United States

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

Politics

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign a memorandum on Feb. 21 that will authorize the creation of reciprocal tariffs in response to foreign digital services taxes, or DSTs, imposed by various other countries on a variety of large U.S. technology companies, Bloomberg reported the same day.

U.S.: White House Expected To Greenlight Reciprocal Tariffs Targeting Digital Services Taxes 

United Kingdom

Cyber

Apple stopped offering its Advanced Data Protection feature for new users in the United Kingdom following London's January order for Apple to build a backdoor enabling the government to access encrypted user data, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 21.

U.K.: Apple Stops Offering End-to-End iCloud Encryption Service in U.K.

Social Issues

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced on Feb. 20 a public inquiry into major tech platforms' content moderation policies and decisions to ban users over the content of their speech or affiliations. 

U.S.: FTC Launches Tech Censorship Inquiry

Malaysia

Malaysia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' 2025 chair, announced that it is seeking a summit with the United States to address the bloc's concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed 25% tariffs on automobiles, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, Reuters reported on Feb. 20.

ASEAN, U.S.: Chair Malaysia Seeks Summit With Washington on Tariffs

France

France will commit 109 billion euros ($112.5 billion) in private sector artificial intelligence investments over the coming years, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a broadcast with France 2 on Feb. 9.

France: Macron Announces 109B Euro Investment in AI

France and India will cohost the AI Action Summit in Paris on Feb. 10-11, during which attendees will look broadly at artificial intelligence risks such as environmental impact, income inequality and bias, Reuters reported on Feb. 10. 

Cyberspace, France: AI Action Summit Held in Paris

The British government ordered U.S. tech giant Apple to create a backdoor allowing London to access all encrypted iCloud content from any Apple user worldwide, The Washington Post reported on Feb. 7, citing people familiar with the matter. 

U.K.: London Orders Apple To Create Backdoor To Give Access to Content Worldwide

India

Military & Security

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States on Feb. 12 for a two-day trip, during which he is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on Feb. 13, The Hindu reported on Feb. 4.

India: Modi To Speak With Trump During Two-Day U.S. Visit

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

Technology

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

Agriculture

COVID-19

Supply Chains

_Energy

Environmental Issues

Globalization

The 4th Industrial Revolution

Assessments

While wars over water remain rare, its unequal distribution, growing demand and climate change-driven stress will increasingly shape global challenges and geopolitical tensions in the decades to come.

The Geopolitics of Water: Conclusion

The Geopolitics of Water

South Africa

While government reforms will help catalyze much-needed investments in water infrastructure, these are unlikely to rapidly resolve the country's water supply challenges, which threaten to undermine South Africa's economic growth amid more frequent droughts. 

The Geopolitics of Water: The Cascading Effects of South African Underinvestment in Water Infrastructure

China

Pakistan

Energy

South Asia's rising demand for water resources will exacerbate disputes over key waterways, particularly the Brahmaputra and Indus rivers.

The Geopolitics of Water: Regional Rivals Compete for South Asia's Rivers

Canada

Mexico

U.S. President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it during an indoor inauguration parade at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C, on Jan. 20, 2025.

While some will face legal challenges, Trump's initial orders on immigration, trade, energy and climate issues lay the groundwork for his ambitious agenda.

What To Make of Trump's Day 1 Executive Orders

Brazil

Changes in rainfall patterns and extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change will increasingly challenge Brazil's crop production, causing unrest.

The Geopolitics of Water: The Impact of Climate Change on Brazil's Agribusiness

Global Elections

Ethiopia

Egypt

In the coming decade, water scarcity will likely contribute to the erosion of Egypt's economic and political independence, including its ability to act unilaterally against other countries vying for water along the Nile basin.

The Geopolitics of Water: The Threat to Egypt's Independence

Media

Podcasts

What is Salt Typhoon, and what happened in the recent hack against U.S. telecommunications companies? 

Essential Geopolitics: Unpacking China's Salt Typhoon Operation

U.S.-China Relations

Iran

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Syria

Turkey

North Korea

Ukraine

Russia

As 2025 approaches, we look back at the previous year and consider the top five events as measured by geopolitical impact.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

2024: A Geopolitical Review

Water utilities are uniquely vulnerable to cyberattacks due to frequent financial and security limitations, exposing water-stressed countries to threats from hacktivists and foreign adversaries.

 The Geopolitics of Water: Cyberattacks' Impact on Water Stress in the U.S. and Beyond

Algeria

Morocco

Tunisia

North Africa will struggle to combat its worsening drought amid overconsumption, mismanagement and technological shortcomings.

The Geopolitics of Water: A Prolonged Drought Dries Up North Africa's Resources

Columns

On Geopolitics

Statements made by Trump and his allies, including Elon Musk, offer insight into how his next administration will approach the regulation (or lack thereof) of AI, online content, data and monopolistic business practices.

Previewing Trump's Tech Policies

Cargo containers painted with Chinese and U.S. flags. Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025.

2025 Annual Forecast: A Global Overview

U.S.-Iran Relations

Environment, Science & Technology

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S.: White House Expected To Greenlight Reciprocal Tariffs Targeting Digital Services Taxes

U.K.: Apple Stops Offering End-to-End iCloud Encryption Service in U.K.

U.S.: FTC Launches Tech Censorship Inquiry

ASEAN, U.S.: Chair Malaysia Seeks Summit With Washington on Tariffs

France: Macron Announces 109B Euro Investment in AI

Cyberspace, France: AI Action Summit Held in Paris

U.K.: London Orders Apple To Create Backdoor To Give Access to Content Worldwide

India: Modi To Speak With Trump During Two-Day U.S. Visit

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