The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is a prominent and influential independent, nonpartisan American think tank and membership organization specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs. Founded in 1921 by scholars, diplomats, business leaders, bankers, and industrialists emerging from the Inquiry into the Paris Peace Conference, CFR operates as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in New York City with an additional office in Washington, D.C. It is widely recognized as one of the most influential foreign policy organizations globally.

CFR's mission is to inform U.S. engagement with the world through rigorous research conducted by over 50 fellows, including notable figures such as Henry A. Kissinger, who served as a Senior Fellow from 1997 to 2010, and Zalmay Khalilzad. The organization employs approximately 450 staff members who contribute to media outreach and analyze contemporary issues including climate change, cybersecurity, global conflicts, and economic relations. It publishes the renowned bimonthly journal Foreign Affairs, established in 1922, and hosts high-level events and discussions involving its selective membership of about 5,000 influential individuals from politics, business, academia, media, and diplomacy—such as government leaders, former presidents, secretaries of state, CEOs, journalists, national security advisors, and CIA directors. CFR also offers educational programs like the International Affairs Fellowship Program.

Governed by a board of directors composed of prominent individuals, CFR fosters elite networks that shape global strategies and policy recommendations. While it does not take explicit institutional policy positions, it influences discourse through task forces, reports, and initiatives such as the annual Preventive Priorities Survey, convening policymakers and experts. The organization maintains longstanding bipartisan ties to U.S. administrations, with many members serving in key government roles.

Funding comes from corporate donations—the Corporate Program generates over $6 million annually—foundation grants, membership dues, endowment investments, and publication revenues, with total revenue exceeding $100 million in recent years. Although praised for its intellectual contributions and transparency via public reports and publications, CFR faces criticism for perceived elitism, exclusivity, marginalization of dissenting perspectives, and allegations—often unsubstantiated—of promoting establishment or "globalist" agendas and shaping policy behind closed doors, reflecting its close ties to government and corporate leaders. Emerging from post-World War I efforts to promote internationalism, the Council on Foreign Relations continues to adapt to global challenges and remains a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy discourse.