The death of Hugo Chávez raises major questions about the stability of Venezuela, with implications for the region, and Cuban relations in particular, according to this Issue Guide.

Vladimir Putin is expected to regain Russia's presidency despite a surge in public disapproval. Unknown is whether the vote will trigger widespread domestic protest or spur a downturn in Russia's relations with Washington.

Sanctions over Iran's nuclear program have triggered threats involving the strategic Strait of Hormuz and new debate over the methods chosen to pressure Tehran.

Vaclav Havel went from designing theater sets to choreographing the Czech Republic's entry into NATO. One constant in his improbable rise to president was a steely commitment to human rights, as reflected in selected excerpts.

Despite the Greek parliament's approval of an austerity package, the country's enormous debt and EU countries' tortured debate over solutions raise concerns among some experts that default is unavoidable.

Bipartisan plans for reining in the U.S. deficit have been billed as crucial for national security. Yet those plans have triggered debate on whether proposed defense and foreign affairs cuts themselves pose a security threat.

Tough new measures by the Greek government to curb debt levels are likely to be welcomed by a nervous European Union, but debate persists on whether the EU will, or should, offer Greece financial assistance.

The decision by the main Afghan presidential challenger to drop out of the runoff contest raises new doubts about incumbent Hamid Karzai's viability as partner in the U.S. effort to counter Taliban forces in increasingly shaky Afghanistan.

Amid fresh signs U.S. military leaders are expected to request more troops for the Afghan war, debate continues to mount over Afghanistan's importance to U.S. security.

Some analysts say the U.S.-China disagreement over tire imports could provoke a damaging trade dispute at a time when the two giant economies are needed to lead global economic growth.

Regardless of the victor in this week's Afghan presidential elections, some analysts say Western forces must remain committed to the counterinsurgency effort to strengthen the state against a growing Taliban threat.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has sought to advance burgeoning strategic ties with India in a high-profile visit. The most substantive outcome of her trip could be new economic links, say some analysts.

A day after U.S. President Barack Obama harshly condemned Iran's leadership for post-election violence, some analysts believe the United States will have no choice but to scale back promised overtures to the Iranian regime

Barack Obama's inauguration as forty-fourth U.S. president occurs at a time of global economic crisis, with multiple conflicts raging in the greater Middle East. Yet he enters office amid high expectations at home and abroad.

The economy dominated the U.S. presidential campaign, but questions of national security and American power were never far away.

The impact of U.S. economic woes on foreign policy and national security programs is not yet clear, but sectors from defense to development aid are bracing for tighter budgets.

A financial crisis in the final stages of the U.S. presidential race, rather than sidelining foreign policy, could demonstrate how it intersects with U.S. domestic concerns.

A more aggressive domestic energy policy has emerged as a Republican Party priority, setting the stage for heightened debate with Democrats in the presidential race this fall.

Both parties will use presidential conventions to boost their candidate's credentials on the economy and national security, at a time when both issues overlap.

Russia's invasion of Georgia has rubbed raw relations with the West, complicating cooperation in several crucial areas.