Global Hotspots Outlook: US and Iran Conflict Re-escalates

This week, the U.S. renewed strikes against Iran and a naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Israel and Lebanon held negotiations in Rome. In the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. confirmed it had started to sell minimal amounts of Nvidia H200 microchips to China, and Taiwan announced an additional $100 billion investment in the United States’ advanced chip industry. In the Russia/Ukraine conflict, the U.S. unveiled legislation that would enact sanctions against the Russian economy following support from U.S. President Donald Trump, while protests took place across Ukraine following President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to reshuffle his Cabinet. In global trade, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced a 25% tariff on all Brazilian imports, with tariffs on other trading partners expected to be announced in upcoming weeks.