Counterpoint

Latest Episodes:

Can the U.S. and China Build a Stable Relationship? Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

This week, Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trade, technology, and Taiwan are all expected to be on the agenda. It’s the two leaders’ second meeting in less than six months, as they try to stabilize the future of U.S.-China relations. Many fear tensions are brewing, but with their tariff war in the past, could it be possible for the world's two biggest economies to work together?

Welcome to Counterpoint, where we take one big question facing world leaders and look at it from opposing points of view.

In this episode, we’re asking: Can the United States and China build a stable relationship?

Arguing in favor is Jessica Chen Weiss, a professor of China studies at Johns Hopkins University and a former senior advisor at the U.S. State Department.

Arguing against it is Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies U.S. strategy in Asia and U.S.-China competition. He is also a former staffer at the U.S. National Security Council.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by FP deputy editor Nick Danforth.

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Has NATO Expansion Made Europe Safer? Sep 16, 2026

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NATO was created after World War II to deter the Soviet Union and protect Western Europe. But the trans-Atlantic organization did not disband after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In fact, in the years since, its membership has doubled to include countries in Eastern Europe and eventually Finland and Sweden. Supporters say the expansion helps protect countries from Russian aggression and makes Europe safer. But critics argue that NATO’s growth has provoked a confrontation with Vladimir Putin.

Welcome to Season 3 of Counterpoint, where we take one big question facing world leaders and look at it from opposing points of view. Our host this season is Nick Danforth, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy.

To launch the season, we’re asking: Has NATO expansion made Europe safer?

Arguing in favor is Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and a political science professor and senior fellow at Stanford University.

Arguing against is Emma Ashford, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center and an assistant professor at Georgetown University. Ashford is also a columnist at Foreign Policy.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum.

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Counterpoint Season 3: Trailer Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

The world at this moment is more fractured than it’s been in decades: more wars, more extremism, and deeper disagreements on a range of issues. On season 3 of Counterpoint, we get to the heart of those disagreements with a series of debates—hosted by Nick Danforth, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy magazine. Nick brings together two of the smartest people in their field on each episode, to face off over the world’s most vexing questions, including: Are the U.S. and China on a collision course? Has NATO expansion made Europe safer? And will AI destroy the world? Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum.

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Live from Doha with Hillary Clinton Dec 11, 2025

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On a special bonus episode of Counterpoint, FP editor in chief Ravi Agrawal sits down with former U.S. secretary of state Hilary Clinton on the main stage of this year’s Doha Forum to discuss the Trump administration’s newly released National Security Strategy, what Congress needs to do better, the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and more.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum.

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Live from UNGA80 with Kaja Kallas Sep 24, 2025

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On a special bonus episode of Counterpoint, FP editor in chief Ravi Agrawal sits down with Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, on the sidelines of the United Nations’ annual meetings to discuss relations with Washington, Russia’s war in Ukraine, recognizing Palestine, and dealing with China.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum.

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Did the Dayton Accords Set Bosnia Up for Failure? May 21, 2025

Show notes

The Bosnian War in the early 1990s was at the time the bloodiest conflict on European soil since World War II. Some 100,000 people were killed and more than 2 million displaced amid widespread ethnic cleansing and massacres.

In 1995, the warring parties struck a power-sharing deal in negotiations just outside Dayton, Ohio, in what came to be known as the Dayton Accords. But the deal didn’t really resolve the underlying problems. Bosnia continues to be plagued by ethnic division, and the country’s political structure is widely seen as ineffective and unstable.

Welcome to Counterpoint. On each episode, we look at one pressing question facing world leaders—from two opposing points of view.

In our season finale, we’re tackling the question: Did the Dayton Accords set Bosnia up for failure?

Arguing that the agreement put Bosnia on a path to perpetual crisis is Jasmin Mujanović, a senior nonresident fellow at New Lines Institute. He is the author of two books, Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans and  The Bosniaks: Nationhood After Genocide.

And making the case that the Dayton Accords were essential to bringing peace and maintaining stability is Chris Hill. A career diplomat, Hill was part of the U.S. delegation that brokered the agreement. Most recently, he served as the⁠ U.S. ambassador to Serbia⁠ under President Joe Biden.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky.

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Should the U.S. Completely Decouple From China? May 14, 2025

Show notes

The United States and China took a step back this week from their trade war, announcing that tariffs imposed just a few weeks ago would be slashed significantly—at least for now. But even as the tension seems to be ebbing, some people in the United States are questioning whether it’s beneficial for the two economies to be intertwined at all.

Welcome to Counterpoint. On each episode, we look at one pressing question facing world leaders—from two opposing points of view.

Today, we’re tackling the question: Should the United States completely decouple from China?

With us to make the case for a tough stance against China is ⁠Derek Scissors⁠, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the chief economist of the China Beige Book. He is also the author of the China Global investment Tracker.

Arguing that broad decoupling won’t work to counter China is Lizzi C. Lee. She’s a fellow on Chinese economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky.

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Is Western Aid Helping or Harming Africa? May 07, 2025

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The Trump administration has moved quickly to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which oversees U.S. aid around the world, with major repercussions for food supplies, child poverty, pandemic prevention, and much more. The decision has hit Africa particularly hard. African countries were getting about ⁠⁠about 30 percent⁠⁠ of U.S. foreign aid annually.

While many people in Africa are deeply worried about the cuts, some are wondering if the end of USAID might present an opportunity for the continent.

Welcome to Counterpoint. Each week, we look at one pressing question facing world leaders—from two opposing points of view.

On this episode, we’re tackling the question: Is Western aid helping or harming Africa?

With us to argue for the importance of continuing Western aid to Africa is Ndidi Nwuneli, the president and CEO of the ONE Campaign, a global advocacy organization focused on ensuring economic opportunity and healthier lives in Africa.

And making the case that aid has caused more problems than it has solved is Ken Opalo, an associate professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service specializing in African politics and development.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky.

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Should South Korea Develop Nuclear Weapons? Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

South Korea has long relied on the United States for deterrence against its nuclear-armed neighbor, North Korea. But since his reelection, U.S. President Donald Trump has raised questions about Washington’s core commitments around the world.

He and members of his cabinet have suggested Washington might withdraw from the Korean Peninsula altogether, or make Seoul pay billions for the defense the U.S. provides, including a nuclear umbrella against Pyongyang. As a result, a majority of Koreans now want the country to develop its own nuclear arsenal.

This week on Counterpoint, we tackle the question: Should South Korea develop nuclear weapons?

Arguing in favor is ⁠Jennifer Lind⁠, an associate professor of government at Dartmouth College and the author of the forthcoming book, Autocracy 2.0: How China’s Rise Reinvented Tyranny.

Making the case against Seoul developing its own nuclear weapons is Lami Kim, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu and the former director of the Asian studies program at the U.S. Army War College.

Counterpoint is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum. The show is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky.

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Is Syria on the Right Path? Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

Late last year, Syrian opposition forces captured Damascus and put an end to the regime of Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian dictator, whose family had ruled the country for more than 50 years, fled to Moscow. Across the country, Syrians celebrated.

Assad’s fall exposed the brutality of his regime, including gruesome discoveries in government prisons, tens of thousands of disappeared people, and mass displacement. But the group that replaced it also has a record of violence—and a former affiliation with al Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Welcome to Counterpoint. Each week, we look at one pressing question facing world leaders—from two opposing points of view. Today, we’re tackling the question: Is Syria on a path to realizing the hopes of the revolution?

With us to make the case for viewing Syria’s new government with skepticism is David Adesnik, the vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Arguing that Syrians are capable of securing a democratic future for themselves is Alia Malek, a journalist, former civil rights lawyer, and the author of The Home That Was Our Country: A Memoir of Syria.

Counterpoint is hosted by Sasha Polakow-Suransky, a deputy editor at Foreign Policy. The show is a production of Foreign Policy, in partnership with the Doha Forum.

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