Foreign Affairs Discussion Group
The topic is a preliminary evaluation of the America First Foreign Policy, specifically looking at impacts on trade and investment, US humanitarian food and health assistance, and security, specifically the NATO security alliance. The discussion will be moderated by Barbara Griffiths, who is a retired US Ambassador and Foreign Service Officer with a BA and MA in Economics. All are welcome. A brief reception will follow.
In person in the Reading Room. A suggested reading list follows.
https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2026/06/the-effects-of-us-democratic-backsliding-on-us-power
The Effects of Democratic Backsliding on US Power, Thomas Carothers, July 2026, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-broken-economic-order
The Future of American Strategy: The Broken Economic Order, Heidi E Crebo-Bediker, May 20, 2026, Council on Foreign Relations.
Background reading on particular topics:
On Trade:
The Republicans on the Congressional Joint Economic Committee released an analysis on July 8, 2026 of the US overall trade gap for May 2026 compared to earlier periods.
On Investment:
https://www.bea.gov/news/2026/new-foreign-direct-investment-united-states-2025
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (US Department of Commerce) issued in July 2026 its report on the flow of foreign direct investment in 2025 into the US.
On US humanitarian food aid:
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48624
A July 15, 2026 report by the Congressional Research Service provides details on the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) FY26 budget. It’s long, so just scroll down to the sections on humanitarian assistance and global health programs.
https://www.cfr.org/articles/trumps-revamped-food-for-peace-bypasses-the-countries-closest-to-famine
Trump’s Revamped Food for Peace Bypasses the Countries Closest to Famine, Sam Vigersky, June 9, 2026, Council on Foreign Relations.
On US humanitarian health aid:
Kaiser Family Foundation is keeping track of America First Global Health bilateral agreements signed since late 2025 by country, diseases covered, amounts of US and host government funding, and comparisons with previous US funding.
On impacts of reduced health aid:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(26)00008-2/fulltext
The British medical journal The Lancet published in May 2026 an analysis of the health impacts of global assistance between and 2002 and 2021, and forecasts the impact of planned funding reductions 2025-2030 under the current decline in funding, including from the America First Global Health policy.
On NATO pledges:
NATO Summit Declaration released July 8, 2026.
On impact of reduced US military presence in Europe:
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/coming-crisis-nato-deterrence
The Coming Crisis of NATO Deterrence, Celeste A Wallander, May 28, 2026, Foreign Affairs (requires subscription or copy available at library)