Welcome again Foreign Policy‘s Status Report, where we begin to feel the looming gloom over the impending conclusion of the World Cup on Sunday.
However, this is what is available for the day: the cognitive dissonance of America First,, Iran was it starts again and possible The Houthis involved, and two new ones Biden Books.
The Trump administration has spent nearly two years criticizing allies for not spending enough on defense and pushing countries to take more responsibility for their own security as part of US President Donald Trump’s America First philosophy. And, naturally, as allies become more independent, it is inevitable that the United States will have less influence on their politics.
But the Trump administration still wants it both ways: a world in which Washington continues to shoot despite little commitment and involvement from the United States.
‘Common cause.’ The lack of understanding of this approach was on full display this week when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained why the administration is pushing for the dismantling of the International Criminal Court (ICC). “Using all the tools at the disposal of our government, working alongside every partner with whom we can do something common, we will dismantle the ICC brick by brick, if necessary,” Rubio. he wrote in The Wall Street Journal on Monday. Besides, an American official he told CNN that states that “refuse to reject the false jurisdiction of the ICC while relying on US support are likely to face further scrutiny.”
In short, the Trump administration seems to be planning to hold US support over the heads of the 125 countries that are part of the ICC to pressure them to go against the body.
The campaign against the ICC is tied to Trump’s more generals contempt for the rule of law and lack of respect to international lawbut it also highlights how the administration hopes to continue to use US influence around the world to pressure countries to achieve its goals. But it’s hard to wield such power when you’re also pressuring countries to become less dependent on the United States and alienating them by slashing security assistance programs or threatening to withdraw troops—on top of a constant stream of insults and misbehavior.
‘Misunderstanding.’ Thread on X This week from Elbridge Colby, the US undersecretary of defense for policy and a strong proponent of America First, inadvertently highlighted this contradiction.
Colby warned against a “cohesive strategy of the ‘middle powers'”—an idea, recently popularized by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneythat the middle powers of the world should unite to protect themselves from being bullied by the great powers. Colby said this approach “is based on a flawed understanding of international relations.” His posts appeared to reflect concern that countries are seeking other alliances and disengagement from the United States, which Trump’s critics have long warned will be the inevitable result of his America First philosophy.
Colby emphasized that the administration sees an “increase” in engagement with Washington, but his posts struck a defensive tone as he emphasized the importance of “America’s defense industrial base.”
“This does not mean that partners and allies should stop spending more or investing in their own DIB (defense industrial base). *On the contrary.* More spending will help us all, and especially the security of our own partners. And we welcome investment by partners in their own DIBs, but in ways that cooperate with the United States instead of trying to imitate or cancel in vain,”
His posts sparked intense debate (and ridicule) online, including from Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference and former German ambassador to the United States. “Bridge, if you feel that you need to explain all this publicly, this shows that you are beginning to understand correctly that many of your allies have lost faith in the reliability of the United States. What would be left of the United States as a great nation without an international network of Allies and Allies?” Ischinger he wrote.
Bruno Maçães, Portugal’s former foreign minister responsible for European affairs, mocked Colby, to write“We don’t care about this so I’m going to write 20 threads about it.”
It seems that the Trump administration is beginning to realize that it is difficult to use American influence as a hammer when you spend most of your time breaking its foundations.
Darline Graham Nordonesister of the late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Grahamit was to be sworn in and the Senate on Tuesday to take his brother’s seat—three days after him death at the age of 71.
The Senate on Wednesday also held confirmation hearings for two of Trump’s nominees—Jay Clayton to the director of national intelligence and Todd Blanche to attorney general—both endured heated arguments with US lawmakers. Blanche faced questions on the Epstein files and Blanche’s personal relationship with Trump from Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, while Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. to be left and Clayton on Clayton’s refusal to admit that Trump lost the 2020 election.
In the Atlantic Ocean, the turmoil in the government of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky continued with the removal of the Minister of Defense. Mykhailo Fedorovwho announced his departure in a post on the dismissal of X. Fedorov came quickly on the heels of resignation of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyridenko and reports of impending eviction of Olga Stefanshyna like Ukraine ambassador to Washington. Fedorov’s huge popularity within Ukraine has made his removal controversial, and provocative great protest across the country on Thursday.
What should be high on your radar, if it isn’t already.
Say stress. The US military reinstated its sanctions against Iran this week as fighting between the two countries over the Strait of Hormuz erupted once again.
At the same time, a related conflict threatens to take a second turn. As our colleague Keith Johnson explained in his the latest pieceA four-year ceasefire agreement between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi militia group in Yemen collapsed this week. Experts fear that if the situation worsens, the Houthis could close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the main shipping lane in the Red Sea, as they did following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war that began in 2023. If they do, it will seriously disrupt oil prices and international trade—even more than the Iran war is ready to do.
Strengthening the benefits of Ukraine. Zelensky has had several fruitful weeks of diplomacy. He got a promise from Trump to give Ukraine a license to build Patriot missile defense systems at last week’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. And this week, he got European help to create a similar (but cheaper) Ukrainian system during his attendance at a “coalition of the willing” meeting in Paris. Rishi has more on those ads in his the latest piece.
Zelensky’s talks come as Ukraine’s military continues to attack Russia with repeated drone strikes, pinning down Russian troops at several points along its 700-mile front line and disrupting transportation networks. But extending that success to reclaim territory is another matter, according to our colleague Sam Skove report.
Palestinians inspect the site of Israeli attacks in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, July 16.Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images
Two major upcoming book releases were announced this week from members of the Biden administration—including one from the former president himself.
Biden he announced his new book, called Promise me, Americain the X post on Wednesday. The book will be released on November 17, two weeks after the US midterm elections.
Also coming out with a book is Brett McGurk, who used to be Biden’s senior Middle East adviser during the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent war. The book, which deals with one aspect of the attack and its aftermath, is titled Edge: Inside the Race to Free the October 7 Hostages. It will be released on October 6th.
Monday, July 20: Andy Burnham is expected to take over as UK prime minister.
Tuesday, July 21: The meeting of Foreign Ministers of the United Nations of Southeast Asia begins, organized by the Philippines in Manila.
Trump welcoming Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House.
Wednesday, July 22: Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is scheduled to be arraigned in New York.
Friday, July 24: The United Nations Security Council is expected to begin the selection process of the next secretary general of the United Nations.
Trump attends White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, rescheduled after allegations attempted murder on which he interrupted the first dinner on April 25.
46-the average percentage of people from 20 countries who view China favorably, according to the new investigation and Pew Research out this week. Only 36 percent have a favorable opinion of the United States.
“Enjoy.”
-A sailor in the Strait of Hormuz responding to a US military radio message granting freedom of navigation in the waterway, according to for a recording heard by The Wall Street Journal.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s restructuring of the Pentagon has now reached a thyroid level. Hegseth announced Wednesday that the department will begin testing the testosterone levels of service members age 30 and older, while younger service members can opt in to the test.
In a video on X called “Top T War Department,” Hegseth explained to service members that the test is about “restoring and improving your natural ability,” though he said that any testosterone replacement therapy recommended would be “entirely your choice.” Several doctors and researchers are to question that point, stating that testosterone levels fluctuate naturally over time and that routine asymptomatic testosterone testing is not clinically necessary.
