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Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) and Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama attend a joint press conference in Fiji's capital of Suva on May 30, 2022.

Economics

Politics

Military & Security

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

China in Transition

Asia-Pacific: Among Great Powers

China, the U.S., and Australia will need to adapt their traditional engagement with the island nations to secure influence in the strategic maritime region.

The Pacific Islands Emerge as the Next Theater for Great Power Competition 

Security

2020 Second-Quarter Forecast

Centered on the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, the Asia-Pacific region includes the easternmost countries of continental Asia as well as the archipelagos that punctuate the coast. 

Asia-Pacific

<p>The Asia-Pacific is home to more people than any other region. Centered on the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, this region includes the easternmost countries of continental Asia as well as the archipelagos that punctuate the coast. Several of these countries, most notably China, experienced rapid economic growth in the second half of the 20th century, giving the region a new sense of global economic relevance that continues today. That relevance, however, depends largely on China, a power in transition whose rise is testing the network of U.S. alliances that have long dominated the region. How effectively Beijing manages its transition will shape the regional balance of power in the decades to come.</p>

2020 Annual Forecast

2019 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape and his wife, Rachel, went on a six-day visit to Australia during July.

Papua New Guinea's new prime minister has pledged to win more benefits for the debt-ridden Pacific country. But doing so could come at the cost of vital foreign revenue streams -- and his political career.

In Papua New Guinea, Reality Will Dim Any Nationalist Dreams

2019 Third-Quarter Forecast

The extremely secluded resort island of Wakaya, Fiji. 

As Beijing increases its ties in the Pacific subregion of Melanesia, Australia is forced to reckon with a more permanent Chinese presence on its doorstep. 

China Encroaches on Australia's Backyard

The New Silk Road

2019 Second-Quarter Forecast

Samoa

Kiribati

Palau

As U.S. focus turns away from the Pacific islands, other powers are starting to pay attention.

Tracking U.S. Naval Power

Countries like the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau enjoy a close treaty relationship with the United States, but the strategically located states are now on China's radar too.

China Sets a Course for the U.S.'s Pacific Domain

2019 Annual Forecast

2018 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

2018 Second-Quarter Forecast

U.S. President Joe Biden canceled visits to Australia and Papua New Guinea to address the debt ceiling debate at home, The Sydney Morning Herald reported on May 16.

U.S.: Canceled Visits May Harm Relationship With Pacific Island Nations

U.S. President Joe Biden will stop in Papua New Guinea on May 22 to sign a Defense Cooperation Agreement and a second deal allowing the U.S. Coast Guard to patrol Papua New Guinea's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Reuters reported on May 10.

U.S., Papua New Guinea: Countries to Sign Pacts Covering Development, Defense, Surveillance

Papua New Guinea's newly appointed Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko revealed that the country is moving to negotiate a security treaty with Australia, ABC News reported Aug. 30.

Australia, Papua New Guinea: Countries to Negotiate Formal Security Pact

Voters in Papua New Guinea's region of Bougainville in the Solomon Island chain voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence from the country in a non-binding referendum between Nov. 23 and Dec. 7, according to an official Dec. 11 announcement, the BBC reported.

Papua New Guinea: Voters in Bougainville Region Back Independence in Referendum

The Australian government has denied claims that its decision to grant a $300 million concessional loan to the Papua New Guinea government was motivated by a desire to curb growing Chinese influence, One PNG reported Nov. 26.

Papua New Guinea: Australian Loan Not Related to Countering Chinese Influence, Canberra Says

Papua New Guinea has asked China to refinance all of its $7.9 billion in government debt, Prime Minister James Marape announced after a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Xue Bing, The Canberra Times reported Aug. 7.

Papua New Guinea: Prime Minister Asks China to Refinance Government Debt 

Japan

A Japanese Awakening

A liquefied natural gas project in Papua New Guinea will be the first to receive financing under the Indo-Pacific Infrastructure Initiative, a cooperative development effort among the United States, Japan and Australia, Nikkei Asian Review reported June 25.

Papua New Guinea: U.S.-Japanese-Australian Investment Bloc to Fund LNG Project

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Papua New Guinea's prime minister, Peter O'Neill, have agreed to cooperate on a joint naval base on Manus Island, The Guardian reported Nov. 1.

Australia, Papua New Guinea: Leaders Agree to Joint Naval Base

Afghanistan

Algeria

Antigua and Barbuda

Luxembourg

South Sudan

A view of the Register in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Angola

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Armenia

Bahrain

Lithuania

Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

Barbados

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Cambodia

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Iraq

The President palace in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

The administrative center of the Gakh region of Azerbaijan, located at the foot of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, on the river Kurhumchai.

Brazil

Burundi

Finland

Israel

Nepal

Cameroon

Canada

Georgia

Jordan

Pakistan

Mir Castle in the Minsk region of Belarus.

Cabo Verde

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Central African Republic

Colombia

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Lebanon

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Indonesia

Libya

Russia

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Czech Republic

A horse grazes in front of Kara-Kul lake in the Chon-Ak-Suu valley, 300 kilometers southeast of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S.: Canceled Visits May Harm Relationship With Pacific Island Nations

U.S., Papua New Guinea: Countries to Sign Pacts Covering Development, Defense, Surveillance

Australia, Papua New Guinea: Countries to Negotiate Formal Security Pact

Papua New Guinea: Voters in Bougainville Region Back Independence in Referendum

Papua New Guinea: Australian Loan Not Related to Countering Chinese Influence, Canberra Says

Papua New Guinea: Prime Minister Asks China to Refinance Government Debt

Papua New Guinea: U.S.-Japanese-Australian Investment Bloc to Fund LNG Project

Australia, Papua New Guinea: Leaders Agree to Joint Naval Base

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