Brandan Buck

In this engaging discussion, Kelley Vlahos, Editor of Responsible Statecraft, and Brandan Buck, a foreign policy research fellow at the Cato Institute, delve into the shifting dynamics of Trump and neoconservatism. They analyze Trump's recent critiques of the neocon agenda and the implications for U.S. foreign policy. The conversation explores the complexities of neoconservative identity and challenges surrounding military intervention in the Middle East. They also ponder future shifts in American foreign policy, emphasizing the need for critical perspectives.

Brandan Buck, a research fellow at the Cato Institute and expert on U.S.-Mexico relations, discusses the perilous notion of a U.S. military invasion of Mexico to combat fentanyl trafficking. He argues that such action would exacerbate violence and complicate the socio-political landscape. Buck highlights the economic and diplomatic repercussions that could strain U.S.-Mexico relations and even push Mexico closer to China. He emphasizes that a military solution lacks practicality without local cooperation and could lead to further chaos.