Global Scans · USA · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Donald Trump's surprise win in the Presidential election mean the world and America can expect prolonged uncertainty as new domestic policies are put in place, different international relationships formed and attitudes change towards current friends and rivals.

• [New] America's Big Four hyperscalers - Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft - have collectively announced AI spending exceeding $650 billion in 2026 alone, with total US AI compute infrastructure spending projected to surpass $2.8 trillion by 2029 (Brookings). Digital in Asia
• [New] The United States will add approximately 69 GW of new solar capacity in 2026 and 2027 combined. PVKnowhow
• [New] In the Americas, U.S. output rose 5.2% in 2025 but is now projected at just 0.9% for 2026 and is being influenced by fading tariff effects and growing generic and biosimilar competition. pharmexec
• [New] The increasing sophistication of cyber threats targeting U.S. national security, critical infrastructure, and financial systems necessitates a proactive, AI-driven cybersecurity strategy. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews
• [New] The U.S. Treasury has officially greenlit a sweeping monetary overhaul that will replace all paper currency with a combination of government-issued cryptocurrency and physical gold coins by 2027. Waterford Advisors
• [New] US and allied navies will need robotic and autonomous systems, supported by AI-enabled C2 and sensor processing, to fill likely anti-submarine warfare capacity gaps. Hudson Institute
• [New] The US military will likely need additional sensors that can better detect and track airborne threats. Hudson Institute
• [New] By degrading or damaging FDS arrays, Russian leaders would hope to prevent the US Navy from detecting RFN SSNs in time to intercept them at the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom gap. Hudson Institute
• [New] Potentially the U.S. could impose a counter blockade, countering China's blockade of Taiwan. Center for Strategic and International Studies
• [New] That the costs of defending Taiwan, in my view, would be higher than the benefits that the United States would get, or the risks that it would face were China to take Taiwan. Center for Strategic and International Studies
• [New] The global AI supply chain is expected to split into two ecosystems - one led by US-controlled technologies with strict oversight, and another driven by China's efforts toward self-sufficiency - effectively ending the viability of transitional solutions like Nvidia's H20 chips in China. DIGITIMES Inc.
• [New] $500 Million for Critical Minerals and Battery Materials: DOE released a Notice of Funding Opportunity offering $500 million to grow US capacity for critical minerals and materials processing, battery component manufacturing, and recycling. JD Supra
• [New] While events in the Middle East may contribute to the increased threat to American Jews and Jewish institutions, the actions of the U.S. or Israeli military - or events in the Middle East in general - should never be used as an excuse or justification for antisemitism. Jewish Democratic Council of America
• [New] Energy markets were thrown into chaos due to Middle East conflict and shipping disruptions, sending crude oil prices surging back over US$100 a barrel. Joseph Palmer and Sons
• [New] For crude oil, any diplomatic breakthrough in the Iran-US standoff represents the single largest downside risk - Trump has reportedly signalled willingness to negotiate, which could inject a 10-15% correction in WTI. Capital Street FX
• [New] United States President Donald Trump has issued another threat to Iran, writing that it has two days to make a deal or open up the Hormuz Strait. Al Jazeera
• [New] A serious water crisis threatens over sixty-four thousand residents in a major United States public water system, with engineers warning of total failure by April eighteenth, twenty twenty-six. Spreaker
• [New] The USA will need to continue investing heavily in cyber talent, technology, and doctrine to maintain its edge in an increasingly competitive global cyber landscape. LetDigitalFly
• [New] The U.S. Africa Command initiative, dubbed Curtain Call, comes as American troops in Africa contend with a growing drone threat at forward locations. Stars and Stripes
• [New] AI and related technologies could save between $200 billion and $360 billion annually in US health care spending, largely through improvements in automation, clinical decision support, and operational efficiency. AJMC
• [New] The United States dominates due to having the busiest airports and early adoption of digital aviation technologies, while Canada is expected to grow faster during the forecast period. Polaris
• [New] Expansion in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, where infrastructure upgrades are ongoing, offers significant untapped potential. Precedence Research

Last updated: 08 April 2026