Foreign Policy

President Obama, seen shaking hands with Raul Castro at the Summit of the Americas in Panama, engaged in the first substantive face-to-face U.S.-Cuba talks in more than 50 years. Scott Horsley/NPR hide caption

"An occupation that has lasted for almost 50 years must end," White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough told the annual J Street conference Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

President Obama delivers the commencement address to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on May 28. The president has employed U.S. military force much more sparingly in his second term than his first. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

President Obama enters before speaking at the West Point graduation ceremony on Wednesday. John Angelillo/UPI/Landov hide caption

President Obama delivers the commencement address to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point's Class of 2014, in West Point, N.Y., on Wednesday. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions are beyond President Obama's control, something that holds true for most of the foreign policy issues vexing the U.S. president's second term. Sergei Ilnitsky/AP hide caption

Flags from nations around the world fly outside the U.N. building in New York City. The challenges facing President Obama's foreign policy team will be among the topics of today's national conversation, hosted by Talk of the Nation and the Wilson Center. Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Obama shake hands with audience members following the third presidential debate Monday at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. Eric Gay/AP hide caption

President Obama and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney walk away after they greet each other at the end of the third presidential debate in Boca Raton, Fla., on Monday. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images hide caption