Regional power

Even though the economic weight of Africa is relatively low compared to other continents, and more than two-thirds of African countries are among the least developed states in the world, Africa's rich natural resources and diverse cultures could carry the potential to enable future development.

Although South Africa was diplomatically isolated during the latter years of the apartheid era, it is considered to have successfully reintegrated into international affairs over the last 20 years. It is recognized as the only newly industrialized country in Africa and takes a crucial role in BRICS and G20.

Nigeria, often referred to as the "Giant of Africa," due its population and economy both being the largest in Africa, and the cultural influence that it holds over other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, through its movie industry and mass media. Nigeria is also the largest oil producer in Africa.

Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, and Algeria are the four largest African economies; all have GDPs over $150 billion (nominal) and $500 billion (PPP) as of 2020.

•  Nigeria^{[N-11][G-15][OPEC][D-8]}[3][4]

•  South Africa^{[G20][BRICS][CIVETS]}[5][6][7][8]

Historically, Imperial China was the dominant power in East Asia. From the late 19th century, the Empire of Japan initiated far-reaching Westernizing reforms, and rapidly industrialized, to become a major power in Asia by the time of World War I, as one of the Allied Powers. With economic turmoil, Japan's expulsion from the League of Nations, and its interest in expansion on the mainland, Japan became one of the three main Axis powers in World War II.

Since the late 20th century, regional alliances, economic progress, and contrasting military power changed the strategic and regional power balance in Asia. In recent years, a re-balancing of military and economic power among emerging powers, such as China and India, has resulted in significant changes in the geopolitics of Asia. China and Japan, being the second and third largest economic powers of the world respectively, have also gained greater influence over regions beyond Asia. In recent decades, South Korea has emerged as a significant economic and cultural power in East Asia. Japan and South Korea are important allies for the United States in the Indo-Pacific region.

•  China^{[GP][P5][BRICS][G20][SCO]}[9][10][11][12][13][14]

•  Japan^{[GP][G7][G4][G20][QUAD]}[14][15][16]

•  South Korea^{[G20][MIKTA][OECD][N-11]}[17]

•  Indonesia^{[G20][N-11][MIKTA][CIVETS][D-8][G-15]}[6][18]

•  India^{[GP][G4][BRICS][G20][SCO][QUAD]}[5][19][20][21][22]

•  Iran^{[N 11][G-15][OPEC]}[5][19][23]

•  Israel[24][25][26]

•  Saudi Arabia^[G20][OPEC][5][19][27][28][29][30]

•  Turkey^{[G20][MIKTA][CIVETS][N-11]}[31][32][33][34][35][36]

Russia – the dominant part of a former superpower, the Soviet Union, is now considered a potential superpower, and has historically been the primary geopolitical force in Eastern Europe. France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom are seen as the Big Four of Western Europe, as they play pivotal roles as part of the NATO Quint in the security of the Western Bloc. Most of the continent is now integrated as a consequence of the enlargement of the European Union, which is sometimes considered a great power as a whole, despite it not being a sovereign state.[37][38] Historically, dominant powers in Europe created large global colonial empires (such as the Belgian, British, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish empires).

•  Russia^{[GP][P5][BRICS][G20][SCO]}

•  Germany^{[GP][G7][G4][G20]}[6][16][39]

•  France^{[GP][P5][G7][G20]}[6][16][40]

•  United Kingdom^{[GP][P5][G7][G20][AUKUS]}[41][42][43]

•  Italy^{[GP][G7][G20]}[44][45][46][47]

The United States is the primary geopolitical force in North America, and is considered the contemporary sole superpower globally. It dominates the region so heavily that its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, both middle powers in the region, are generally not considered regional powers. Despite having a large enough economy to be a member of the G7, Canada is not a regional power for two reasons. It is militarily secure as a result of U.S. hegemony, and has become financially comfortable by its dependence on, and deep integration with, a robust U.S. economy.[48] Mexico is an emerging power which could probably be viewed as a regional power if grouped with Latin America, or a definite regional power if considered in either Middle America or in Hispanic America due to its economic size and diverse cultural heritages.[49] However, similar to Canada, Mexican economy is highly reliant on the U.S. with about 80% of its exports shipping to the U.S. alone.[50][51]

•  United States^{[GP][P5][G7][G20][QUAD][AUKUS]}[52][53]

Australia is considered to be a regional power due to its relative wealth within Oceania and Southeast Asia. Despite having less than a tenth of Indonesia's population, Australia has a larger GDP in nominal terms.

•  Australia^{[G20][MIKTA][QUAD][AUKUS]}[54]

Since the Age of Discovery, Portugal and Spain mostly divided South America to be the foremost colonial powers in the continent, but following decolonization in the first half of the 19th century, the European powers withdrew and new nations were established, although their cultural influence and languages still remain predominant in Latin America.

Argentina is the largest Spanish-speaking country and the second-largest economic power in South America, with vast natural resources in energy and agriculture. It is a global leading food producer with large-scale agricultural and livestock industries, and a highly diversified industrial base, in comparison to many countries in the region.[55] Brazil, on the other hand, is long considered the most compelling geopolitical power in South America, as the country has the highest population and landmass in South America, and its economic size, which possesses enormous stockpiles of natural resources, including valuable minerals, a tenth of the world's fresh water and Earth's largest remaining rainforest. Brazil has an important role in international relations, especially in economic and global environmental issues.[56] Argentina and Brazil are both members of the G20 major economies.

•  Argentina^[G20][57][41][58][59][60][42][61]

•  Brazil^{[BRICS][G4][G20]}[62][63][64][65][66]

Transcontinental countries such as Russia and Turkey exert regional influence over different continents.

•  Russia^{[GP][P5][BRICS][G20][SCO]}
•  Turkey^{[G20][MIKTA][CIVETS][N-11]}[31][32][33][34][35][67]