But the question that has started dawning on some people is: is the deal necessary in the first place?

Looks like that arbitration court ruling in the Hague has had zero effect on slowing China’s progress in fortifying its claims in disputed waters.

The Israelis are reaching out to Arabs, Africans and Europeans to work out matters of common concern.

Maybe. But the Kremlin stands to gain a lot more by staying put, at least for the time being.

China sends more than 200 vessels into the East China Sea over the weekend, testing Japan’s new hardline nationalist Minister of Defense.

Will the summit feature Ankara breaking from the West in a spectacular way? Probably not. But the meeting will still be consequential.

Not only has Russia avoided a quagmire in Syria, its successes on the battlefield against CIA-backed rebels have given it new leverage in the Middle East.

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Is this President Obama’s attempt to permanently sideline the United States from a leadership role in the Middle East? Or is the explanation more banal: an example of gross diplomatic malpractice?

The New York Times is caught off guard.