You Lose

John’s Substack • 18 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. The US and Israel appear to have no clear strategy or exit plan for the war with Iran, which makes winning unlikely and escalation more dangerous.
  2. The US president made a serious mistake by following Israeli leadership instead of heeding military and intelligence warnings.
  3. Pro-Israel lobbying and Israeli influence steered US policy toward war rather than listening to the National Intelligence Council and other officials.

On Strategists and Strategies

Comment is Freed • 73 implied HN points • 23 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. A taste for strategy came from political engagement and the desire to champion a side, especially the challenge of persuading people who are indifferent or hostile.
  2. The 1960s generation felt it could drive big social change, with civil rights, anti‑war and student movements creating a strong belief in transformative politics.
  3. Studying the social sciences gave tools to understand society and government, and reading about rebels showed that many idealistic movements fail, stressing the importance of practical, realistic strategy.

Who Is Detaching Whom?

Phillips’s Newsletter • 119 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. The biggest mistake in US foreign policy is treating American military power as proof of overall competence or wisdom.
  2. Decades of US military dominance led allies, especially in Europe, to defer intellectually and stop thinking for themselves.
  3. Military strength gave the US undeserved credibility in non-military areas, producing bad judgments and a gap between perceived and actual competence.

This Week in American History: The First War for Hearts and Minds

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 171 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
💾 History Diplomacy
  1. A British general during the Revolutionary War articulated the idea of winning "hearts and minds" as a way to end rebellion, stressing persuasion over sheer punishment.
  2. Early on there was a real debate between negotiation and force, with even a peace emissary and the military commander surprisingly agreeing that gaining local support mattered.
  3. The "hearts and minds" approach from that era later shaped modern counterinsurgency doctrine and was used in conflicts like Vietnam and Iraq, remaining influential among military thinkers.

An Empire on the Brink of Collapse

Webworm with David Farrier • 3930 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. The author reflects on feelings of nervousness and limbo at the US Embassy in New Zealand for a visa appointment.
  2. America is portrayed as a country facing challenges and disparities, leading to reflections on its future.
  3. Living in America brings chaos but also a sense of contentment, with the author finding inspiration for stories from the environment.

The Unfolding Disaster in the Gulf

John’s Substack • 13 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. The Gulf is heading into a growing disaster because of the war with Iran, and the region faces serious consequences.
  2. The Iran war was mishandled, creating major strategic and humanitarian problems.
  3. Historical patterns suggest the conflict is likely to worsen unless leaders make different choices.

Trump’s Plan to Make Gaza Great Again

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 245 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Diplomacy
  1. He proposed a "Board of Peace" and a plan to rebuild Gaza that includes a luxury "Gaza-Lago" resort city as part of a broader peace effort.
  2. The initiative is driven by a philosophy of positive thinking rooted in Norman Vincent Peale, prioritizing optimism over detailed political or historical solutions.
  3. Many see the vision as wildly optimistic and possibly naive given the deep, complex realities of the Israel–Palestinian conflict.

Greenland, sine ira et studio

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 145 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Trump's push for Greenland is rooted in real strategic concerns about the Arctic and in his doubts about NATO; when he questions the alliance he leans toward seeking more direct U.S. control over key territory.
  2. Denmark and other European states are effectively unable to sell Greenland because of constitutional limits and post‑colonial political commitments, so the idea of an easy transfer of sovereignty is unrealistic.
  3. The U.S. presence in Europe functions like an informal empire that gives Washington influence and economic benefits, and Trump's strategy mixes pressure on NATO with efforts to cultivate friendly populist parties to sideline the EU — a move that risks political blowback in Europe.

Is this the End of the Pax Americana? Niall Ferguson Is Live from Davos.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 250 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. People are openly questioning whether the United States still leads the global order, which suggests American dominance may be weakening.
  2. Public disputes among Western allies reveal real fractures in their relationships, not just routine policy differences.
  3. This feels like a rupture rather than a smooth power shift, leaving the future of Western unity and the rules-based world order uncertain.

Russian Unreality and American Weakness

Thinking about... • 711 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Diplomacy
  1. A recent 'peace plan' regarding the Russo-Ukrainian war seems more focused on benefiting a few powerful individuals rather than actually achieving peace, showing a lack of true American diplomacy.
  2. The document claims to address Ukraine's sovereignty but actually undermines it, making demands that benefit Russia while ignoring its aggressive actions in the war.
  3. Key proposals in the plan reflect Russian interests, such as limiting Ukraine's military and preventing it from joining NATO, raising concerns about the overall intention to weaken Ukraine rather than support it.

The Jig Is Up

imetatronink • 5837 implied HN points • 14 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Russia will achieve a decisive conclusion to the war on terms they dictate.
  2. NATO is shattered as a military alliance, also politically coming apart.
  3. US armaments supremacy myth exposed; decline of the empire accelerates.

The Flotillas to Gaza Are the World’s Conscience

The Chris Hedges Report • 255 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Flotillas are bold acts of resistance that refuse to accept the blockade of Gaza, keeping hope alive and forcing the world to confront its moral duty. They serve both humanitarian and political purposes by shaming complicit governments and demonstrating that people can act.
  2. Participants face harsh repression—interceptions at sea, arrests, beatings, solitary confinement and other abuses—but activists keep returning despite the real personal risks. Their persistence is meant to show solidarity with Palestinians and to sustain international attention.
  3. Many governments and international bodies have failed to halt the humanitarian crisis and often enable it, so organizers argue that sustained global pressure, direct action and solidarity are necessary to raise the political cost and eventually force change.

To Nuke or Not to Nuke?

imetatronink • 3007 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Considering nuclear war is a serious and irreversible decision.
  2. Both Americans and Russians have different perspectives and self-perceptions in the event of war.
  3. Introducing nuclear weapons to the conflict could lead to catastrophic consequences.

DisInformation Chronicle Podcast with State Undersecretary Sarah Rogers

The DisInformation Chronicle • 200 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. The State Department has used visa revocations against five people accused of censoring, demonetizing, or suppressing American viewpoints, signaling a new tool to push back on foreign censorship.
  2. The conversation covered wide free-speech concerns across the U.S. and Europe — including fact-checking, debanking, censorship trends, and how diplomacy can respond to information control.
  3. The podcast will publish interview clips, invite listener suggestions and guests, and encourages subscriptions as it follows next steps and evolving norms for free speech.

A Victory Strategy For Ukraine

Phillips’s Newsletter • 180 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. Make "victory" the clear, explicit objective for Ukraine because the words leaders use shape strategy, morale, and public expectations.
  2. Recent shifts in U.S. politics and messaging have emphasized Russian strength and possible Ukrainian collapse, and that defeatist narrative weakens support and pushes toward concessions.
  3. Ukraine needs clear, concrete victory goals tied to military and diplomatic plans; ambiguity and defeatism erode its negotiating leverage and chances of a favorable outcome.

Entirely irrelevant Eurotards assure the world they are "closely monitoring the situation" after the U.S. strikes Venezuela and captures President NicolĂĄs Maduro

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 349 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy
  1. The United States launched airstrikes in Venezuela and captured President NicolĂĄs Maduro and his wife, who were taken aboard the USS Iwo Jima to the U.S. to face criminal charges. The U.S. administration said it intends to run Venezuela, at least temporarily.
  2. The European Union publicly said it is closely monitoring the situation, called for a peaceful transition and respect for international law, and stressed the safety of EU citizens in Venezuela.
  3. The EU response was portrayed as late, symbolic, and hypocritical by critics who see it as insufficient given the scale of the U.S. action and the EU's prior positions on military aggression.