Benjamin M. Holtzman is the assistant director of the China Strategy Initiative at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). His research focuses on U.S.-China strategic competition in the Middle East. Holtzman was previously a research associate for China and Indo-Pacific studies and for U.S. foreign policy. Before joining CFR, he worked at Kissinger Associates, Inc. He holds a BA in international studies and economics from American University, where he graduated as the 2022 President’s Award recipient.