GlobalPULSE: 03 MAR 2025

Report Summary

This weekly report provides a comprehensive analysis of critical events, emerging threats, and significant developments across our global watchlist countries. Our Geopolitical & Security Analysis Teams continuously monitor and assess incidents affecting regional stability, security, and business operations.

Key Global Concerns:

• Latin America’s security landscape is deteriorating, with heightened cartel activity, cross-border gang violence, and military deployments to counter illegal activities.
• US-Mexico relations are strained as President Trump imposes 25% tariffs on Mexican imports over fentanyl trafficking concerns, despite recent cartel extraditions.
• Haiti’s security crisis deepens, with escalating gang violence and the Dominican Republic classifying Haitian gangs as terrorist organizations.
• Environmental disasters in South America escalate, as Brazil declares an emergency over wildfires and Peru continues to battle devastating floods and landslides.
• Political instability in Latin America, with Evo Morales officially splitting from the MAS party in Bolivia and Argentina’s Supreme Court embroiled in political maneuvering.
• US-Europe tensions rise over Ukraine, with Poland advocating for a European-led security strategy as the U.S. shifts its stance on troop commitments.
• Balkans instability increases, with Bosnia’s Republika Srpska President Dodik sentenced to prison, Serbia cracking down on USAID-funded organizations, and Romania facing political polarization.
• Middle East tensions escalate, as Israel accuses Hamas of mistreating hostages and right-wing Israeli groups push for forced displacement of Palestinians.
• Iran-U.S. confrontation intensifies, as the U.S. imposes fresh sanctions on Iranian oil tankers, further escalating regional tensions.
• Africa faces governance and security crises, with Ghana receiving EU military aid, South Africa struggling with an HIV crisis, and Somalia combatting Al-Shabaab attacks.
• China’s regional influence grows, as Taiwan detains a China-linked cargo ship, the Philippines signs a defense pact with Japan, and Thailand strengthens trilateral cooperation with China and Myanmar.
• Economic nationalism surges, with India restricting metallurgical coke imports, Indonesia launching a $900B sovereign wealth fund, and Sri Lanka exploring agricultural modernization with India.

Latin America faces a worsening security landscape with cartel extraditions, cross-border gang violence, and political fragmentation, while Brazil and Peru battle environmental disasters. Europe & Eurasia navigate shifting US policies on Ukraine, with Poland advocating for a European-led defense strategy as instability rises in the Balkans. Middle East & North Africa remain volatile, with increasing Israeli-Palestinian tensions, Iran-US confrontations, and Syria condemning Israeli military actions. Sub-Saharan Africa sees mounting security concerns, as Ghana secures EU military aid, Somalia fights Al-Shabaab, and Zimbabwe faces media crackdowns. Asia-Pacific contends with China’s expanding influence, growing economic nationalism in India and Indonesia, and trilateral cooperation against transnational crime. Across all regions, security, political, and economic shifts present complex geopolitical risks.