In 2023, a third of the American middle class cannot afford basic needs. In 160 metropolitan areas, at least 20% of the middle class cannot live there. White families are more likely to afford housing and food than non-white families. No city allows 100% of the middle class to afford its basic needs.
The nuclear testing escalation between the United States and Russia has generated tensions since October, with statements from Putin and Trump on advanced weapons. The New START Treaty expires in 2026, and Russia proposed its unilateral extension without US response. Positions on arms control diverge and treaty renewal is unlikely. It is crucial to avoid nuclear escalation and maintain communication channels to reduce risks.
The article presents a new set of data on US Foreign Military Sales since 2008, analyzing global trends in volumes and types of equipment, highlighting purchasing countries, specific equipment, financial values, associated contractors, and additional services. The FMS program is explored as the primary instrument for transferring military equipment abroad. Military sales in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the Americas, and Africa are examined, detailing the sale of high-value equipment.
Tensions between the US and China over rare earths, with new Chinese export measures and Trump’s tariff threats, cause losses of over $1.5 billion in two days and put the APEC summit at risk. China controls 85-90% of the global rare earth processing capacity, essential for the supply chain, affecting sectors such as defense, semiconductors and electric vehicles, and companies like Boeing, Nvidia and Tesla, accelerating decoupling.
Dafna H. Rand joined Brookings to study the Middle East and North Africa. She highlights the urgency of ending the war in Gaza, the importance of Israel and its alliances, and criticizes the mistaken decisions of the U.S., such as the invasion of Iraq. She focuses on the U.S. influence in the region to promote prosperity and peace.
