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Articles by Jamie Fly
When the U.S. Advocates for Political Prisoners Around the World, Freedom Wins | National Review
Pastor Ezra Jin's story shows that American power can still be leveraged to advance human freedom.
America’s Democracy Is in Decline
New research by Freedom House suggests that this negative impression is more than a feeling. The recently published Freedom in the World 2026 report highlights concrete problems with the institutions that Americans are losing confidence in, specifically Congress and the justice system. We argue that long-term issues like legislative dysfunction and gridlock, alongside discrimination and a weakening of anticorruption safeguards, are eroding confidence in democracy and worrying many Americans.
President Trump: In Cuba, don’t fall for the Venezuela trap | Opinion
Cuban flag 0n a street in Havana. The Trump administration has an opportunity to finally advance meaningful change on an island where political opposition, independent media and free association are banned, and over 1,000 brave Cubans, including Luis Manuel Otero Alcántra and Maykel Castillo Pérez, are suffering in prison because they dared to express dissent. Cuba’s regime is not only a danger to the Cubans it oppresses; it continues to pose a serious security threat to the United States.
It’s a free country — for 21 percent of the world
It’s a free country — for 21 percent of the world (washingtonpost.com) It’s a free country — for 21 percent of the world By Jamie Fly; Yana Gorokhovskaia 2026031909310200 Even as long-reigning autocrats such as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are removed from power, the outlook for the global state of democracy remains highly uncertain. The year 2025 marked 20 consecutive years of decline in global freedom.
America’s Democracy Is in Decline
The overwhelming majority of Americans agree that democracy is the best form of government. But according to the first report from the Democracy for All Project, a collaboration between the Charles F. Kettering Foundation and Gallup, over half of the people surveyed think that American democracy is performing poorly. New research by Freedom House suggests that this negative impression is more than a feeling.
RFE/RL Is the Canary in the Coal Mine for Kyrgyzstan
The Debate | Opinion Recent actions by the Kyrgyz government are placing the country’s vibrant media – and, by extension, its democracy – at risk. For decades, amid a sea of authoritarian neighbors, the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan, sandwiched between Kazakhstan and China, charted a different path. As other governments in the region expelled journalists and shut down independent media outlets, in Kyrgyzstan they flourished.
Clearer than ever that America must invest in truth
Russia’s unprovoked attack on the innocent people of Ukraine has finally focused international attention on the dangers of Vladimir Putin’s ambitions. Now, as it becomes clear that the fastest way to end this disastrous loss of life is to put pressure on Putin from within, piercing the Kremlin’s information blackout is more important than ever. For much of the last several decades, the United States and its European partners failed to take the threat of Putin’s domestic propaganda seriously.
Afghan journalists were 'sparks of hope.' Now they deserve an expedited path to safety.
As the Taliban made surprising gains in recent days in Afghanistan, capturing Kabul, there is much attention focused on getting diplomats and those who worked for the U.S. military to safety. Yet, some of the most vulnerable individuals are those who never worked directly for the U.S. government, but who benefited from the relative freedom and openness that the international coalition helped protect.
Afghan journalists were 'sparks of hope,' now they deserve an expedited path to safety Original
As the Taliban made surprising gains in recent days in Afghanistan, capturing Kabul, there is much attention focused on getting diplomats and those who worked for the U.S. military to safety. Yet, some of the most vulnerable individuals are those who never worked directly for the U.S. government, but who benefited from the relative freedom and openness that the international coalition helped protect.
Burma, Belarus testify to the power and perils of free media
Two journalists were arrested recently in airports in Burma (Myanmar) and in Belarus. Daniel Fenster, a U.S. citizen and an editor of news magazine Frontier Myanmar, was seized in Yangon before boarding a flight to Kuala Lumpur. A day earlier, authorities apprehended blogger Raman Pratasevich in Minsk after brazenly forcing down his flight in Belarusian airspace. These incidents are the latest blows against press freedom in both countries.
Putin vs. the Press
In the Soviet Union, all media were controlled by the state, and foreign correspondents were severely restricted. Those who hoped — and perhaps believed — that freedom of speech and freedom of the press would be guaranteed to the people of post-Soviet Russia have been disappointed. Not least, the Kremlin has been hostile toward journalists reporting for Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) — media outlets funded by the U.S. government.
Gastbeitrag: Gegenüber Russland muss der Westen jetzt einig sein
Meinung Gastbeitrag Gegenüber Russland muss der Westen jetzt einig sein Stand: 19:37 Uhr | Lesedauer: 4 Minuten Von Natalie Arno, Jamie Fly Die transatlantischen Demokratien sollten eine gemeinsame Haltung zu Russland entwickeln, fordern Jamie Fly und Natalia Arno Quelle: German Marshall Fund of the United States; Free Russia Foundation Wladimir Putins Regierung setzt jedes Mittel ein, bis hin zu gezielten Tötungen.
Chemical Weapons in Russia an Early Test for Biden
Alexei Navalny. (Photograph by Vladimir Gerdo/TASS/Getty Images.) Despite the Kremlin’s ongoing attacks against the United States and its allies, some influential foreign policy voices are already counseling the incoming Biden administration to prioritize arms control with Moscow. Those voices would do well to stop and consider the current threat Moscow poses to arms control itself.
How Biden can undo damage to Voice of America and other U.S.-backed news outlets - The Washington Post
Jamie Fly, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, is a former president and chief executive of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Authoritarians have long practiced the cynical art of manipulating information to stifle dissent and shape international perceptions of their regimes. But in the digital age, they are armed as never before, reaching into other countries to influence political discourse and spread conspiracy theories.
As the pandemic rages on, it's time for NATO to step up
In the spring, as COVID-19-related deaths mounted in Spain and Italy, the European Union (EU) was slow to respond. National governments imposed bans on the export of medical equipment, complicating assistance efforts. A poll in March showed that 88 percent of Italians said the EU had not done enough to support them in their hour of need. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen later apologized for the delayed reaction from Brussels.
[Opinion] Hungary - how the government crippled the media
Last year, as I was laying the groundwork for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's return to Hungary after a 27-year hiatus from Hungarian language programming, a Hungarian-based expert I was talking to make a startling comment.
Explore the Map
Interested in downloading Freedom House report data? While our data is free for personal, academic, and nonprofit use, commercial use continues to require prior formal permission and agreement. Please email [email protected] with "Data Request" in the subject line and a brief explanation of your intended use and our team will assist you.
The Mueller Report Shows Politicians Must Unite to Fight Election Interference
The release of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report has generated pitched debate over whether it vindicates President Donald Trump or damns him.
What the Mueller Report Reveals About Russian Interference
Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS And How Washington Can Fight It By Jamie M. Fly and Laura Rosenberger TITLE TK SUBTITLE TK By Jamie M. Fly and Laura Rosenberger JAMIE M. FLY is Co-Director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy. He previously served as foreign policy adviser to Senator Marco Rubio. LAURA ROSENBERGER is Director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy. She previously served as foreign policy adviser to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
The Taiwan Relations Act at 40: It’s Time to Deepen Ties
Balance of Power The Taiwan Relations Act at 40: It’s Time to Deepen Ties Gary J. Schmitt & Jamie Fly The geostrategic rationale for keeping Taiwan at arms’ length no longer obtains. We need to revisit the TRA not just in terms of security, but across economics, politics, and society as well. Published on: April 8, 2019 Gary Schmitt is resident scholar in strategic studies at the American Enterprise Institute.
Horns of a Dilemma: Countering Authoritarian Interference in Democracies
March 4, 2019 In this episode of Horns of a Dilemma, Will Inboden, executive director of the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin, moderates a discussion on authoritarian interference in democracies.
Trump administration should use leverage to rein in Saudi's bin Salman
Candidate Trump was no fan of Saudi Arabia, questioning the American alliance with Riyadh and criticizing Saudi human rights abuses. President Trump has reversed course and swung too far in the opposite direction. It’s time for Congress to help the Trump administration find a happy medium: Valuable U.S. partnerships should not be discarded outright, but an "America First" policy that is blind to those partners’ flaws is just as detrimental to U.S. interests.
The Republican Party has Conformed to the Image of Trump and his Outspoken Nationalism
Regardless of how the midterm elections play out, one thing is certain: President Donald Trump has won the war of ideas both within the Republican Party and among its electorate. With the departure of moderate Republicans and the consolidation in Congress of younger, more fervent Trump supporters, the party’s acclimatization to Trump has molted into adherence to his policies and the abandoning of traditional conservative principles such as free trade.
Opinion | Khashoggi’s Killing Should Be a Nuclear Red Flag
In this Sunday, April 29, 2018 file photo released by Saudi Press Agency, SPA, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, is greeted by Saudi King Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: /Associated Press If the Saudi government’s prevarications about Jamal Khashoggi’s murder teach us anything, it should be that there are limits to how far the U.S. can trust Riyadh. In particular, America shouldn’t trust Saudi Arabia with nuclear technology.
A Deal for Trump and Juncker
If the fate of the 20th century was decided in the West, the fate of the 21st will be decided in Asia. In recognition of this, the Trump administration is refocusing U.S. policy to counter a rising China. To be successful, the U.S. will need to muster as many partners as it can in the region lately called the “Indo-Pacific.” An unlikely potential ally, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, arrives in Washington this week.
Dictator Diplomacy
President Donald Trump likes to claim that he represents a break with the past, veering away from the failed policies of his predecessors in an “America First” direction. Yet as shown in vivid detail by his meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, President Trump’s handling of rogue regimes is eerily reminiscent of President Barack Obama’s approach to America’s foes. While Democrats may want to deny it now, talking to antagonists was a key tenet of the Obama doctrine.
Maverick at Twilight
Idealism is in short supply in Donald Trump’s America. Domestically, few political leaders are interested in tackling long-term challenges. In foreign policy, realism and neo-Jacksonianism are en vogue as politicians choose to shirk rather than embrace America’s international commitments.
NATO in Libya
The scene was one of jubilation, as British prime minister David Cameron and French president Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Libya’s capital on September 15 to cheering throngs waving British and French flags. The two men basked in the glow of victory, as well they should. Both had advocated armed intervention after the Libyan people rose up in February against dictator Muammar Qaddafi, and they had done so well before other international leaders—including President Barack Obama.
What to do the day after killing the Iran deal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s revelation of a secret trove of Iranian nuclear-weapons research has set off a debate among experts about whether Iran violated its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal. But these arguments miss the point. It’ll take months if not years of analysis for Western intelligence agencies to determine what new information is in the cache and how Iran’s band of longtime nuclear researchers are currently spending their time.
Mike Pompeo Needs to Clean Up After Rex Tillerson
Mike Pompeo Needs to Clean Up After Rex Tillerson Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo will inherit the State Department at a pivotal moment. Devalued by the White House they serve, and feeling demoralized and bereft of champions, the department’s employees are today desperate for direction and support. And yet they largely wish to continue serving the country and to pursue U.S. interests and values with vigor.
Steps Congress can take to defend America against foreign influence operations
Last week, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster conceded that, “We have failed to impose sufficient costs… [on Russia for the Kremlin’s use of]…new and old forms of aggression to undermine our open societies.” Special Counsel Robert Mueller Robert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE’s recent indictment of Russia’s Internet Research Agency and related individuals, made clear the extent of the operation attacking our country’s elections and institutions.
Two Cheers for European Defense Cooperation
More than a year into the Trump administration, disagreements between U.S. officials and European leaders on issues such as Iran, climate, and now trade are to be expected. Less anticipated was that the European Union’s defense cooperation might also become a subject of debate. This issue risks fueling an unnecessary transatlantic row. The backdrop is the EU’s growing ambitions in defense.
Two Cheers for European Defense Cooperation
More than a year into the Trump administration, disagreements between U.S. officials and European leaders on issues such as Iran, climate, and now trade are to be expected. Less anticipated was that the European Union’s defense cooperation might also become a subject of debate. This issue risks fueling an unnecessary transatlantic row. The backdrop is the EU’s growing ambitions in defense.
How Silicon Valley Can Protect U.S. Democracy
Before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the idea of turning civilian airplanes into weapons was inconceivable to most. And until it was discovered that Russian President Vladimir Putin had interfered in the 2016 U.S. election, it was unimaginable that social media platforms could be weaponized to undermine U.S. democracy.
What Washington can do to support Iran’s protesters
Even before the widespread anticlerical protests in Iran, President Trump made clear what he thinks of the regime. In recent days, he has even gone so far as to support those Iranians protesting the regime, in stark contrast to President Barack Obama’s desperate attempt in 2009 to curry favor with their oppressors. Yet matching rhetoric with action has bedeviled Trump’s predecessors for decades. Confronting the mullahs is more important than ever at this moment.
Shredding the Putin Playbook
The Kremlin’s interference in the 2016 presidential election should have served as a wake-up call for Americans that something we took for granted—democracy—is vulnerable to attack by foreign adversaries in new and powerful ways. Instead, we’re mired in debate about whether the interference even occurred, and whether it mattered.
Shining More Light Every Day on Russia’s Political Interference
One year after the 2016 presidential election, more facts about Russia’s efforts to undermine American democracy are finally beginning to emerge. The recent congressional hearings on the Russian government’s use of tech platforms to interfere in U.S. politics leave no doubt that these tools have been weaponized and pointed at Americans.
Time to end the North Korea sanctions merry-go-round
The vote came as the North Korean regime threatened a “pre-emptive nuclear strike” on the United States. China and Russia joined the United States in a unanimous vote to impose sanctions that the U.S. Ambassador to the UN said would “bite hard” for North Korean officials. Developments last weekend in New York?
Trump’s China policy must look beyond North Korea
One of the most surprising developments in the first six months of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy has been the administration’s posture towards China.
Trump’s China Policy Must Look Beyond North Korea
One of the most surprising developments in the first six months of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy has been the administration’s posture towards China.
Alliance for Securing Democracy
Finding out what happened in the United States in 2016 and the impact it had is important. But that is not enough.
Weekly Standard: Time To Say No To Iranian Nukes
Weekly Standard: Time To Say No To Iranian Nukes Jamie Fly is the Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Initiative. William Kristol is the editor of The Weekly Standard. Two years ago, we wrote in these pages that we were entering with respect to Iran what Winston Churchill called in 1936 a "period of consequences," in which "the era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays is coming to its close." And so it finally is.
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