Matthew C. Mai
- Research Associate, Defense Priorities
Jersey, New Jersey
As seen in:
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and
Covers:
U.S. foreign policy and international politics.
Contributing fellow @defpriorities 🇺🇲
Articles by Matthew C. Mai
Crossword 11-5-26
About the Contributor Matthew is a third-year Business Economics student. He is currently very into indoor bouldering. When he’s not on the wall, he enjoys walks through the city, searching for inspiration in the noise and sights. If you look through the window of any Capitol Hill boba shop during the day, there is a non-zero chance you will see him inside.
Mini Crossword 10-22-2026
About the Contributor Matthew is a third-year Business Economics student. He is currently very into indoor bouldering. When he’s not on the wall, he enjoys walks through the city, searching for inspiration in the noise and sights. If you look through the window of any Capitol Hill boba shop during the day, there is a non-zero chance you will see him inside.
Mini Crossword 10-15-26
About the Contributor Matthew is a third-year Business Economics student. He is currently very into indoor bouldering. When he’s not on the wall, he enjoys walks through the city, searching for inspiration in the noise and sights. If you look through the window of any Capitol Hill boba shop during the day, there is a non-zero chance you will see him inside.
Fair Pricing Policy Protects Grocery Store Customers
The closest QFC to Seattle University, located on the corner of Broadway and East Pike a few blocks from campus, uses digital price tags, meaning the store has the ability to change the price of products at any time for anyone. However, because of a new law recently passed in Seattle, this will no longer be the case. Mayor Katie Wilson signed a policy Oct.
Furswap Makes an Impact for Local Furries and Artists
Capitol Hill’s Quality Flea Center housed Furswap May 10, drawing 1,520 people and 65 vendors over the span of five hours, the same weekend as the popular furry event Furry Weekend Atlanta. In this colorful venue, attendees, often with animal masks, fluffy neon-colored ears and a matching tail, browsed local artists’ vendor stands, danced to energetic electronic music and drew collaboratively on large sketchpads.
Why Should I Care About Student Journalism?
Dear readers, it brings me joy that you have spent time reading articles from The Spectator. I have a love for this newspaper because it is a local source for information that is carefully assembled and delivered to you by fellow students. Briefly put, I am a fan of The Spectator and I hope you are or will be, too. I have a feeling that if you are reading this, you are someone who has a similar love or respect for the newspaper.
The real problem with the defense budget
Self-destructive spending habits are more likely to impact Americans’ daily lives than a foreign adversary. Cutting missions abroad is the first step toward restoring fiscal sanity and ensuring the solvency of America’s defense strategy. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes) The Trump administration is using a novel approach to increase defense spending.
Write Your Opinion Now!
Hi Spectator fans! I’m sure those who are reading this care about the news in some respect, whether that care exists for the availability of information on current events or simply because it’s fun to read about what’s new in sports and pop culture. Speaking as a fellow Spectator fan, it is important for me to speak directly to you all, as the issue I am bringing up directly impacts us Spectator enjoyers.
Why U.S. Arms Control Efforts are Failing
Prospects for arms control among the world’s nuclear-armed great powers are growing worse by the day. Last week, China announced that it was with the United States over the latter’s arms sales to Taiwan. The discussions were unlikely to lead to any substantive results, but it is another sign that U.S. efforts to “compartmentalize” nuclear issues by de-linking it from the geopolitical rivalry driving U.S.-China competition are failing. The same dynamic is at play in U.S.-Russia relations.
Chances for arms-control agreements fading fast
Prospects for arms control among the world’s nuclear-armed great powers are growing worse by the day. Last week, China announced that it was with the United States over the latter’s arms sales to Taiwan. The discussions were unlikely to lead to any substantive results, but it is another sign that U.S. efforts to “compartmentalize” nuclear issues by de-linking it from the geopolitical rivalry driving U.S.-China competition are failing. The same dynamic is at play in U.S.-Russia relations.
Why U.S. Arms Control Efforts are Failing
Why U.S. Arms Control Efforts are Failing Prospects for arms control among the world’s nuclear-armed great powers are growing worse by the day.
Why U.S. Arms Control Efforts are Failing
Prospects for arms control among the world’s nuclear-armed great powers are growing worse by the day. Last week, China announced that it was with the United States over the latter’s arms sales to Taiwan. The discussions were unlikely to lead to any substantive results, but it is another sign that U.S. efforts to “compartmentalize” nuclear issues by de-linking it from the geopolitical rivalry driving U.S.-China competition are failing. The same dynamic is at play in U.S.-Russia relations.
NATO Must Make a Nuclear Deal With Russia
Foreign Affairs NATO Must Make a Nuclear Deal With Russia The specter of nuclear war is closer than ever in the Ukraine conflict. NATO’s 75th anniversary might seem to some like a good opportunity for the alliance to double down on its core mission: deterring and, if necessary, defending member states from Russian aggression. But increasing defense capabilities alone isn’t enough to reduce the risk of conflict with Russia.
The US military has a readiness problem
A Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II performs aerial maneuvers Aug. 21, 2023, during an airs how practice at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C. Since its inception two decades ago, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program has become known more for its performance mishaps than as the world’s premier fifth-generation fighter. (Kyle Baskin/U.S. Marine Corps) In an interview with “60 Minutes” this month, President Joe Biden was asked about how many crises the United States can “take on” at once.
What Happens if China Gives Russia Weapons to Fight in Ukraine?
What if China were to arm Russia? How would Ukraine would respond? What would NATO Do? The China Challenge in Ukraine Months back, China released a position paper on the Russo-Ukrainian War that, although short on details, called for a “comprehensive ceasefire,” to “help parties to the conflict open the door to a political settlement as soon as possible,” and opposed the threat or use of nuclear weapons.
Erdogan's future is in doubt, but Turkey's ties to Russia and tensions with the US aren't going anywhere Original
Turkey is heading to an election that may unseat its longtime leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Western observers dislike Erdogan's foreign policy, but a different leader is unlikely to change course. Matthew C. Mai is a research associate at Defense Priorities. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. On May 14, Turkish voters will head to the ballot box to elect their next president.
The wrong kind of security guarantee for Ukraine Original
One of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s core demands for a political settlement is that his country receive internationally backed security guarantees to resist future Russian aggression. For the most part, this vision largely aligns with the emerging consensus in Western capitals: Ukraine’s partners will support Kyiv’s self-defense capabilities over the long-term without providing a security commitment similar to Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty.
What Happens if China Gives Russia Weapons to Fight in Ukraine?
Last week, China released a position paper on the Russo-Ukrainian War that, although short on details, called for a “comprehensive ceasefire,” to “help parties to the conflict open the door to a political settlement as soon as possible,” and opposed the threat or use of nuclear weapons. However, the Biden administration also warned that China is considering sending artillery and drones to backfill Russian supplies.
Negotiations With Russia Must Go Beyond the Ukraine War
According to U.S. officials, the Russo-Ukrainian War appears to be headed toward an attritional stalemate in which neither side will be able to achieve outright victory. When negotiations with Russia begin, U.S. policymakers will likely prioritize supporting a ceasefire before addressing difficult questions related to occupied Ukrainian territory.
History Won't Be Kind: Putin’s Tragic Military Disaster in Ukraine
“The invasion of Ukraine was the brainchild of Putin and a tiny group of highly paranoid men around him who became convinced that a pre-emptive blow against Western aggression was necessary for Russia’s survival.” This is the argument that Owen Matthews, previously a Russia-based correspondent for Newsweek and now writing for the Spectator, offers to explain Vladimir Putin’s decision to go to war in Overreach: The Inside Story of Putin and Russia’s War Against Ukraine.
The U.S. Should Support the Ukrainian Grain Deal
Foreign Affairs The U.S. Should Support the Ukrainian Grain Deal A renewal of this deal could expedite an end to the conflict. A Ukrainian serviceman searches for land mines in a wheat field in Donetsk region on October 7, 2022. (Photo by ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images) On October 29, Russia announced the indefinite suspension of its Black Sea Grain Initiative, an agreement that allows agricultural shipments to leave Ukrainian ports.
Putin Has Crossed the Rubicon With Annexation
The annexation of occupied Ukrainian territory is an ominous development in the Russo-Ukrainian War. Russian officials have made clear that the territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia are sovereign regions of the Russian Federation and protected by its nuclear deterrent.
Could the War in Ukraine Have Been Stopped?
Could the War in Ukraine Have Been Stopped? Two recent reports raise questions about whether the Russo-Ukrainian War could have been stopped in its earliest days. Are the scuttled proposals to enact a ceasefire and settlement still relevant today? Read Full Article »
Afghanistan Is Not Just Washington’s Problem Anymore
Afghanistan Is Not Just Washington’s Problem Anymore Afghanistan’s fate will invariably be of greater interest to its Chinese, Russian, Iranian, and Pakistani neighbors. Read Full Article »
Kevin McCarthy Isn’t Wrong About Ukraine
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) signaled last week that a GOP majority in the lower chamber would stop, or at the very least, scrutinize, the substantial flow of aid to Ukraine from America. “I think people are gonna be sitting in a recession and they’re not going to write a blank check to Ukraine … Ukraine is important, but at the same time it can’t be the only thing they [the Biden administration] do,” McCarthy said.
Will the Transatlantic Coalition Against Russia Hold?
Will the Transatlantic Coalition Against Russia Hold? It would be a mistake for U.S. policymakers to assume that European allies will continue to view it as in their best interests to follow Washington’s lead. Read Full Article »
Could the War in Ukraine Have Been Stopped?
Since the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War, top U.S. officials have contended that Russian president Vladimir Putin has been uninterested in withdrawing his forces or ending the war anytime soon. Putin’s statements in recent months have certainly indicated that this assessment is largely correct, particularly as it has become apparent to Moscow that the United States and NATO are deeply committed to waging a proxy conflict against Russia.
Will the Russian Oil Price Cap Work?
On December 5, G7 countries are set to implement a “price cap policy” on Russian seaborne petroleum products. According to a policy guidance released by the U.S. Treasury Department last week, the price cap will prevent firms based in G7 countries from providing commodities brokering, financing, shipping, insurance, flagging, and customs brokering services for the maritime transport of Russian oil. The costs of shipping, freight, customs, and insurance are not included in the price cap.
The Next Prime Minister Must Pull Back From the Brink in Ukraine
During a 2016 speech laying out the pillars of the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit foreign policy, then-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson articulated an approach to international relations infused with globalist rhetoric.
Britain’s Next Prime Minister Must Pull Back From the Brink in Ukraine
During a 2016 speech laying out the pillars of the United Kingdom’s post-Brexit foreign policy, then-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson articulated an approach to international relations infused with globalist rhetoric.
Is the EU on Its Way to Strategic Autonomy?
As the United States looks to prioritize security challenges in East Asia, European allies will have to step up to ensure that their armed forces can deter great power aggression and, if necessary, defend their territorial integrity without asking for help from across the Atlantic. Last month, the European Council approved an ambitious new document, “A Strategic Compass for Security and Defence,” that charts a new path forward for the bloc’s common foreign and defense policies.
Support European Strategic Autonomy
Realism & Restraint Support European Strategic Autonomy The U.S. could minimize the risks of overstretch and cultivate limited resources without compromising on core strategic objectives.
Why Joe Biden Should Keep the One China Policy
Last week marked the of the international community’s formal recognition of the People’s Republic of China and the expulsion of Taiwan from the United Nations.
Why China Will Not Talk to U.S.
U.S. President Joe Biden was reportedly rebuffed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September when Biden offered to hold a summit meeting with the Chinese leader. While the administration has been relatively successful at engaging regional allies and partners—the landmark deal to equip treaty ally Australia with nuclear-powered submarines being a good example—it has had far less success with Beijing. This trend should not be regarded lightly.
Why Strategic Ambiguity over Taiwan Stabilizes East Asia
Japan, America’s closest ally in Asia, has been raising the alarm over Taiwan in recent days. Last week, a new white paper from the Defense Ministry called for “stabilizing the situation surrounding Taiwan” given that the geopolitical climate has “a sense of crisis more than ever before”. This echoes comments made by the Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso last week who noted that a “major incident” over Taiwan would be viewed as a direct threat to his country’s security.
Can Europe Improve Relations with Russia?
Last week, in an Ostpolitik redux, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emanuel Macron attempted to capitalize on the G-7 and NATO summits by advocating for a separate diplomatic track with Russia. At a meeting of E.U. leaders, Merkel tabled a French-supported proposal that sought to create a format for “direct contact” with Putin to help resolve Europe and Russia’s differences. Poland and the Baltic states would have none of it.
U.S.-Russia Relations Are As Bad As They Can Get. Can the Geneva Summit Help?
Relations between the United States and Russia are at their lowest point since the end of the Cold War. In March, President Biden called President Putin a “killer”, a springtime Russian troop build-up on the Ukrainian border nearly set off another geopolitical crisis, and Moscow recently announced that it would join the United States in withdrawing from the Open Skies Treaty.
Time To Stop Calling U.S.-China Competition a "New Cold War"
In recent interviews with 60 Minutes and the Financial Times, Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined the Biden administration’s approach to U.S.-China relations. Contrary to the boilerplate many members of Congress, the press, and think tank professionals have taken up, Blinken rejected the Cold War paradigm to describe the current geopolitical environment.
Will the Transatlantic Coalition Against Russia Hold?
U.S. policymakers often point to the Western sanctions levied on Russia as evidence of a unified international response to the war in Ukraine.
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