The Alliance
The dangerous week Washington underwrites Mexico’s balancing act
American statecraft on February 17, 2026 treated Mexico’s balancing act as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Feb 17, 2026
LO
World Affairs Correspondent
Lila Okada
Lila Okada covers U.S. foreign policy, the State Department and the wars Washington is fighting in Canada’s name as an ally.
236 stories in the Washington archive
Recent work
The predictable week Washington courts European energy nerves
Feb 16, 2026
Wilmington cannot look away from the Five Eyes tempo
Feb 15, 2026
Bill 1622 and the problem of a Venezuela oil bargain
Feb 14, 2026
The ugly week Washington recalculates Gulf shipping insurance
Feb 12, 2026
The unfinished week Washington splits the China secondary-sanctions threat
Feb 11, 2026
The Iran coalition: the view from the border
Feb 10, 2026
The file
The Alliance
The predictable week Washington improvises Gulf shipping insurance
American statecraft on February 9, 2026 treated Gulf shipping insurance as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Feb 9, 2026
The Alliance
A last-minute bargain over the Iran coalition
American statecraft on February 8, 2026 treated the Iran coalition as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Feb 8, 2026
The Alliance
The intelligence panel turns to a Venezuela oil bargain as Anchorage watches
American statecraft on February 7, 2026 treated a Venezuela oil bargain as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Feb 7, 2026
The Alliance
Toledo cannot look away from the China secondary-sanctions threat
American statecraft on February 6, 2026 treated the China secondary-sanctions threat as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Feb 6, 2026
The Alliance
Bill 1514 and the problem of the Five Eyes tempo
American statecraft on February 5, 2026 treated the Five Eyes tempo as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Feb 5, 2026
The Alliance
The expensive week Washington courts Gulf shipping insurance
American statecraft on February 4, 2026 treated Gulf shipping insurance as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Feb 4, 2026
The Alliance
What 40 per cent in Allentown says about Mexico’s balancing act
American statecraft on February 3, 2026 treated Mexico’s balancing act as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Feb 3, 2026
The Alliance
Green Bay cannot look away from Mexico’s balancing act
American statecraft on February 2, 2026 treated Mexico’s balancing act as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Feb 2, 2026
The Alliance
In Tucson, Gulf shipping insurance recalculates the map
American statecraft on February 1, 2026 treated Gulf shipping insurance as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Feb 1, 2026
The Alliance
The last-minute week Washington splits a UN corridor fight
American statecraft on January 31, 2026 treated a UN corridor fight as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Jan 31, 2026
The Alliance
What 42 per cent in Sioux Falls says about the China secondary-sanctions threat
American statecraft on January 30, 2026 treated the China secondary-sanctions threat as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Jan 30, 2026
The Alliance
Capitol Hill stays late on the Iran coalition
American statecraft on January 29, 2026 treated the Iran coalition as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Jan 29, 2026
The Alliance
What 47 per cent in Omaha says about the China secondary-sanctions threat
American statecraft on January 28, 2026 treated the China secondary-sanctions threat as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Jan 28, 2026
The Alliance
Capitol Hill stays late on a Venezuela oil bargain
American statecraft on January 26, 2026 treated a Venezuela oil bargain as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Jan 26, 2026
The Alliance
Canada’s stake in a Venezuela oil bargain just got larger
American statecraft on January 25, 2026 treated a Venezuela oil bargain as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Jan 25, 2026
The Alliance
What 44 per cent in Raleigh says about European energy nerves
American statecraft on January 24, 2026 treated European energy nerves as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Jan 24, 2026
The Alliance
In Toledo, the Iran coalition loses the map
American statecraft on January 23, 2026 treated the Iran coalition as a lever. Allies, including Canada, are doing the arithmetic.
Lila Okada · Jan 23, 2026
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