In this week’s video, CFR’s Richard Betts says in 2013 the White House and the next U.S. Congress will have to decide whether to reduce the objectives and deployment of armed forces as the defense budget comes under scrutiny. Watch below:

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This week in our video series looking at what the winner of the 2012 presidential election faces on major foreign policy issues, we have CFR’s Stewart Patrick. He identifies several major challenges that the president will face in dealing with the UN, including ensuring Security Council attention to Iran’s nuclear program, bolstering UN peacekeeping, transforming the Human Rights Council, furthering global development, and reforming the UN’s management and budget. Watch below:

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This week’s video brief focuses on what the winner of the 2012 presidential election faces on Africa policy. CFR’s John Campbell says, “It’s going to be important for a new administration to make room for African issues on the bilateral agendas it has with other countries.” Watch below:

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This week’s video features CFR’s Scott A. Snyder discussing what the winner of the 2012 presidential election can expect on North Korea. He says  the country will require renewed attention due to its nuclear capabilities, uncertainty over its new leadership, and its central location in world’s most vibrant economic region. Watch below:

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In this week’s video, CFR’s Michael Levi says the winner of the U.S. presidential election will face at least three sets of climate challenges including reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, facing international pressure, and developing climate-friendly technology.  In particular he notes the challenges the United States will face abroad. “Regardless though of what the United States does at home, it is likely to be inadequate internationally,” Levi argues.  Watch below:

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In this week’s video, CFR’s Thomas Bollyky says the winner of the 2012 presidential election faces an important leadership test on trade, which will have challenges and opportunities, including leveling the playing field with China and finalizing the Trans-Pacific Partnership. “On one hand, U.S. interests in international trade have never been greater,” he says. “On the other hand, however, U.S. popular and political support for the initiatives needed to take advantage of these opportunities has perhaps never been lower,” he says. Watch below:

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Before this blog launched, we published eight video briefs with CFR experts on important foreign policy and national security issues facing the president in 2013. These ranged from Sebastian Mallaby on the global economy to Daniel Markey on Pakistan to Elizabeth Economy on China. With the start of the blog, we will feature a new video each week for the next few months.

This week Michael Levi says whoever wins the presidency will face at least three sets of energy challenges: continuing to reduce oil dependence, increasing U.S. supplies sustainably, and addressing acute crises such as supply disruptions. Watch below:

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