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Days before U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to travel to Beijing, the Pentagon announced it had detected a Chinese “surveillance balloon” over Montana. The incident sparked intense speculation about China’s intentions, including why it would choose to employ a relatively low-tech surveillance device. Ultimately, Blinken announced on February 3 that he was postponing his trip, which would have been the first by a U.S. secretary of state in five years. With U.S.-China tensions already simmering, the balloon episode injects more mistrust and scuttled the opportunity presented...

Map 1: Countries Receiving World Bank Loans for 25 years or Longer

The Obama Administration's core defense budget request for fiscalyear 2010 (not including funding for overseas contingency operations) will absorb 3.8 percent of gross domestic product(GDP). This points to a future in which the military will be unableto acquire the modern weapons and equipment for a prudent nationalsecurity strategy. Congress needs to work toward a core defensebudget that is at least 4 percent of GDP.

Alaska is sixth among all states and territories in volume of personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a very important component in America's missile defense system, which overall is 90percent accurate because of robust testing and better technology.In addition, energy independence is critical if we are to have moreflexibility both in our national defense and in dealing withinternational affairs.

The relationship between America and Indonesia can and should expand far beyond its current level. There are critical interests around which the two countries can build a strong, mutually beneficial partnership, such as trade, counterterrorism, military-to-military cooperation, and democracy promotion. But a new and deep U.S.–Indonesian partnership must be given time to develop and remain focused on the big picture. This paper explains how the U.S. can build an enduring relationship with the fourth-largest country in the world.