The global impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have offered China an unprecedented opportunity to shore up its international image and influence by providing the world with medical aid and vaccines. In 2020, about 43% of global imports of personal protective equipment (PPE) came from China—up from 21% in 2019.

SOURCE: "Is China’s Covid-19 Diplomacy Succeeding?" by the CSIS China Power Project.

The presence of qualified Americans in staff positions in multilateral institutions has declined over the past 30 years. At present, employees of U.S. nationality at the United Nations represent 5 percent of the total staff and the UN has classified the U.S. as one of 35 “Underrepresented Member States” in its January 2020 Geographical Diversity Strategy report.

SOURCE: The Future of U.S. Leadership in Multilateral Development Institutions: A Playbook for the Next 10 Years" by CSIS's Dan Runde, Romina Bandura, Kristen Cordell, and Shannon McKeown.

Over 18.4 million Afghans need humanitarian assistance and more than 30 percent of the population is facing emergency or crisis levels of food insecurity. Preexisting sanctions by the United States and an uncoordinated international response is further complicating an already difficult operational environment for humanitarian actors in Afghanistan.

SOURCE: "U.S. Sanctions Squeeze Humanitarian Assistance in Afghanistan" by CSIS's Kelly Moss and Jacob Kurtzer.

Though emerging technologies are reshaping economies, societies, and warfare, nontraditional innovation programs for national security receive less than 1 percent of acquisitions funding. The U.S. national security community may need a new approach to acquire innovative technologies.

SOURCE: "National Security and the Innovation Ecosystem" by CSIS's James A. Lewis.