Global Memos

The tariffs and trade disruptions of the second Donald Trump administration have caused trade partners around the world to reconsider their economic policies and supply chains. Four Council of Councils member institutes weigh in on how these changes are impacting their regions.

After only six weeks in office, President Donald Trump has already sent shockwaves through the world regarding U.S. foreign and economic policy. The Council of Councils Initiative at CFR asked members to reflect on his March 4 address to Congress, and what his words and actions mean for U.S. engagement with their region.  

South Korean President Yoon's recent declaration of martial law highlights the nation's political disfunction. Dr. Yul Sohn and Dr. Won-Taek Kang of the East Asia Institute reflect on the trends in South Korean politics that led to this moment and the state of the country's democracy.

A view of the General Assembly Hall during the "Summit of the Future" at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2024. REUTERS/David Dee Delgado

The Group of Twenty (G20) met recently in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the heels of a seismic U.S. presidential election that has the potential to accelerate an already rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. Five Council of Councils experts weigh in on what they saw as the meeting's successes, failures, and missed opportunities, while asking what is next for this group comprised of the world's largest economies.

The sixteenth annual BRICS (whose membership has grown from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to also include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates) summit was held in Kazan, Russia, on October 22-October 24. 2024. We asked what was new and innovative at the summit this year, and how the bloc is changing the geopolitical context. Six Council of Councils (CoC) experts from BRICS member countries and beyond reflect on the future of the group and what expansion means for global governance.

The November 2024 U.S. presidential election will have serious implications for the world. In the fifth and final installment of a five-part series, this global perspectives roundup features four reflections on why the U.S. election outcome matters for the Middle East.

The November 2024 U.S. presidential election will have serious implications for the world. In the fourth of a five-part series, this global perspectives roundup features three reflections on why the U.S. election outcome matters for the Americas.

The November 2024 U.S. presidential election will have serious implications for the world. In the third of a five-part series, this global perspectives roundup features three reflections on why the U.S. election outcome matters for Africa.

The November 2024 U.S. presidential election will have serious implications for the world. In the second of a five-part series, this global perspectives roundup features four reflections on why the U.S. election outcome matters for the Indo-Pacific.