Background For the eighth year in a row, the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report labeled Libya as a Special Case country. Typically, the Department of State gives a country a score from one to three based on their efforts to combat human trafficking. However, the Department was unable to give Libya a score, since, during the recording period, the UN-recognized Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU) did not exercise control over a portion of Libyan territory and the country’s judicial system was not fully functioning. Because of this, it is impossible to measure the full exte ..read more

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Join the Foreign Policy Research Institute for a virtual event on North Korea with Yong Suk Lee, a former CIA analyst who spent over two decades studying one of the world’s most mysterious nations. From its origins under the leadership of Kim Il Sung to the present day rule of Kim Jong Un, Lee delves into the politics, grand strategy, and palace intrigue that shapes North Korea’s trajectory. Drawing on his extensive experience, Lee provides valuable insights into an increasingly dangerous country. The future of North Korea will have a profound impact on the safety and security of the United St ..read more

In October 2023, the White House requested emergency supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2024 to provide additional aid to Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific. After months of debate, the House of Representatives passed an emergency $8.1 billion supplemental appropriations bill to support Indo-Pacific priorities. The content is very similar to the Senate version, and President Joe Biden has stated that he supports the bill. While media reports have labeled this bill as Taiwan aid, the actual provisions have a much more significant impact beyond Taiwan. S ..read more

The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) is pleased to announce the appointment of its 2024 Templeton Fellows. Recipients of the Templeton Fellowship work across FPRI’s research programs on a variety of projects throughout the year. The Templeton Fellowships are named for the late John M. Templeton, Jr., M.D., who had a decades-long association with FPRI, serving as Vice Chair of FPRI’s Board of Trustees and, along with his beloved wife, Josephine “Pina” Templeton, generously supported FPRI for many years. We’re deeply grateful to them both and to the Templeton Family and the Psalm 103 Fou ..read more

The Bear Market Brief goes nuclear! Andrey Baklitskiy dropped by to discuss all of Russia’s strategic red lines, what the introduction of hypersonic weapons means for global security, and more. Explore more from the Bear Market Brief Podcast here ..read more

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On Saturday, April 13, the Islamic Republic of Iran launched an unprecedented aerial attack on Israel. The Israeli military and its allies and partners were successful in defending against the attack. FPRI Senior Fellow Afshon Ostovar and Aaron Stein, President of FPRI, discuss the attack and its implications below. Tempting Fate Afshon Ostovar, Senior Fellow  The Iranian-Israeli feud has steadily escalated over the last decade and Iran’s missile attack on Israel over the weekend marks a dangerous new phase. The shadow war, as the Iranian-Israeli conflict is often called, has been typifie ..read more

Executive Summary In the early 1990s, Kyrgyzstan was often referred to as an “island of democracy” in Central Asia. The “island’s” shores have receded over the years, but relative to its neighbors, Kyrgyzstan remained the most democratic country. Three distinguishing features of Kyrgyzstan include an active political opposition, a vibrant civil society, and independent media outlets. The current government is eliminating all three of those distinctions. Political opposition leaders have been jailed, civil society has been intimidated and prevented from holding public meetings, and independent ..read more

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