Jonathan Masters
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Editor/writer on global affairs. Ex-@CFR_org. SoCal → NorCal (via ATL, Praha, DC, NYC). Area man.
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Articles by Jonathan Masters
Lebanon: How Israel, Hezbollah, and regional powers are shaping its future
May 25, 2026, 11:53 AM EDT This article was originally published on CFR.organd updated by NBC News. Lebanon is again at a critical junction. Following the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in February 2026 and the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel, opening a new front of the war. Lebanon’s political and economic crisis has since deepened, worsened by its fragile political, economic, and security environment.
What are Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities?
Israel Defense Forces said June 21, 2025, that this video shows the result of its strikes on Iran's nuclear site at Isfahan. (IDF video) By Mariel Ferragamo, Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow • Feb 09, 2026 Many foreign policy experts warn that if Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons, it would be broadly destabilizing for the Middle East and nearby regions.
What Are Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities?
Many foreign policy experts warn that if Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons, it would be broadly destabilizing for the Middle East and nearby regions. A first-order concern is that Iran’s possession of nuclear weapons would pose a major, perhaps existential threat to Israel—a worry that drove Israel to launch a full-scale attack on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities in June 2025.
Greenland, US national Security
GREENLAND GAMBITThe Trump Administration’s Push for Greenland: What to Know Published 21 January 2026 U.S. President Donald Trump has cast renewed focus on acquiring Greenland. The administration’s increasingly assertive push to take control of the Danish territory could have significant consequences for both the Arctic and the NATO alliance.
U.S. Forces in the Middle East: Mapping the Military Presence
The United States maintains a considerable military presence in the Middle East, with forces in more than a dozen countries and on ships throughout the region’s waters. That presence expanded in 2024 as the United States focused on deterring and defeating threats from Iran and its network of armed affiliates in the region, including Hamas (Gaza Strip), Hezbollah (Lebanon), the Houthis (Yemen), and several Iraq- and Syria-based militant groups.
The Trump Administration’s Push for Greenland: What to Know
U.S. President Donald Trump has continued to escalate his rhetoric about bringing Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark and the world’s largest island, under U.S. control. Trump argues that Greenland’s natural resources and strategic location in the Arctic make it vital to U.S. national security interests. “If we don’t do it, Russia or China will,” Trump told reporters in January.
Trump’s Executive Orders: What to Expect
President-elect Donald Trump is expected to issue dozens of executive orders over the next several days and weeks, setting the direction and tone for his administration’s return to power. Executive orders and other presidential directives offer the incumbent a potent way to shape government policy from “day one” without having to wait for Congress.
Lebanon: How Israel, Hezbollah, and Regional Powers Are Shaping Its Future
Lebanon has had a more open political system than many other Middle East countries, but it has long suffered dysfunction at the hands of corruption and mismanagement, sectarian elites, and the force of non-state actors and their external patrons. After the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran in early 2026, militant group Hezbollah renewed its attacks on Israel, drawing Lebanon into the widening regional conflict.
Lebanon: How Israel, Hezbollah, and Regional Powers Are Shaping Its Future
Summary Lebanon is one of the Middle East’s rare democracies, but it has long suffered dysfunction at the hands of corrupt sectarian elites and meddling foreign powers. Israel’s 2024 assault significantly eroded Hezbollah’s military power in southern Lebanon, but the Iran-backed group could remain a major political force in the country.
Lebanon’s War-Torn Democracy: How Israel, Hezbollah, and Regional Powers Are Shaping Its Future
Summary Lebanon is one of the Middle East’s rare democracies, but it has long suffered dysfunction at the hands of corrupt sectarian elites and meddling foreign powers. Israel’s 2024 assault significantly eroded Hezbollah’s military power in southern Lebanon, but the Iran-backed group could remain a major political force in the country.
What’s Happening in Lebanon? A Guide to the War-Torn Democracy
Summary Lebanon is one of the Middle East’s rare democracies, but it has long suffered dysfunction at the hands of corrupt sectarian elites and meddling foreign powers. Israel’s 2024 assault significantly eroded Hezbollah’s military power in southern Lebanon, but the Iran-backed group could remain a major political force in the country.
Tackling the increasing delay in Korean trademark examination
As anyone with recent experience of filing trademarks in Korea will already be painfully aware, the examination timeframe has been increasing significantly. In a recent paper published by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) and Korea Institute of Intellectual Property (KIIP) (“상표심사처리기간 지연의 경제적 피해액 추정”, August 2024), this topic is discussed in relation to the economic impact caused by trademark examination delays. The majority of data in this article is taken from said paper.
What Are Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities?
Introduction Many foreign policy experts warn that if Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons, it would be broadly destabilizing for the Middle East and nearby regions. A first-order concern is that Iran’s possession of nuclear weapons would pose a major, perhaps existential threat to Israel, its longtime foe.
U.S. Military Support for Taiwan in Five Charts
The United States has been arming Taiwan since the mid-twentieth century, a trend which has increasingly irritated China since Washington broke official ties with Taipei and normalized relations with Beijing in 1979. China considers the self-ruled island of twenty-four million people a breakaway territory that must be brought under its control, by force if necessary. The United States views Taiwan’s status as undetermined and opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo.
U.S. Military Support for Taiwan in Five Charts
The United States has been arming Taiwan since the mid-twentieth century, a trend which has increasingly irritated China since Washington broke official ties with Taipei and normalized relations with Beijing in 1979. More From Our Experts China considers the self-ruled island of twenty-four million people a breakaway territory that must be brought under its control, by force if necessary. The United States views Taiwan’s status as undetermined and opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo.
Proposed law revision to tackle importation of ‘personal use’ counterfeit goods
A proposed amendment to the Korean Trademark Act has been announced which would address the issue of counterfeit goods being shipped into the country by foreign sellers. Currently, there is ambiguity in determining whether such shipments constitute trademark infringement, making it difficult for Customs authorities to block them under the provisions of the Customs Act dealing with intellectual property violations. What is changing?
Mapping the Growing U.S. Military Presence in the Middle East
The United States maintains a considerable military presence in the Middle East, with forces in more than a dozen countries and on ships throughout the region’s waters. That presence has expanded in 2024 as the United States focuses on deterring and defeating threats from Iran and its network of armed affiliates in the region, including Hamas (Gaza Strip), Hezbollah (Lebanon), the Houthis (Yemen), and several Iraq- and Syria-based militant groups.
U.S. Troops in the Middle East: Mapping the Military Presence
The United States maintains a considerable military presence in the Middle East, with forces in more than a dozen countries and on ships throughout the region’s waters. That presence has expanded in 2024 as the United States focuses on deterring and defeating threats from Iran and its network of armed affiliates in the region, including Hamas (Gaza Strip), Hezbollah (Lebanon), the Houthis (Yemen), and several Iraq- and Syria-based militant groups.
The Security Challenge at the 2024 Paris Olympics
The Olympics are always an immense security challenge for host nations. The Paris games, which are expected to attract more than ten million visitors, including dozens of world leaders, are no exception. The events come as two major wars are raging—in Ukraine and in the Gaza Strip—and as France endures a period of political uncertainty. What are French authorities most concerned about?
Why U.S. foreign policy may play a larger role at the 2024 national conventions
Every four years, in the summer leading up to the U.S. presidential election, the major political parties hold national conventions to crown their nominees, issue policy platforms, and conduct other business. These multiday gatherings of political elite are also media events designed to promote the parties’ visions for the country, defend (or attack) the current administration, and rally their bases ahead of the November vote.
U.S. Aid to Israel in Four Charts
Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow | Council on Foreign Relations – TRANSCEND Media Service 23 Jan 2024 – Israel has long been the leading recipient of U.S. foreign aid, including military support. That aid has come under heightened scrutiny amid Israel’s war to eliminate Hamas. The United States was the first country to recognize the provisional government of the state of Israel upon its founding in 1948, and it has for many decades been a strong and steady supporter of the Jewish state.
Could Myanmar Come Apart?
Since a military coup in 2021 toppled Myanmar’s democratic government, the country’s army has found itself contending with a tenacious and committed rebel insurgency. The military junta’s opponents are varied and various, including armed organizations representing Myanmar’s many ethnic minorities and militias loyal to the ousted government. Many observers had written off such resistance groups as too fractious and weak to present a genuine challenge to the junta.
Myanmar’s Rebels Are Gaining Ground
Since a military coup in 2021 toppled Myanmar’s democratic government, the country’s army has found itself contending with a tenacious and committed rebel insurgency. The military junta’s opponents are varied and various, including armed organizations representing Myanmar’s many ethnic minorities and militias loyal to the ousted government. Many observers had written off such resistance groups as too fractious and weak to present a genuine challenge to the junta.
U.S. Aid to Israel in Four Charts
The United States was the first country to recognize the provisional government of the state of Israel upon its founding in 1948, and for many decades it has been a strong and steady supporter of the Jewish state.
U.S. Aid to Israel in Four Charts
Sign up to receive CFR President Mike Froman’s analysis on the most important foreign policy story of the week, delivered to your inbox every Friday. Subscribe to The World This Week. More From Our Experts The United States was the first country to recognize the provisional government of the state of Israel upon its founding in 1948, and for many decades it has been a strong and steady supporter of the Jewish state.
U.S. Aid to Israel in Four Charts
Genocide 4 hours ago Destroying Hamas Is Not Genocide; It Is Self-Preservation algemeiner.com - Charles A. Stone • 4h The Arab term for catastrophe is Nakba. The Hebrew word for catastrophe is Shoah — which is also used to refer to the Holocaust.Since 1948, Israel … Liberal View 1 day ago Trump’s Attempt To Describe Missile Defense Has To Be Heard To Be Believed HuffPost - Ed Mazza • 1d The former president used sound effects and gestures as he acted out his “iron dome” plan.
The Greater Goal in Gaza
As Israel’s war in Gaza enters its fourth month, an intensifying debate has unfolded about who should rule the territory when the fighting stops. Some have suggested an Arab force, a notion already rejected by Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab states. Others have proposed a reconstructed Palestinian Authority, ignoring the fact that less than ten percent of Palestinians would support such an outcome, according to a recent Palestinian poll.
Korean Trademark Act revision effective from May 2024 allows for letters of consent
Introduction Letters of consent Other Introduction Following news shared earlier in the year about the likely introduction of a letter of consent system in South Korea, the relevant bill passed the National Assembly in early October and the revised Trademark Act has recently been promulgated, with an effective date of 1 May 2024.
Fashion influencer arrested in connection with large-scale counterfeit operation following KIPO Special Judicial Police investigation
On 14 September 2023, the Director of the South Korean Intellectual Property Office's (KIPO) Intellectual Property Protection & International Cooperation Bureau announced that a social media fashion influencer had been arrested in connection with the manufacture and sale of counterfeit luxury-brand items.
How much aid the U.S. has sent to Ukraine, in 6 charts
Every year, the United States sends billions of dollars in aid — and much more than any other country — to beneficiaries around the world in pursuit of its security, economic, and humanitarian interests. Heading into 2022, U.S. foreign assistance was driven by various priorities of the Biden administration, including combating climate change, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and countering authoritarianism.
How much aid the U.S. has sent to Ukraine, in 6 charts
17 hours ago Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defends Jamaal Bowman over fire alarm as GOP file motion to expel The Independent - Julia Saqui • 17h Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez vehemently defended her democratic colleague Jamaal Bowman after it emerged he triggered a fire alarm during a vote on government funding in the House. Republican Nicole Malliotakis, has drafted a motion to expel Mr Bowman from the chamber, accusing him of trying to delay the vote.
The Belarus-Russia Alliance: An Axis of Autocracy in Eastern Europe
Summary Belarus has provided ally Russia with a major strategic advantage in that country’s war against Ukraine, although it has not been drawn into the fighting directly thus far. Belarus’s involvement in the war has significantly raised tensions with NATO allies to the west, including Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.
Why America Should Send Military Advisers to Ukraine
As Ukraine’s counteroffensive enters its fourth month, its armed forces have shown tenacity and adaptability. Kyiv is applying pressure across multiple fronts in southern and eastern Ukraine, and it has made notable progress. In August, Ukraine liberated the village of Robotyne, penetrating the first line of minefields, tank traps, and trenches in the south.
Window for filing related designs to be extended from one to three years
NAM & NAM | Intellectual Property - South Korea One useful feature of South Korean design practice is the related design system. Currently this system allows a one-year period for filing designs similar to an existing principal design that would otherwise be refused protection based on their similarity to said existing design. The one-year period starts from the filing date of the principal design.
How Frozen Russian Assets Could Pay for Rebuilding in Ukraine
The United States, European Union (EU), and other governments are considering whether to use seized Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery, the cost of which could top $1 trillion. Although an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine could be years away, the country requires some critical infrastructure investments immediately.
The Cold War Trap
Sign in and save to read later Print this article Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Get a link Page url Request Reprint Permissions When U.S. policymakers and commentators need guidance, they habitually turn to the Cold War. They mine its events for lessons, consult its characters for advice, and compare its features to the present. Cold War history sets the terms of debate over the United States’ approach to the world.
Iraq Is Quietly Falling Apart
On the surface, Iraq appears to have achieved a measure of stability. The country finally has a functioning government after a yearlong political vacuum. Terrorist violence has fallen to its lowest rate since the 2003 U.S. invasion. Even the country’s Iran-backed militias—long a source of tension with Washington—have significantly reduced their attacks on U.S. diplomatic and military sites.
KIPO moving towards accepting letters of consent to resolve trademark conflicts
NAM & NAM | Intellectual Property - South Korea Introduction Current situation Possible changes Comment Introduction All trademark applications in Korea are examined for both absolute and relative refusal grounds, and refusals based on similarity with another party's conflicting senior mark are commonplace.
The Bad Advice Plaguing Beijing’s Foreign Policy
Sign in and save to read later Print this article Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Get a link Page url Request Reprint Permissions The incursion in January of a Chinese spy balloon into U.S. airspace seemed to many observers like a bad miscalculation by Beijing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had been scheduled to travel to China the following month, but the balloon incident led to the scrapping of the much-anticipated visit.
How China Could Save Putin’s War in Ukraine
Sign in and save to read later Print this article Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Get a link Page url Request Reprint Permissions Over the past year, China has made the best of Russia’s war against Ukraine, emerging as one of the conflict’s few beneficiaries. It has styled itself as a measured peacemaker while gaining substantial leverage over Russia.
Ukraine’s Best Chance
Sign in and save to read later Print this article Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Get a link Page url Request Reprint Permissions Before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the prevailing view was that Ukrainian resistance would crumble quickly. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency thought so, as did Mark Milley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, who reportedly predicted that Kyiv could fall in 72 hours.
America’s Looming Munitions Crisis
Sign in and save to read later Print this article Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Get a link Page url Request Reprint Permissions Leaders from both political parties in the United States agree that the country is locked in a strategic competition with China.
Nuclear Weapons in Europe: Mapping U.S. and Russian Deployments
What’s behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus? The move that Putin announced in late March would be the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union that Russia has stationed nuclear weapons beyond its own borders, and it raises the prospects for a renewed, destabilizing nuclear arms rivalry with the United States and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies.
American Influence After Iraq
Sign in and save to read later Print this article Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Get a link Page url Request Reprint Permissions On the eve of war 20 years ago, the United States, still triumphant from winning the Cold War but reeling from 9/11, was at the peak of its influence in the Arab world. That influence was largely political, but it was also aspirational. Leaders from the Middle East looked to Washington as their closest ally and often took direction from it.
Designs in South Korea: partial versus full examination
NAM & NAM | Intellectual Property - South Korea Introduction Partial examination Full examination Introduction With the entry into force of the 14th edition of the Locarno Classification from 1 January 2023 (which applies to designs filed on or after this date), a number of design articles have moved to different classes. Some examples are set out in the following table.
Nigeria’s Democratic Malaise Original
Sign in and save to read later Print this article Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Get a link Page url Request Reprint Permissions Over the past two decades, Nigeria’s democracy has grown much more competitive. Elections have become more transparent and less susceptible to elite manipulation. The press is as free as it has ever been.
When does use of a trade name not infringe trademark rights? Court considers Trademark Act exception clause
NAM & NAM | Intellectual Property - South Korea Background Facts Decision Comment On 25 November 2022, the South Korean Patent Court ruled on a case concerning limitations on the effect of registered trademark rights.
Here’s How Much Aid the United States Has Sent Ukraine
As the war in Ukraine continues in its fifth year, CFR’s initiative on securing Ukraine’s future is tracking the conflict with timely analysis and policy recommendations. After Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Ukraine became by far the top recipient of U.S. foreign aid, marking the first time a European country held the top spot since the Marshall Plan directed vast sums to rebuild the continent after World War II.
Here’s How Much Aid the United States Has Sent Ukraine
Sign up to receive CFR President Mike Froman’s analysis on the most important foreign policy story of the week, delivered to your inbox every Friday. Subscribe to The World This Week. More From Our Experts As the war in Ukraine continues in its fourth year, CFR’s initiative on securing Ukraine’s future is tracking the conflict with timely analysis and policy recommendations.
How Much Aid Has the U.S. Sent Ukraine? Here Are Six Charts.
Every year, the United States sends billions of dollars in aid—and much more than any other country—to beneficiaries around the world in pursuit of its security, economic, and humanitarian interests. Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has become far and away the top recipient of U.S. foreign aid. This marks the first time that a European country has held the top spot since the Harry S.
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