United States

Qatar

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

The United States and Qatar committed to a $1.2 trillion "economic exchange," Qatar Airways' $200 billion purchase of 160 Boeing jets, and defense deals, including the Qatari acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles, Reuters reported on May 14.

U.S., Qatar: Governments Sign Economic Commitments, Defense Deals

Colombia

China

Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed an agreement for Colombia to join China's Belt and Road Initiative, El Colombiano reported on May 14.

Colombia: Bogota's BRI Membership To Spur Chinese Investments, Risk Deteriorating Ties With U.S.

Bolivia

Bolivian President Luis Arce announced on May 13 that he would not run for reelection to avoid helping a right-wing candidate win, AP reported on May 14.

Bolivia: President's Withdrawal From Electoral Race Unlikely To Reduce Shortages or Protests

Europe

NATO allies are advancing plans for a collective pledge to raise defense spending targets to 5% of GDP by 2032, Bloomberg reported on May 14. 

NATO: Members Working Toward New 5% of GDP Defense Spending Target

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would soon lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, though he did not mention specific demands Syria had met to earn such sanctions relief, Al Jazeera reported on May 13.

U.S., Syria: Trump Says U.S. Will Lift Sanctions on Syria

Australia

Indonesia

Newly reelected Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will make a state visit on May 14-15 to Indonesia, the Jakarta Globe reported on May 13.

Australia, Indonesia: Albanese's First Post-Election Trip To Focus on Supply Chains, Trade and Defense Ties

The White House announced that Saudi Arabia committed to investing $600 billion in the United States and signed other deals to expand trade and economic cooperation, especially in key areas such as artificial intelligence, transformative technologies and the U.S. healthcare sector, Reuters reported on May 13. 

U.S., Saudi Arabia: Governments Ink Deals, Investment Commitments on Trump Visit 

South Africa

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration welcomed 59 white South Africans to the United States as part of its resettlement program for South Africa's Afrikaner community, Reuters reported on May 13. 

South Africa, U.S.: Trump Administration Welcomes First Afrikaners Under Resettlement Program 

The world is connected, but even the broadest topics deserve an individual look. Below are our latest and most relevant economics analyses.

Below are our latest and most relevant economics analyses.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

Beyond Quantitative Easing

The New Silk Road

The Fate of the Eurozone

South America: Split Decisions on Trade

Banking

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

Social Issues

European Disintegration

Russia's Internal Struggle

China in Transition

A Japanese Awakening

East African Integration

Assessments

India

Pakistan

The Bombay Stock Exchange building May 7 in Mumbai, India. If military hostilities were to resume and lead to a prolonged conflict, Pakistan would be far less well-positioned than India to sustain it from an economic and financial perspective.

If military hostilities were to resume and lead to a prolonged conflict, Pakistan would be far less well-positioned than India to sustain it from an economic and financial perspective.

The Economic Case for an India-Pakistan Ceasefire

Snapshots

Containers are seen at China's Lianyungang port in eastern Jiangsu province on May 1, 2025. 

Global Trade

Although the U.S.-China trade deal will bring short-term economic relief, negotiations over a broader agreement will remain fraught, particularly since the rapid reduction of U.S. tariffs will embolden China to implement strong retaliation when talks falter.

Despite Tariff Reprieve, a Broader U.S.-China Deal Will Remain Elusive

U.S.-China Relations

United Kingdom

U.S. President Donald Trump -- flanked by Vice President JD Vance (left) and Peter Mandelson, the U.K. ambassador to the United States (right) -- holds a phone call with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office of the White House on May 8, 2025. 

The agreement's narrow scope and quota system suggest the White House remains intent on restricting imports, meaning tariff relief for most other countries reaching deals will also be limited.

Trump Reaches First Post-Tariff Trade Deal With the U.K.

Poland

Supporters of the PiS party demonstrate April 12 in Warsaw, Poland. Poland will hold a presidential election May 18 and runoff June 1 if no candidate obtains more than 50% in the first round.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The outcome of Poland's election will determine whether Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist government will coexist with a cooperative president or continue to face institutional constraints from an ideologically opposed president.

Poland's Election: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Global Elections

Iraq

Kazakhstan

The OPEC logo is seen outside the bloc's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on Oct. 4, 2022.

Energy

The production boost will further decrease oil prices, which will provide some financial relief for oil-consuming countries affected by U.S. tariffs, while further straining the budgets of poorer oil producers like Iraq. 

The Mixed Economic Impact of OPEC's Production Increase

After winning the general election, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese waves as he arrives onstage at the Labor Party election night event in Sydney on May 3, 2025. 

The Labor Party's sweeping victory in Australia will strengthen Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's ability to increase public spending and bolster ties with foreign partners.

Albanese Returns Stronger Than Ever Following Australia's General Election

Singapore

Supporters of Singapore's ruling People's Action Party attend an election rally on May 1, 2025. 

While the ruling party is set to extend its 60-year rule, a weaker mandate could impede its ability to navigate economic headwinds and rising public demands for policy reform.

Previewing Singapore's Election

Ukraine

Drag-line excavator mines rare earth materials on Ukrainian soil on Feb. 25, 2025, in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine. 

A new U.S.-Ukraine economic deal offers Washington a long-term stake in Ukraine's critical resources -- and a potential lever in ceasefire diplomacy.

New Strategic Pact Gives U.S. Stake in Ukraine's Economic Future

Columns

On Geopolitics

Benin

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Cote d'Ivoire

Djibouti

Gabon

Guinea

Madagascar

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Republic of the Congo

Senegal

Togo

France

A picture released on July 12, 1963, of then-French President Gen. Charles de Gaulle (2L) and Jacques Foccart (L) greeting African, Malagasy and French overseas territories veterans arriving in Paris for French Bastille Day celebrations.

After decades of cultivating tight-knit relationships with francophone African countries, France has effectively ended its forward military presence in West and Central Africa amid shifting political dynamics in both regions, which will weaken its influence on the continent but enable Paris to reallocate resources towards Europe's security.

France, Africa and the Future, Part 1: A New Balance of Power 

Canada

Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Mark Carney speaks to his supporters in Ottawa, Canada, on April 29, 2025, after winning the country’s early general elections. 

Canada's newly elected Liberal government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, is poised to tackle an economic slowdown with tax cuts, domestic industry protection, and closer ties to Europe despite falling just short of a parliamentary majority.

Liberals Win Canada Election, but Minority Government Will Complicate Legislation

A digital illustration of the Chinese and EU flags.

Transatlantic trade tensions have created a window for tactical EU-China engagement, but structural constraints and unresolved disputes limit prospects for meaningful realignment.

Economics

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Qatar: Governments Sign Economic Commitments, Defense Deals

Colombia: Bogota's BRI Membership To Spur Chinese Investments, Risk Deteriorating Ties With U.S.

Bolivia: President's Withdrawal From Electoral Race Unlikely To Reduce Shortages or Protests

NATO: Members Working Toward New 5% of GDP Defense Spending Target

U.S., Syria: Trump Says U.S. Will Lift Sanctions on Syria

Australia, Indonesia: Albanese's First Post-Election Trip To Focus on Supply Chains, Trade and Defense Ties

U.S., Saudi Arabia: Governments Ink Deals, Investment Commitments on Trump Visit

South Africa, U.S.: Trump Administration Welcomes First Afrikaners Under Resettlement Program

Forecasts

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