Center for the National Interest

The Center for the National Interest (CFTNI), based in Washington, D.C., is a non-partisan public policy think tank advocating for strategic realism in U.S. foreign policy. Below is a detailed overview based on available information, including its history, mission, programs, leadership, and notable activities, with citations where applicable.

History and Evolution

Founding: Established by former U.S. President Richard Nixon on January 20, 1994, as the Nixon Center for Peace and Freedom, it initially operated as an independent division of the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace Foundation.

Name Changes: Renamed The Nixon Center in 1998, it became the Center for the National Interest in March 2011 due to conflicts with the Nixon Family Foundation, partly over differing views on Nixon’s legacy and the Center’s criticism of political figures like John McCain during Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia.

Acquisition of The National Interest: In 2001, the Center acquired The National Interest, a bimonthly journal founded in 1985 by Irving Kristol and Owen Harries. The Center has published it since 2005, with daily online content at www.nationalinterest.org.

Mission and Focus

The Center seeks to advance U.S. national interests through a realist approach, emphasizing pragmatic policies over ideological crusades. It aims to stimulate debate and promote public understanding of U.S. foreign policy and international affairs, focusing on:

Critical relationships with major powers (China, Russia, Japan, European allies).

Regional security in Asia, the Middle East, and the Caspian Basin.

National security issues like armed conflict, terrorism, and nuclear non-proliferation.

Forces shaping global affairs, including military power, technology, energy, trade, and finance.

Its flagship publication, The National Interest, covers defense, national security, military affairs, foreign policy, and U.S. politics, featuring analysis from academics, journalists, and practitioners. The journal introduced concepts like “the West and the rest” and geoeconomics and published Francis Fukuyama’s influential 1989 essay “The End of History?”

Programs and Activities

As of 2008, the Center operated seven main programs: Korean Studies

Energy Security and Climate Change

Strategic Studies

U.S.-Russia Relations

U.S.-Japan Relations

China and the Pacific

Regional Security (Middle East, Caspian Basin, South Asia)

More recent activities include: Mexico Program: Assessing Mexico’s “drug war” and its implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security.

Energy and Climate Change: Hosting dialogues on U.S.-European-Japanese energy issues and seminars on related topics.

Publications and Events: The Center hosts discussions, such as on Egypt’s economy and the Sudan conflict, and publishes analyses on topics like U.S.-China AI competition and Middle East conflicts.

Leadership and Governance

Board of Directors (2023): Includes Chairman Emeritus Maurice R. Greenberg (was Chairman of American International Group), Chairman Drew Guff, Vice Chairman Richard Plepler, and members like Senator Pat Roberts, Graham Allison, former ambassador Richard Burt, Zalmay Khalilzad, and Julie Nixon Eisenhower.

Advisory Council (2023): Chaired by Dov Zakheim, with members like Ahmed Charai, Susan Eisenhower, and John J. Mearsheimer.

Key Personnel

Paul J. Saunders: President (2024–2025), previously Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs under George W. Bush.

Jacob Heilbrunn: Editor of The National Interest and Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.

Dimitri K. Simes: Former President, noted for controversial stances on Russia.

Notable Events and Controversies

2016 Trump Speech: The Center hosted Donald Trump’s first major foreign policy address in 2016, leading to a fellow’s dismissal for criticizing the decision in an op-ed. The Trump campaign’s interactions with Simes and the Center were investigated during the 2017–2019 Mueller probe, which found no wrongdoing but reportedly caused financial strain.

Maria Butina Case: Posts on X from 2019 allege the Center aided Maria Butina and Alexander Torshin in influencing U.S. officials via the NRA, part of Russia’s influence operations. The Senate Finance Committee investigated these claims in 2019, but no conclusive evidence of misconduct was confirmed in the provided sources.

Pro-Russia Allegations: Some X posts criticize the Center for pro-Russia stances, particularly under Simes, labeling it a conduit for Russian influence. These claims remain unverified by primary sources and reflect sentiment rather than established fact.

Reputation and Bias

Rankings: Ranked 43rd (2014) and 46th (2019) among U.S. think tanks by the Global Go To Think Tank Index (University of Pennsylvania).

Bias Assessment: Media Bias/Fact Check rates the Center as right-center biased, citing conservative editorial positions but noting mostly factual reporting, with concerns about funding transparency. AllSides rates it as Center, though some users argue it leans right.

Funding: Accepts donations from foundations, companies, and individuals, including foreign funds from allied or partner nations. Its 2006 budget was $1.6 million.

Recent Activities (2025)

Podcast: In the National Interest, hosted by Jacob Heilbrunn, explores U.S. foreign policy, featuring experts like Zalmay Khalilzad and Paul Saunders. Recent episodes discussed Trump’s tariffs, U.S.-Russia relations, and Middle East dynamics.

Publications: Recent National Interest articles address Afghan repatriation, Trump’s foreign policy shifts, and global energy impacts of U.S. tariffs.

Social Media Presence: The Center actively engages on platforms like X, sharing analyses on topics like Egypt’s economy and U.S.-China AI competition.

Critical Perspective

While the Center promotes strategic realism, its ties to controversial figures and events (e.g., Trump’s 2016 speech, Butina allegations) have drawn scrutiny. Allegations of pro-Russia bias, particularly from X posts, suggest a need for caution in evaluating its outputs, though no primary evidence confirms systemic misconduct. Its realist stance, while influential, has been criticized by some (e.g., Fukuyama in 2005) for excessive focus on power politics over liberal internationalism.

Conclusion

The Center for the National Interest is a significant voice in U.S. foreign policy, rooted in Nixon’s legacy and realist principles. Its work through The National Interest and various programs shapes debates on critical global issues. However, its involvement in high-profile controversies and perceived conservative leanings warrant critical examination of its analyses and affiliations.

Sources

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_the_National_Interest)[](https://nationalinterest.org/about-the-national-interest) (http://www.nationalinterest.org.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_the_National_Interest)[](https://nationalinterest.org/about-the-national-interest))