Stephen M. Walt


Stephen M. Walt is a columnist at Foreign Policy and the Robert and Renée Belfer professor of international relations at Harvard University.

Articles by Stephen M. Walt
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping react after posing for photos ahead of a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping react after posing for photos ahead of a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025 in Busan, South Korea.
Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he walks off stage at the end of a campaign rally at the Santander Arena on November 04, 2024 in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he walks off stage at the end of a campaign rally at the Santander Arena on November 04, 2024 in Reading, Pennsylvania.
US President Donald Trump greets Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC on November 7, 2025.
US President Donald Trump greets Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC on November 7, 2025.
National Security Advisor John Bolton speaks to Fox News outside the White House May 1, 2019, in Washington.
National Security Advisor John Bolton speaks to Fox News outside the White House May 1, 2019, in Washington.
A close-up shot shows a man dressed like a medieval court jester, with a shirt and dangly hat in an American flag pattern. The man's face is pointed white with a red line down the middle and blue smudges around his eyes.
A close-up shot shows a man dressed like a medieval court jester, with a shirt and dangly hat in an American flag pattern. The man's face is pointed white with a red line down the middle and blue smudges around his eyes.
Donald Trump addresses the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) March 21, 2016 in Washington
Donald Trump addresses the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) March 21, 2016 in Washington
President Donald Trump observes naval flight demonstrations on the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier on October 5, 2025 off the eastern coast of the United States.
President Donald Trump observes naval flight demonstrations on the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier on October 5, 2025 off the eastern coast of the United States.
President Donald Trump speaks at Suffolk Community College on July 28, 2017 in Brentwood, New York.
President Donald Trump speaks at Suffolk Community College on July 28, 2017 in Brentwood, New York.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte arrives on his bicycle at  Catshuis, the prime minister's official residence, in The Hague on March 29, 2012.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte arrives on his bicycle at Catshuis, the prime minister's official residence, in The Hague on March 29, 2012.
Central American migrant children play on a seesaw at a shelter in Ciudad Juárez, state of Chihuahua, Mexico.
Central American migrant children play on a seesaw at a shelter in Ciudad Juárez, state of Chihuahua, Mexico.
People view artist Luke Jerram's new 'Floating Earth' Debuts In Wigan on November 18, 2021 in Wigan, England.
People view artist Luke Jerram's new 'Floating Earth' Debuts In Wigan on November 18, 2021 in Wigan, England.
An illustration shows Donald Trump from the nose down with a red oil rig as a tie.
An illustration shows Donald Trump from the nose down with a red oil rig as a tie.
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for a New Year’s Eve event at his Mar-a-Lago home on December 31, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida.
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for a New Year’s Eve event at his Mar-a-Lago home on December 31, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida.
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he hosts the signing ceremony of a peace deal with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington on Dec. 4, 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he hosts the signing ceremony of a peace deal with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington on Dec. 4, 2025.
U..S and Armenian soldiers transport a supposed injured soldier from the medical armored vehicle to the mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) during a NATO exercise at the Hohenfels trainings area in southern Germany, on September 14, 2023.
U..S and Armenian soldiers transport a supposed injured soldier from the medical armored vehicle to the mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) during a NATO exercise at the Hohenfels trainings area in southern Germany, on September 14, 2023.