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Hong Kong has certain political and economic freedoms based on China’s “one country, two systems” principle, but the city’s political evolution is challenging its relationship with the mainland.
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been reoriented toward counterterrorism in recent years, but continues to face charges of overreach.
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North Korea has embarked on an accelerated buildup of weapons of mass destruction and modernization of its already large conventional force.
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The Trump administration has partially rolled back some business guidelines with Cuba while largely leaving the normalization policy unchanged.
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Comprehensive immigration reform has eluded Congress for years, moving controversial policy decisions into the executive and judicial branches of government, explains this Backgrounder.
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Public Health Threats and Pandemics
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed thousands and spurred efforts to improve responses to pandemics. -
Brexit supporters argue that the EU threatens sovereignty and stifles growth, while opponents counter that EU membership strengthens trade, investment, and the UK’s standing in the world.
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As the United Kingdom recovers from a string of terror attacks, the country’s parliamentary elections could determine the course of its Brexit negotiations, trade and economic policy, internal borders, and foreign relations.
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By withdrawing from the Paris accord, the United States—the second-largest global emitter—could undercut collective efforts to reduce emissions, transition to renewable energy sources, and lock in future climate measures.
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Hundreds of thousands of migrants come to the United States each year for work, but Washington has struggled to balance the shifting needs of industry with the concerns of the domestic labor force.
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The G7 serves as a forum for highly industrialized democracies to coordinate economic, security, and energy policy, but the new U.S. administration has stirred questions about the group’s cohesion and relevance to global governance.
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Violence continues to rage in Mexico more than a decade after former President Felipe Calderon launched a crackdown on drug cartels.
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The U.S. national debt now exceeds $14 trillion, prompting calls for tax and spending reforms as President Donald J. Trump issues his administration’s first budget proposal.
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The Organization of American States is an important forum for regional diplomacy, but it has been hesitant to censure member states for violating democratic principles.
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Russian aggression in Ukraine has breathed new life into the Cold War-era security alliance, prompting allies to reinforce defenses in Eastern Europe and expand cooperation with nonmembers.
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The U.S.-Saudi relationship, long bound by common interests in oil and security, has shown strains over what some analysts see as waning U.S. involvement in the Middle East and a more assertive Saudi foreign policy.
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China is believed to spend billions of dollars to boost its international image, but it has yet to see a marked return on its investment in soft power.
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Syria’s civil war is being fought on multiple fronts by an array of combatants whose alliances, capabilities, and in some cases motives have been in flux.
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China is North Korea’s biggest trade partner and arguably has the most leverage on Kim Jong-un’s regime. But while Beijing appears willing to condemn its neighbor’s nuclear developments, analysts say its cautious policies remain focused on stability.
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The sharp decline in oil prices in recent years has crippled Venezuela’s economy and left the Maduro government teetering on the brink.
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China has become Africa’s largest trade partner and has greatly expanded its economic ties to the continent, but its growing activities there have raised questions about its noninterference policy.
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With President Donald J. Trump advocating for deep cuts to U.S. foreign aid, debate has renewed over the role of foreign assistance funds in boosting growth, promoting democracy, and saving lives.
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Iran has restricted its nuclear program and given international inspectors unprecedented access, but it has not seen the economy recovery expected in the aftermath of the agreement with international powers.
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Sub-Saharan Africa is home to many of the world’s longest-ruling heads of state, but civil society and regional blocs may be slowing the trend of extending presidential terms in some areas.