Global Watch

Iran has raised alarms across the region after issuing a fresh warning to the United States and Israel. With tensions rising again in the Strait of Hormuz, Southeast Asia is watching developments closely due to the waterway's critical role in global energy flows.   Growing Threats to Close the Strait Tehran has repeatedly threatened to shut down the Strait as the US has increased pressure on Tehran, including surrounding it with military ...

2025 may be remembered as a turning point for both climate and global politics. Scientists confirmed it as one of the hottest years on record, while extreme weather events disrupted economies, displaced communities, and strained governments around the world.   From wildfires across Europe to deadly heatwaves and floods in Asia, climate-driven disasters no longer exist in isolation. They are shaping political decisions, worsening social ten...

Tensions between China and Japan rose sharply in early November 2025 after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned that a Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan could threaten Japan’s survival and force the mobilization of its military. In response, Beijing rolled out a coordinated pressure campaign on Tokyo. Measures included suspending Japanese seafood imports, slowing approvals for Japanese films, discouraging its citizens from traveling...

The latest US National Security Strategy may signal a major shift in Washington’s view of Europe. Published on December 4, the document marks a break from decades of policy that placed Europe at the center of US global strategy.   Instead of treating Europe as a strategic anchor, the strategy reflects a narrower focus on American national interests, strategic restraint, and a reduced willingness to shoulder what Washington sees as un...

The United States and China are competing for influence at the southern tip of the Americas. By backing a new military and logistics hub in Argentina’s Ushuaia region, Washington aims to secure access to Antarctica and prevent China from gaining a foothold in the far south.   Antarctica Enters the US-China Rivalry Antarctica is no longer just a domain of science and international cooperation. As rivalry between the United States and...