On foreign policy at the DNC

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U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech on the last night of the Democratic National Convention was unusually focused on foreign-policy issues. Attempting to make the case for her national security bona fides, Harris said, “I will ensure America always has the strongest, most lethal fighting force in the world.” She also talked about besting China in “the competition for the 21st century,” the need for peace in the Middle East, and the importance of standing up to “tyrants” such as Vladimir Putin.

But how will these lofty moments of political rhetoric translate into policy? Foreign Policy’s editor in chief Ravi Agrawal spoke on Friday to State Department alum Anne-Marie Slaughter and Matt Duss, a former advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders, about their takeaways from the speech. On the Israel-Hamas war and what position Harris was telegraphing, the guests expressed dissenting views. Duss said he was disappointed with the lack of “specific or forward-leaning” remarks from Harris on the issue, while Slaughter saw the vice president’s remarks as setting a tone of unity: “People are not going to want to divide the party in a way that would prevent her from continuing the desire for a cease-fire and a permanent settlement.”

For more on how Harris might be thinking about the Middle East and elsewhere, we asked FP columnist Michael Hirsh for a close reading of two recent books from Harris advisors Rebecca Lissner and Philip Gordon. Together, Hirsh found, their writings “have sketched the outlines of a new worldview in which Washington frankly acknowledges its past excesses and dramatically lowers its ambitions.”

In another piece on Harris’s emerging foreign policy, Hirsh argues that the vice president “represents the next generation of national security experts steeped in newer, high-tech threats that the Cold War generation represented by Biden is less familiar with.” In her speech on Thursday, Harris did mention the importance of leading the world in the fields of space and artificial intelligence; while not widely known, Harris’s experience on AI is substantial, writes Bhaskar Chakravorti of Tufts University’s Fletcher School.

Finally, don’t miss our feature on the 11 men—and yes, they are all men, per our sources—shaping former President Donald Trump’s potential second-term agenda on foreign policy. From Elbridge Colby, “the loudest and perhaps most cogent voice in Washington advocating a complete shift away from Europe, NATO, and Russia” to Robert Lighthizer, the progenitor of Trump’s famous trade tariffs, this guide serves to add some texture to what is a common parlor game in Washington these days. After all, nobody can actually claim to know exactly what Trump will do.—Amelia Lester, deputy editor?

New and Noteworthy

• Critical Minerals: China has moved to restrict exports of antimony, a vital metal in the defense industry. Though Washington officials recognize what’s at stake for national security and technology, both of which rely on critical minerals, “nothing will happen overnight—and until then, Washington will likely remain vulnerable to Beijing’s threats in certain mineral supply chains,” FP’s Christina Lu writes.
• Britain’s New Leader: “It is less than two months after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won his decisive election victory on July 4, but the subsequent manner and style of governance in the United Kingdom could not be more different from previous administrations,” John Kampfner writes.
• Congressional Gridlock: Foreign Policy interviewed lawmakers, Senate staffers, and senior national security officials from both Republican and Democratic administrations to understand how congressional gridlock leads to backlog—and the risks that subsequently arise.

FP Live

Could Civil War Erupt in America?

Aug. 28 | 2:30 p.m. EDT?

From Northern Ireland to Syria, Barbara F. Walter has studied the genesis of civil wars around the world. The conditions that foment conflict are predictable, she says—and there are signs that those conditions are growing increasingly visible in the United States. Walter will join FP Live to lay out lessons for the United States in a crucial election year. Register now or join the FP network to submit your pressing questions.?

A Future for Palestinian Statehood?

On Demand

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Israel and Hamas are reaching what may be the “last opportunity” to come to a cease-fire. But even a plan that includes the withdrawal of Israeli troops and considerable humanitarian aid may merely be a return to the status quo. Salam Fayyad, the former prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, joined FP Live to discuss the future of long-term peace goals. To watch the conversation on-demand, subscribe to FP.

What We’re Learning About Harris’s Foreign Policy

On Demand

On Aug. 22 at the Democratic National Convention, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage to officially accept her party’s nomination. Anne-Marie Slaughter, the CEO of New America, and Matt Duss, a former foreign-policy advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders, joined FP Live for a postgame analysis and to discuss the future of the United States’ foreign policy. To watch the conversation on-demand, subscribe to FP.

Exercise Your Mind

Which world leader visited Ukraine on Friday amid Kyiv’s ongoing war with Russia?

A. Vietnamese President To Lam

B. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu

C. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

D. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

You can find the answer to this question and learn more at the end of this email.

A note from Robbie Gramer, co-writer of FP’s Situation Report newsletter

“Robbie here, starting with some bittersweet news: After nearly eight years, I am leaving Foreign Policy at the end of the month to take on a new challenge with a new job. Thank you to all the loyal readers and natsec nerds who have helped make this job so incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. Foreign Policy and SitRep will always have a special place in my heart. (I don’t care how hokey that sounds—it’s true.)

Rest assured, SitRep will be in good hands. Going forward, Jack [Detsch] will be joined every week by our colleague Amy Mackinnon, who has guest-starred frequently in SitRep with her ace reporting and analysis. Stay tuned for a fuller introduction to Amy next week.”

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Answer: C. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The trip could signal a subtle shift in India’s foreign-policy approach, FP columnist Sumit Ganguly writes.