Our Insights
Featured Insights Selected by Our Experts
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The Return of the Koh Ker Ganesha
with Brad Gordon, Channy Set, and Nguon Chhay Song | Hosted by Deborah Lehr
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CES, Digital Trade, and the Future of Tech Supply Chains
with Ed Brytzwa | Hosted by Jake E. Jennings
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Iran, The Days After: The Succession
By the Basilinna team
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Why China Is Pushing Trade Facilitation Despite a Record Surplus
By Leigh Wedell and Ruihan Huang
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Mexico Now America’s Top Trading Partner as USMCA Review Looms
By Abel Hibert, Senior Fellow
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Nature as National Asset: How the Middle East Is Turning Biodiversity into Economic Opportunity
By Basilinna Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO.
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China Economic Stimulus Tracker
A comprehensive timeline of announcements and policy actions implemented by the Chinese government to stimulate economic activity.
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From the Middle Kingdom to the Saudi Kingdom: Opportunities Abound
By Yasser Elnaggar, Chair of the Middle East and Africa
Explore all of our Insights, Interviews, Commentary, and More
Clean Energy Must Avoid the Mistake of Overdependence
By Deborah Lehr, Chair and CEO
For decades, energy security has meant oil. Countries worried about their dependence on the Middle East and Russia, the security of shipping lanes, and the geopolitical consequences of relying on a small number of producers for the oil that powered global economies.
Trump-Xi Summit: What Was Agreed and What Comes Next
By the Basilinna Team
The Trump-Xi summit was certainly an exercise in “diplotainment”—but it was more than that. President Trump rolled out an extraordinary red carpet for Xi, from personally greeting him on the tarmac to the full pageantry of a state visit.
Cultural Diplomacy: The Soft Power That Crosses Borders
By Irina Bokova, Executive Director
As the United States approaches America 250, what opportunities do you see for culture to deepen U.S. engagement with the world? Where can culture have the greatest impact in strengthening international relationships and shaping global engagement in the decade ahead?
Iran, The Days After: The Succession
By the Basilinna team
The killing of the Supreme Leader eliminates Iran’s ultimate arbiter and introduces near-term volatility, but the Islamic Republic of Iran retains institutional redundancies in its leadership system.
USMCA 2026 and Economic Security: The Convergence of Technology, Trade, and National Security
By Jake E. Jennings, Chair of Technology and Trade
The USMCA Review Is Becoming a Test of North American Technology Security. The 2026 review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement was initially framed as a routine, if politically sensitive, “check-in” trade exercise.
Mexico Now America’s Top Trading Partner as USMCA Review Looms
By Abel Hibert, Senior Fellow
Since taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump has made reducing the trade deficit with key partners—Mexico, Canada, and China—a central goal of his trade policy. In 2024, the combined deficit with these countries reached $545.7 billion USD.
Pollinators of the Night: How Bats Sustain Ecosystems, Agriculture, and Tequila
September 9, 2025 | Chynna Hawes, Senior Vice President
In the U.S., bats are perhaps better known for their pest control services. In one night, a single bat can eat thousands of crop-damaging insects, reducing the need for chemical pesticides, lowering costs for farmers, and at the same time, supporting the health of other pollinators.
What Trump 2.0 Means for Mexico
January 23, 2025 | Óscar Arcos, Executive Director
While January 20th marked the official beginning of Trump’s second administration, Mexico has long been preparing for his presidency, particularly in economic matters. This challenge is not new for Mexico. In fact, the country not only survived Trump’s first term, but actually thrived.
Belt and Road in Latin America: Where Does the Future Lie?
October 9, 2019 | Leigh Wedell, President and COO
A discussion on China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Latin America and its implications for the region and the United States with Basilinna President and COO, Leigh Wedell.