United States

China

Kazakhstan

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

Military & Security

Cove Kaz Capital, a U.S. citical minerals company linked to two of U.S. President Donald Trump's sons through its planned merger with Skyline Builders, asked the U.S. Defense Department's Office of Strategic Capital for an additional $400 million to develop the Northern Katpar and Upper Kairakty tungsten projects in Kazakhstan, the Financial Times reported on May 12.

Kazakhstan, U.S.: Kazakhstan Tungsten Project Seeks More U.S. Backing

South Korea

As U.S. President Donald Trump landed in China, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held roughly three hours of trade talks in South Korea aimed at preparing the summit agenda between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14-15, with topics including tariffs, semiconductors, rare earths, agriculture, aerospace, energy and the Iran conflict, Reuters reported on May 13.

China, U.S.: Summit Prep Points to Limited Trade Accommodations, Taiwan Friction

Europe

Politics

The European Commission entered talks to bring the European Union into Pax Silica, a U.S.-led initiative aimed at building a trusted network for semiconductors, AI infrastructure, critical minerals and data centers to reduce reliance on China, Bloomberg reported May 12.

EU, U.S.: Brussels Enters Talks to Join U.S.-Led Pax Silica Alliance

Iran

Ukraine

Russia

Cyber

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Alex Karp, the CEO of U.S. artificial intelligence company Palantir, as Kyiv expands its use of AI in the war against Russia, Reuters reported on May 12.

Ukraine: Kyiv Expands Palantir AI Partnership as Drone War Raises the Value of Combat Data

Iranian news outlets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps published proposals on May 9 for Iran to start charging international companies a fee to use undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran: State-Affiliated News Outlets Encourage Levies on Regional Sea Cables

European Parliament lawmakers reached a tentative agreement to water down the bloc's Artificial Intelligence Act in an effort to ease compliance requirements for businesses, Reuters reported on May 7.

EU: Parliament Lawmakers Reach Provisional Agreement To Weaken AI Rules

U.S. and Chinese officials are considering launching talks on artificial intelligence, potentially at the May 14-15 summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, to implement guardrails on its use, The Wall Street Journal reported on May 7.

U.S., China: Countries Weigh Renewing AI Dialogue

U.S.-China Relations

Leading U.S. artificial intelligence companies Microsoft, xAi and Google DeepMind signed deals with the U.S. Department of Commerce to allow the government to review AI models for national security risks prior to their public release, Reuters reported on May 5.

U.S.: White House Considers Stronger AI Regulatory Oversight

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

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

Agriculture

COVID-19

Supply Chains

_Energy

Environmental Issues

Globalization

The 4th Industrial Revolution

Assessments

U.S. President Donald Trump (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a bilateral meeting in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30, 2025.

The May 14-15 meetings will likely yield a limited extension of the current U.S.-China economic detente while leaving core strategic disputes over technology controls, Taiwan and Iran largely unresolved.

Trump-Xi Summit Likely To Preserve Trade Truce, Test Strategic Fault Lines

Brazil

The Geopolitics of Natural Resources

If Flavio Bolsonaro wins in October, his right-wing administration would largely abandon Brazil's environmental and climate commitments, accelerate extractive investments and projects, and pursue strong geopolitical alignment with Washington.

The Balance Between Environmental and Extractive Policies in Brazil's Presidential Election, Part 2

Media

Podcasts

How are evolving cyber tactics reshaping the threat landscape for the Iran war?

The Decision Advantage: Iran, Russia and the Future of Cyber Warfare

Columns

On Geopolitics

Energy

Weaponizing raw material exports can provide short-term political leverage, but it often pushes the targeted nations to permanently restructure their trade relationships to reduce dependencies.

The Historical Lessons of Global Commodity Weaponization

Snapshots

Argentina

View of the Perito Moreno Glacier at Los Glaciares National Park near El Calafate, Santa Cruz province, Argentina, taken on June 8, 2025.

By dismantling uniform national protections in favor of provincial oversight, Argentina aims to stimulate its extractive-export economy but will risk the long-term security of water-dependent sectors and the environment.

Argentina's Revised Glaciers Law Will Unlock Mining Investment, but Risks Environmental Degradation

This photo, taken in Lima in November 2024, shows Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte attending the inauguration ceremony for the Chinese-built and operated "megaport" in the small Peruvian town of Chancay.

As Washington formalizes a new hemispheric doctrine centered on security and supply chain dominance, regional governments face mounting pressure to align their defense and economic policies with U.S. geopolitical interests.

How the U.S.'s Anti-China Strategy for Latin America Could Unfold

As competition for natural resources and critical raw materials intensifies, companies -- not just countries -- must be more mindful of risks in their physical supply chains.

The Geopolitics of Natural Resources: An Introduction

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Social Issues

The second quarter will test global resilience as lingering conflicts and energy shocks converge to heighten economic uncertainty and geopolitical volatility.

2026 Second-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

South Africa

A general view of power lines near the Lethabo power station between Vereeniging and Sasolburg, South Africa, on April 17, 2024.

Although South Africa's power sector reforms remain years from completion, their gradual advancement will still attract investment in energy projects that support the country's long-term energy security and decarbonization goals.

The Outlook for South Africa's Power Sector Reforms and Energy Security

Kuwait

Oman

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

India

A medicine distributor stores Mounjaro (tirzepatide) self-injecting GLP-1 prefilled pens and vials in a fridge at his office in Thane, India, on March 20, 2026. 

India's pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors are set to grow significantly over the next several years amid manufacturing incentives, regulatory reforms and trade deals.

The Growth Outlook for India's Pharmaceutical Sector Remains Strong, Despite Global Uncertainties

Greenland

Denmark

Danish Defense Minister and top candidate of Denmark's Venstre party, Troels Lund Poulsen (left), and Danish Prime Minister and top candidate of the Social Democrat Party, Mette Frederiksen (right), attend a debate in Copenhagen on March 15, 2026.

The upcoming parliamentary elections could result in three distinct coalitions that would offer varying continuity in domestic economic policy and Copenhagen's approach to U.S. pressure over Greenland.

Denmark's General Elections: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Global Elections

A farmer sprinkles fertilizer over a crop of cauliflower on the outskirts of Bangalore, India, in November 2020.

The Strait of Hormuz blockade is straining global supplies of nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilizers, which could lead to lower crop yields, higher food prices and fiscal strain for agricultural producers if the disruptions persist.

Environment, Science & Technology

SITUATION REPORTS

Kazakhstan, U.S.: Kazakhstan Tungsten Project Seeks More U.S. Backing

China, U.S.: Summit Prep Points to Limited Trade Accommodations, Taiwan Friction

EU, U.S.: Brussels Enters Talks to Join U.S.-Led Pax Silica Alliance

Ukraine: Kyiv Expands Palantir AI Partnership as Drone War Raises the Value of Combat Data

Iran: State-Affiliated News Outlets Encourage Levies on Regional Sea Cables

EU: Parliament Lawmakers Reach Provisional Agreement To Weaken AI Rules

U.S., China: Countries Weigh Renewing AI Dialogue

U.S.: White House Considers Stronger AI Regulatory Oversight

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support