Look ahead to the geopolitical events that will shape your world.

2023 Event Location  
June 2023 Integrated Firepower Exercise joint military drill
US/South Korea
USASouth Korea
The US-South Korea drill will mark the 70th anniversary of the Korea-US alliance. The drill will display land, sea and air weaponry, including both manned and unmanned technologies for the first time.
June 2023 Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance) high-level summit
Global
Global
Spain will gather representatives from multilateral organisations, governments, companies, academics and civil society, with the aim of analysing the state of vaccination in countries supported by Gavi.
June 2023 2023 UN Security Council elections
Global
Global
Five rotating seats on the UN Security Council are up for election. The competitive elections are for Asia (Tajikistan vs South Korea) and Eastern Europe (Belarus vs Slovenia). A country’s stance on the war in Ukraine is likely to be a key factor in the election. Algeria and Sierra Leone are running unopposed in Africa and Guyana is unopposed in Latin America.
2-3 June 2023 Foreign ministers of BRICS meeting
Brazil/China/India/Russia/South Africa
Global
The BRICS members will meet in Cape Town (South Africa) to discuss enlargement of the bloc. China initiated the conversation about expansion when it was BRICS chair in 2022.
2-4 June 2023
Shangri-La Dialogue
Global
Global
The Shangri-La Dialogue will provide a forum to discuss critical regional security issues.
4 June 2023
35th ministerial meeting of OPEC
Global
Global
OPEC market management policy will be reviewed by member states at this full ministerial meeting. 
7-8 June 2023
8th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency
Global
Global
The conference will be hosted by the French Minister of Energy Transition and the International Energy Agency Executive Director in Paris (France). It brings together ministers, CEOs and other senior leaders to address the global energy crisis and climate imperatives.
21-22 June 2023
Ukraine Recovery Conference
Europe
EU
The UK will host the next conference in London – the first took place in London in 2017. The agenda will focus on the mobilisation of international and private sector support for the economic and social stabilisation of Ukraine.
22-23 June 2023
Summit for a New Global Financial Pact
Global
Global
France will host the summit, with the goal of building a contract between the countries of the North and the South address climate change and the global response.
24 June 2023 General election
Sierra Leone

Politicking and localised incidents of political violence are likely to increase in the months leading up to the vote.
1 July 2023
Spain takes over Council of the EU presidency
EU
EU
Spain takes over from Czechia in the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, until 31 December 2023. Achieving a deal on the Fit for 55 climate package will be one of the main objectives.
11-12 July 2023
NATO Summit
Global
Global
The summit will take place in Vilnius (Lithuania). NATO expansion along with the Ukraine war will likely be prominent topics.
14-18 July 2023
G20 Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors
Global
Global
The meeting will take place in in Gandhinagar, Gujarat (India).
22 July 2023
G20 energy ministers meeting
Global
Global
G20 energy ministers will gather in Goa (India).
24 July 2023
100th Anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne
Turkey
Turkey
The treaty decided Turkey’s modern borders, including the formal renunciation of Turkish claims to Mosul province (Iraq), Cyprus and other territories in the Eastern Mediterranean.
26-29 July 2023
Second Russia-Africa summit
Russia/Africa
Global
The first Russia-Africa Summit was held in Sochi (Russia) in 2019. While the second summit was initially intended to take place in Africa, in January 2023 the organisers announced that it will be held in St Petersburg (Russia).
28-29 July 2023
G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers’ meeting
Global
Global
The meeting will take place in Chennai (India)
31 July 2023 Expiration of EU sanctions
EU/Russia
EU
The EU previously prolonged economic sanctions against Russia on 27 January 2023 for six months.
15 Aug 2023
Anniversary of 2021 Taliban takeover of Kabul
Afghanistan
Afghanistan
The Taliban remains firmly in control of Afghanistan after its capture of Kabul in 2021, which prompted significant international criticism of the rapid and chaotic US military withdrawal. 
17-18 Aug 2023
The First WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit
Global
Global
The summit will take place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat (India) – held alongside the G20 health ministerial meeting.
18-19 Aug 2023
G20 health ministers’ working group meeting
Global
Global
G20 health ministers will gather in Gandhinagar, Gujarat (India).
22-24 Aug 2023
15th BRICS leaders’ summit
Brazil/China/India/Russia/South Africa
Global
South Africa will host the summit in Cape Town under the theme “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism”.
24-25 Aug 2023
G20 trade and investment ministers’ meeting
Global
Global
G20 trade and investment ministers will meet in Jaipur (India).
4-7 Sep 2023 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit
Asia
Global
The summit will take place in Jakarta (Indonesia). The Philippines joined the trade agreement in February 2023.
4-7 Sep 2023
43rd ASEAN Leaders’ Summit
Asia
Global
The participants will discuss economic, political, security and sociocultural developments in Southeast Asian countries in Jakarta (Indonesia).
5-6 Sep 2023 Eastern Economic Forum
Russia/Central Asia/Asia
Global
The annual international forum will be held in Vladivostok (Russia) and aims to encourage investment and economic development in Russia’s Far East.
9 Sep 2023
General elections
Maldives
Maldives
Incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is the presidential candidate of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). The conviction of the main opposition leader on corruption charges has disqualified him from contesting the elections.
9-10 Sep 2023 G20 leaders’ Summit
Global
Global
The summit will take place in New Delhi (India). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chosen “One Earth, One Family, One Future” as the theme.
11 Sep 2023
The anniversary of the 11 September 2001 (9/11) terrorist attacks
US
USA
The anniversary is typically accompanied by an increase in propaganda from al-Qaida, its affiliates, and its sympathisers, including calls for attacks against the US, Israel, other countries, and local governments. However, al-Qaida has yet to appoint a new leader after a counter-terrorism operation in August 2022 killed its long-time leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri. The lack of leadership likely hindered al-Qaida central’s ability to distribute critical propaganda around this anniversary in 2022.
12-30 Sep 2023 Opening of the 78th UN General Assembly
Global
Global
The Russia-Ukraine conflict will likely remain top of the agenda at the annual meeting.
18-19 Sep 2023 2023 UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit
Global
Global
Heads of state and government will gather at the UN Headquarters in New York (US) to follow up and review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Oct 2023
General elections, Sindh and Balochistan provincial elections
Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan will hold general elections and provincial elections for the Sindh and Balochistan provinces in October after the term of the National Assembly (lower house) and respective provincial assemblies end in August. Political polarisation will widen in the run up to the elections. Parties that lose the elections will raise allegations of rigging and manipulation. 
8-12 Oct 2023 2023 Internet Governance Forum
Global
Global
Leaders from government, civil society and the private sector will discuss and address issues related to the governance of the internet.
9-15 Oct 2023
IMF and World Bank annual meetings
Global
Global
The annual meetings will take place in Marrakesh (Morocco).
10 Oct 2023 General election
Liberia Liberia
Presidential and parliamentary elections will be held.
11-13 Oct 2023
Russia Energy Week
Russia
Russia
This will take place in Moscow (Russia) and is one of the key international events for discussing current trends in the fuel and energy industry.
18 Oct 2023 Expiry of UN Security Council resolution restricting Iran’s weapons proliferation 
Global 
Global
UN Security Council prohibitions (UNSC resolution 2231) on Iran’s imports and exports of drone and missile-related equipment and materiel, as defined by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), will expire unless a JCPOA participant invokes “snapback” provisions. This will likely be a crisis point in international efforts to contain Iran’s nuclear enrichment and regional security threat posture. 
28-29 Oct 2023
G7 Trade Ministers’ Meeting
Global
Global
The meeting will take place in Osaka-Sakai (Japan). 
6-7 Nov 2023
African Critical Minerals Summit
Africa
Global
This inaugural summit will be held in Johannesburg (South Africa).
13-14 Nov 2023 APEC 2023 Summit
US/Asia
Global
The US is hosting the annual APEC summit. And has outlined supply chain resilience, digital trade, connectivity, opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, climate change and environmental sustainability as key themes for the summit.
27 Nov - 1 Dec 2023
Second Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)
Global
Global
The first meeting in June 2022 concluded with the Vienna Declaration – reaffirming condemnation of nuclear threats – being adopted. Nuclear powers, including France, Russia, the UK, and the US are not signatories. .
30 Nov - 12 Dec 2023
Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28)
Global
Global
COP28 will take place in Dubai (UAE). As a result of disappointing progress at COP27, members will be under pressure to make significant progress in securing commitments to reducing carbon emissions.
10 Dec 2023 75th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights
Global
Global
The 75th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights will likely increase scrutiny on human right issues globally. 
November-December 2023
General election
Spain
Spain
Spain will hold general elections. Incumbent PM Pedro Sanchez is trailing the favourite centre-right People’s Party in opinion polls. Sanchez’s left-wing coalition has also shown signs of splintering, further casting doubt on his re-election chances. 
December 2023 Brazil takes over G20 presidency
Global
Global
Brazil will take over 2024 G20 presidency from India.
20 December 2023 General election
Congo (DRC)
Congo (DCR)
Congo (DRC) is set to hold presidential and parliamentary elections.
January 2024 General election
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
The 11th Sangsad (legislature) is scheduled to expire on 29 January 2024. Incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is under opposition pressure to resign in the run-up to the elections and appoint a caretaker government to oversee the polls. The opposition led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party will continue to organise massive rallies and demonstrations to press for these demands.
January 2024 Russia takes over BRICS presidency
Brazil/Russia/India/China/South Africa
Global
Russia will take over the BRICS presidency from South Africa.
January 2024 Italy takes over G7 presidency
Global
Global
Italy will take over the G7 presidency from Japan.
13 Jan 2024 Presidential election
Taiwan Taiwan
Incumbent Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party is ineligible to seek a third term.
4 Feb 2024 Presidential election
Mali Mali
Presidential elections are scheduled after they were postponed from 27 February 2022.
14 Feb 2024 Presidential election
Indonesia Indonesia
The election will deliver a change in administration because President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo cannot stand again.
24 Feb 2024 Anniversary of Ukraine conflict
Ukraine Ukraine
This will mark two years since Russia launched incursions into Ukraine.

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