Pivotal States

Conversations on US foreign policy challenges with key global partners AI summary

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Visit website › Government · EN · 29 episodes · latest 2026-11-06

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What it is about

In a fragmented and transactional world, the United States faces a host of challenges. To meet the moment, Washington needs new habits of statecraft, the courage to make difficult trade-offs, and the wisdom to work with a diverse array of global partners. The American Statecraft’s Pivotal States podcast series focuses on key nations that present strategic challenges and opportunities for the United States. Through these conversations, we aim to pave the way for a foreign policy equipped to navigate the mid-21st century.

Publisher’s own description, taken unchanged from the podcast feed.
2024, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

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Latest episodes

Should America want a stronger Japan?

2026-11-06 · 56 min · Season 3, episode 19

On this episode of Pivotal States, Christopher Chivvis speaks with Yuki Tatsumi, a senior director at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security. They examine the U.S.–Japan alliance, Japan’s military rearmament, the…
How Türkiye Navigates a World of War

2026-09-28 · 54 min · Season 3, episode 18

The war in Ukraine to its north; the war in Gaza to its south; the war with Iran to its east: Türkiye sits at the crux of several dangerous conflicts straining the global system. It is a critical American partner but…
Can America Avoid a Forever War with Iran?

2026-08-03 · 1 hr 0 min · Season 3, episode 17

Trump entered office promising a historic breakthrough with Iran. Instead, the United States finds itself in a costly war with no clear path to peace. Why has Washington repeatedly failed to move from confrontation to…
Is America Ready to Reset Ties with Israel?

2026-07-08 · 1 hr 4 min · Season 3, episode 16

The growing gap between American and Israeli interests is becoming harder than ever to ignore. Is this a turning point in the U.S.-Israel relationship? If so, what changes are actually possible? What leverage does…
Is America's North Korea Policy Out of Touch with Reality?

2026-06-30 · 59 min · Season 3, episode 15

Christopher Chivvis speaks to Dr. Victor Cha, one of the world's leading experts on North Korea, to examine how America became trapped in a failing strategy and what a more realistic U.S. policy might look like.
Do U.S.-German Relations Have a Future?

2026-05-13 · 52 min · Season 3, episode 14

Christopher Chivvis speaks with Sophia Besch, Senior Fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Should Americans Fear China's Dominance?

2026-04-09 · 55 min · Season 3, episode 13

In Washington, policymakers frame competition with China as a zero-sum contest for power. But does slowing China’s progress actually benefit Americans—or is it a fool’s errand? In this episode of Pivotal States,…
What Does the United States Want From Cuba?

2026-03-20 · 1 hr 2 min · Season 3, episode 12

For more than sixty years, Cuba’s revolutionary government has survived economic crises and sustained pressure from the United States. But today, the island may be facing its most severe test yet. Daily life is grinding…
Spheres of Influence or American Primacy? The World Trump is Making

2026-02-13 · 1 hr 13 min · Season 3, episode 11

Analysts of foreign affairs are offering competing explanations for Trump’s foreign policy whirlwind. Over the past year, he’s rattled the world with tariffs, negotiated a ceasefire in Gaza, conducted strikes in the…
Does Trump Understand America's Real Interests in Venezuela?

2026-01-13 · 1 hr 10 min · Season 3, episode 10

President Trump campaigned on peace, yet he has expanded U.S. military presence in the Caribbean to its largest since the Cold War. Days into 2026, he had Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro captured, claiming the…

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Publisher details

Oldest episode in feed: 07/2023 · over 3 years
Typical length: 46 min
Format: Episodic Newest first, episodes stand alone
Keywords: government, corruption, politics

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