The PCFR Dispatch

As the United States and Iran navigate a fragile and evolving conflict, successful diplomacy will depend on more than simply bringing both sides to the negotiating table. Drawing on negotiation theory, diplomatic history, and past experience with Iran, this article outlines ten tactics for reshaping the conditions for agreement and pursuing a settlement that protects core U.S. interests.

Last month, Taipei announced it will open a representative office in Phoenix, Taiwan’s 14th consulate in the United States.

The summer months at PCFR are a time for internal operations and planning for the season of programming ahead. They are also some of the rare periods when our staff has the capacity for personal travel, and this month, family commitments took me to two very different parts of Germany: Berlin, the nation’s political capital, and Hagen, a midsized industrial city in the West.

Excerpt from Chapter 4 – “Reversed Expectations: Shifting U.S. Perceptions of China” – of Raising the Drawbridge: U.S. Investment Screening Amid the Rise of China (Palgrave Macmillan, 2026) by Dr. Lily McElwee.

This expert perspective provides a concise historical overview of key developments in Pakistan and the broader region that have shaped today’s global landscape. It traces major political and economic shifts over time, offering context for understanding how past decisions continue to influence contemporary international relations and policy challenges involving Pakistan.