The climate change agenda has had a lower profile since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the next month may see a global diplomatic super-surge given that success at November’s COP26 summit in Glasgow remains in the balance.

As the 20th anniversary of 9/11 nears, Joe Biden has declared that US-led anti-terror efforts must continue post-Afghanistan. However, Washington would be wise to deploy a much “smarter” campaign.  

Antony Blinken will be warmly welcomed in Africa on Sunday, yet as he begins his first trip there as US secretary of state he will be in no celebratory mood.

US Vice-President Kamala Harris starts a tour of Asia on Sunday in a bid to recapture the Biden team’s foreign policy momentum after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. 

Alarm is growing at the prospect of the Taliban unseating the Kabul government, but that outcome is just one of three scenarios for Afghanistan’s future amid mounting military uncertainty and an unfolding human tragedy.

While Joe Biden’s first overseas presidential trip was to Europe, it is becoming clearer by the day that his administration’s foreign policy priority is the Asia-Pacific region and the rise of China.

The Asia Pacific Economic Council (APEC) held the first extraordinary leadership meeting in its history on Friday as the region recovers from the pandemic after the biggest economic and political shock since the Second World War. 

England’s third by-election in as many months took place last week, with another surprise result in a nation where politics have shown unprecedented volatility after a series of shocks from the 2016 Brexit referendum to the aftermath of the 2008-09 financial crisis.

Geneva is home to the European seat of the UN and the international headquarters of the Red Cross, yet its unofficial status as the world’s “peace capital” may not be borne out by Joe Biden’s big summit with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.