Aaron David Miller on Leadership, Alliances and the Future of U.S. Diplomacy
JUDJ-Prepared Summary from April 22, 2026 | War Making and Peacemaking: The Future of the US-Israeli Relationship. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the speaker.
In a recent America at a Crossroads discussion, Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at Carnegie and veteran Middle East negotiator who served under both Republican and Democratic administrations, spoke with Patt Morrison about U.S. foreign policy, the U.S.-Israel relationship and the leadership failures shaping today’s crises. The conversation went beyond the immediate conflict with Iran to explore the deeper institutional and political weaknesses affecting American diplomacy.
The National Interest Versus Impulse
Miller opened by stressing his belief in the national interest as something that should transcend party, ego and ideology. That belief shaped much of his critique. In his view, effective foreign policy requires more than presidential instinct. It requires discipline, expertise and a national security process capable of testing assumptions before decisions are made.
He described the current national security structure as broken, arguing that presidents need advisors and diplomats who can bring intelligence, military, economic and regional expertise together. Without that process, foreign policy becomes overly personalized and reactive.
What Serious Diplomacy Requires
Miller pointed to past secretaries of state such as James Baker and Henry Kissinger as examples of leaders who were not traditional diplomats, but had judgment, preparation and the ability to speak frankly to presidents. That kind of relationship, he argued, is essential when the stakes involve war, nuclear negotiations or regional instability.
By contrast, Miller expressed concern about relying on informal envoys or personal relationships to manage highly complex conflicts. Negotiations involving Iran, Russia, Ukraine, Israel or Gaza require deep expertise and teams capable of working through technical and political details.
The U.S.-Israel Relationship Under Strain
A major focus of the conversation was the changing nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Miller described a paradox: on the surface, military cooperation between the two countries remains extraordinarily close. Beneath that, however, the foundations of the relationship are under stress.
He identified three pillars that have weakened: shared values, shared interests and bipartisan support in the United States. Miller argued that the relationship has become increasingly politicized, with divisions growing among Democrats, Republicans and younger Americans.
Israel’s Changing Image
Miller also noted that many Americans no longer view Israel primarily through the older narrative of a small nation fighting for survival. The wars in Gaza and Lebanon, along with actions in the West Bank, have changed perceptions. In his words, Israel is no longer seen by many as David, but as Goliath.
That shift matters because public opinion can eventually shape policy. Questions about military assistance, intelligence cooperation and U.S. diplomatic support may become more prominent if generational and partisan divides continue to deepen.
Hope and Hard Work
Despite the bleak assessment, Miller rejected fatalism. He recalled that within six years of the trauma of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty. His point was not that today’s conflicts are simple, but that history warns against saying “never.”
For Miller, hope is not naïve. It is a discipline, paired with hard work, serious leadership and a refusal to surrender the future to despair.
About America at a Crossroads
Since April 2020, America at a Crossroads has produced weekly virtual programs on topics related to the preservation of our democracy, voting rights, freedom of the press, and a wide array of civil rights, including abortion rights, free speech, and free press. America at a Crossroads is a project of Jews United for Democracy & Justice.
