Our automated system processes event reports across 192 countries. To help you understand which international stories resonate most with local readers, we’ve compiled this comprehensive matrix.

For each country, we’ve identified the top 5 foreign nations that generate the highest reader interest – based on geographic proximity, economic ties, diaspora connections, and historical relationships.

This table is designed to guide your editorial strategy, helping you prioritize content that truly matters to your audience.

Which Countries Should You Subscribe to for Maximum Reader Engagement?

This is the question every editor and media professional asks. Not all international news is equally relevant to your audience. What interests readers in Germany is not the same as what interests readers in Australia or Brazil.

Below is a complete matrix for 193 countries – for each one, we’ve identified the top 5 countries whose news would generate the most interest among local readers.

The selection criteria are:

Geographic proximity – neighboring countries are always relevant
Economic ties – trading partners and investments
Diaspora – large immigrant communities who follow news from their home country
Historical and cultural connections – colonial past, alliances, shared language
Political relations – geopolitical rivalries and diplomatic relationships

How to use this matrix?

When considering expanding your international coverage or looking for new content that will keep your audience engaged, this guide shows you exactly where to focus.

Each table represents one country and its top 5 priority countries to subscribe.

Afghanistan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Pakistan	Direct neighbor, border, Taliban relations
2	Iran	Direct neighbor, refugees, trade
3	China	Economic partner, Belt and Road investments
4	USA	Occupation legacy, political influence
5	India	Regional rival of Pakistan, humanitarian aid

Albania

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Kosovo	Ethnic Albanians, strong ties
2	Greece	Direct neighbor, diaspora
3	Italy	Direct neighbor, EU, diaspora
4	Serbia	Regional relations, Kosovo issue
5	North Macedonia	Albanian minority, neighbor

Algeria

Priority	Country	Reason
1	France	Colonial history, diaspora
2	Morocco	Rival, Western Sahara issue
3	Tunisia	Direct neighbor, Maghreb
4	Libya	Direct neighbor, politics
5	Mauritania	Direct neighbor

Andorra

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Spain	Direct neighbor, tourism
2	France	Direct neighbor, tourism
3	Portugal	Large immigrant community
4	UK	Tourism, expats
5	Germany	Tourism, EU

Angola

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Portugal	Colonial history, diaspora
2	Brazil	Portuguese language, trade
3	South Africa	Regional power, trade
4	DR Congo	Neighbor, trade
5	Zambia	Neighbor

Antigua and Barbuda

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Tourism number 1, expats
2	UK	Colonial history, tourism
3	Canada	Tourism, expats
4	Trinidad and Tobago	Caribbean neighbor, trade
5	Barbados	Caribbean neighbor

Argentina

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Brazil	Main trading partner, rival
2	USA	Trade, politics, tourism
3	Spain	Colonial ties, diaspora
4	Italy	Diaspora, cultural ties
5	Germany	EU, trade

Armenia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Turkey	Historical rival, border closed
2	Azerbaijan	Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
3	Russia	Main ally, military
4	France	Strong diaspora, political ally
5	USA	Diaspora, political support

Australia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Main ally, trade, culture
2	China	Main trading partner
3	New Zealand	Direct neighbor, ANZAC
4	UK	Colonial ties, monarchy
5	India	Trade, diaspora

Austria

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Germany	Biggest neighbor, language, trade
2	Switzerland	Neighbor, banking, language
3	Italy	Neighbor, tourism, EU
4	Czech Republic	Neighbor, EU, tourism
5	Slovakia	Neighbor, EU

Azerbaijan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Armenia	Conflict (Nagorno-Karabakh)
2	Russia	Regional power, trade
3	Turkey	Main ally (“two nations”)
4	Iran	Neighbor, energy
5	Georgia	Neighbor, transit

Bahamas

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Tourism number 1, economy
2	UK	Colonial ties, tourism
3	Canada	Tourism, expats
4	Cuba	Neighbor, regional
5	Jamaica	Caribbean neighbor

Bahrain

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Saudi Arabia	Neighbor, economy, security
2	Iran	Regional rival, politics
3	UAE	Neighbor, trade, GCC
4	Qatar	Neighbor, trade
5	USA	Main ally, military base

Bangladesh

Priority	Country	Reason
1	India	Neighbor, trade, politics
2	China	Main economic partner
3	Myanmar	Neighbor, Rohingya issue
4	USA	Trade, diaspora
5	UK	Diaspora, colonial ties

Barbados

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Tourism, diaspora
2	UK	Colonial ties, tourism
3	Canada	Tourism, expats
4	Trinidad and Tobago	Caribbean neighbor
5	Jamaica	Caribbean neighbor

Belarus

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Russia	Main ally, economy, security
2	Ukraine	Neighbor, war, politics
3	Poland	Neighbor, EU tensions
4	Lithuania	Neighbor, EU tensions
5	Latvia	Neighbor, EU

Belgium

Priority	Country	Reason
1	France	Neighbor, language, EU
2	Netherlands	Neighbor, language, trade
3	Germany	Neighbor, EU, trade
4	Luxembourg	Neighbor, EU
5	UK	Neighbor, trade, EU legacy

Belize

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Guatemala	Neighbor, border dispute
2	Mexico	Neighbor, trade
3	USA	Main ally, trade, diaspora
4	UK	Colonial ties
5	Canada	Commonwealth, trade

Benin

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Nigeria	Neighbor, trade, powerhouse
2	Togo	Neighbor
3	Ghana	Neighbor, trade
4	Burkina Faso	Neighbor, security
5	Niger	Neighbor, security

Bhutan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	India	Neighbor, main partner, security
2	China	Neighbor, border issues
3	Bangladesh	Neighbor
4	Nepal	Neighbor, cultural
5	USA	Aid, diplomacy

Bolivia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Brazil	Neighbor, trade
2	Argentina	Neighbor, trade
3	Peru	Neighbor
4	Chile	Neighbor, Pacific access
5	Paraguay	Neighbor

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Serbia	Neighbor, politics, history
2	Croatia	Neighbor, Croatian minority
3	Montenegro	Neighbor
4	Germany	Large diaspora, EU leader
5	Turkey	Political ally, investments

Botswana

Priority	Country	Reason
1	South Africa	Neighbor, economy number 1
2	Namibia	Neighbor
3	Zimbabwe	Neighbor, politics
4	Zambia	Neighbor
5	UK	Colonial ties, trade

Brazil

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Argentina	Main rival, trade
2	USA	Trade, politics, culture
3	China	Main trading partner
4	Portugal	Colonial ties
5	Germany	EU, trade

Brunei

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Malaysia	Neighbor, trade, border
2	Indonesia	Neighbor, ASEAN, trade
3	Singapore	Trade, ASEAN
4	Philippines	ASEAN partner
5	China	Trade, investments

Bulgaria

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Turkey	Neighbor, trade, politics
2	Greece	Neighbor, EU
3	Romania	Neighbor, EU partner
4	Serbia	Neighbor, regional
5	North Macedonia	Neighbor, dispute

Burkina Faso

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Niger	Neighbor, security
2	Mali	Neighbor, security
3	Côte d’Ivoire	Neighbor, trade
4	Ghana	Neighbor, trade
5	Benin	Neighbor

Burundi

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Rwanda	Neighbor, history
2	DR Congo	Neighbor
3	Tanzania	Neighbor, trade
4	Uganda	Neighbor
5	Kenya	Regional trade

Cabo Verde

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Portugal	Colonial ties, diaspora
2	USA	Diaspora, tourism
3	Senegal	Neighbor, regional
4	Guinea-Bissau	Neighbor, history
5	Brazil	Portuguese language

Cambodia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Thailand	Neighbor, border tensions
2	Vietnam	Neighbor, history
3	China	Main ally, investments
4	USA	Aid, politics
5	Japan	Trade, aid

Cameroon

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Nigeria	Neighbor, trade
2	Chad	Neighbor
3	CAR	Neighbor
4	Gabon	Neighbor
5	France	Colonial ties

Canada

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Main neighbor, trade, culture
2	UK	Colonial ties, Commonwealth
3	France	Language, Quebec ties
4	China	Trade, tensions
5	Mexico	NAFTA/USMCA partner

Central African Republic

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Cameroon	Neighbor
2	Chad	Neighbor
3	DR Congo	Neighbor
4	South Sudan	Neighbor
5	France	Colonial ties, military

Chad

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Sudan	Neighbor
2	Libya	Neighbor
3	Niger	Neighbor
4	CAR	Neighbor
5	Nigeria	Neighbor, Lake Chad

Chile

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Argentina	Neighbor, rivalry
2	Peru	Neighbor, trade
3	Bolivia	Neighbor, Pacific access
4	Brazil	Regional power, trade
5	USA	Trade, politics

China

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Main rival, trade, tech
2	Russia	Ally, energy, geopolitics
3	Japan	Rival, trade, history
4	India	Rival, border, regional
5	Taiwan	Political priority

Colombia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Main ally, trade, drug war
2	Venezuela	Neighbor, crisis
3	Ecuador	Neighbor
4	Peru	Neighbor, trade
5	Brazil	Neighbor, trade

Comoros

Priority	Country	Reason
1	France	Colonial ties, Mayotte
2	Madagascar	Neighbor
3	Tanzania	Neighbor
4	Mozambique	Regional
5	Seychelles	Regional, tourism

Congo

Priority	Country	Reason
1	DR Congo	Neighbor, border
2	Gabon	Neighbor
3	Angola	Neighbor
4	Cameroon	Neighbor
5	France	Colonial ties

Costa Rica

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Main trading partner, tourism
2	Panama	Neighbor
3	Nicaragua	Neighbor, tensions
4	Mexico	Regional trade
5	Spain	Colonial ties

Croatia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Germany	Tourism, diaspora, economy
2	Italy	Neighbor, tourism, trade
3	Slovenia	Direct neighbor
4	Austria	Tourism, diaspora
5	Serbia	Regional politics

Cuba

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Politics, embargo, diaspora
2	Spain	Colonial ties
3	Venezuela	Ally, trade
4	Mexico	Neighbor, trade
5	Russia	Ally, historical

Cyprus

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Greece	Main ally, cultural ties
2	Turkey	Neighbor, Cyprus issue
3	UK	Colonial ties, base
4	USA	Politics, security
5	Germany	EU leader

Czech Republic

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Germany	Neighbor, trade
2	Slovakia	Neighbor, historical
3	Poland	Neighbor, V4
4	Austria	Neighbor, tourism
5	Hungary	Neighbor, V4

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Rwanda	Neighbor, conflict
2	Uganda	Neighbor
3	Angola	Neighbor
4	Zambia	Neighbor
5	Belgium	Colonial ties

Denmark

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Germany	Neighbor, trade
2	Sweden	Neighbor, history
3	Norway	Neighbor, Nordic
4	Finland	Nordic partner
5	UK	Trade, EU legacy

Djibouti

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Ethiopia	Neighbor, trade
2	Somalia	Neighbor
3	Eritrea	Neighbor
4	France	Colonial ties, military base
5	USA	Military base

Dominica

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Tourism, diaspora
2	UK	Colonial ties
3	France	Neighbor (Martinique)
4	Trinidad and Tobago	Caribbean neighbor
5	Barbados	Caribbean neighbor

Dominican Republic

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Diaspora number 1, trade
2	Haiti	Neighbor, tensions
3	Puerto Rico	US territory, neighbor
4	Spain	Colonial ties
5	Cuba	Caribbean neighbor

East Timor

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Indonesia	Neighbor, history
2	Australia	Ally, trade
3	Portugal	Colonial ties
4	USA	Politics, aid
5	China	Investments

Ecuador

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Colombia	Neighbor
2	Peru	Neighbor
3	USA	Trade, diaspora
4	Spain	Colonial ties
5	China	Investments

Egypt

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Sudan	Neighbor
2	Libya	Neighbor
3	Israel	Neighbor, peace treaty
4	Saudi Arabia	Ally, trade
5	UAE	Ally, investments

El Salvador

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Diaspora number 1, trade
2	Guatemala	Neighbor
3	Honduras	Neighbor
4	Nicaragua	Neighbor
5	Mexico	Regional trade

Equatorial Guinea

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Spain	Colonial ties, language
2	Cameroon	Neighbor
3	Gabon	Neighbor
4	Nigeria	Regional trade
5	USA	Oil trade

Eritrea

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Ethiopia	Neighbor, conflict
2	Sudan	Neighbor
3	Djibouti	Neighbor
4	Somalia	Regional
5	Italy	Colonial ties

Estonia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Russia	Neighbor, tensions
2	Latvia	Neighbor
3	Finland	Neighbor, trade
4	Sweden	Neighbor, trade
5	Germany	EU, trade

Eswatini

Priority	Country	Reason
1	South Africa	Neighbor, economy
2	Mozambique	Neighbor
3	UK	Colonial ties
4	USA	Trade, aid
5	China	Investments

Ethiopia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Eritrea	Neighbor, conflict
2	Somalia	Neighbor
3	Sudan	Neighbor
4	South Sudan	Neighbor
5	Kenya	Neighbor, trade

Federated States of Micronesia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	UN Trusteeship, aid
2	Japan	Historical ties
3	Australia	Regional partner
4	New Zealand	Regional
5	Philippines	ASEAN neighbor

Fiji

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Australia	Regional partner
2	New Zealand	Regional partner
3	USA	Trade, aid
4	UK	Colonial ties
5	India	Diaspora

Finland

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Russia	Neighbor, tensions
2	Sweden	Neighbor, history
3	Norway	Neighbor
4	Germany	EU leader
5	USA	NATO ally

France

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Germany	EU leader, partner
2	UK	Neighbor, rival, EU legacy
3	Italy	Neighbor, EU
4	Spain	Neighbor, EU
5	USA	Ally, trade, culture

Gabon

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Cameroon	Neighbor
2	Equatorial Guinea	Neighbor
3	Congo	Neighbor
4	France	Colonial ties
5	China	Oil trade

Gambia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Senegal	Neighbor
2	UK	Colonial ties
3	USA	Diaspora
4	Nigeria	Regional trade
5	China	Investments

Georgia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Russia	Neighbor, conflict
2	Turkey	Neighbor, trade
3	Armenia	Neighbor
4	Azerbaijan	Neighbor
5	USA	Ally, aid

Germany

Priority	Country	Reason
1	France	EU leader, partner
2	USA	NATO, trade, politics
3	UK	EU legacy, trade
4	Poland	Neighbor, EU
5	Russia	Energy, geopolitics

Ghana

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Nigeria	Neighbor, trade
2	Côte d’Ivoire	Neighbor
3	Burkina Faso	Neighbor
4	Togo	Neighbor
5	UK	Colonial ties

Greece

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Turkey	Rival, neighbor
2	Cyprus	Cultural, political
3	Italy	Neighbor, EU
4	Germany	EU leader
5	France	EU partner

Greenland

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Denmark	Colonial ties
2	USA	Trade, politics
3	Canada	Neighbor
4	Iceland	Neighbor
5	Norway	Historical

Grenada

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Tourism, diaspora
2	UK	Colonial ties
3	Trinidad and Tobago	Neighbor
4	Venezuela	Neighbor, politics
5	Canada	Tourism, diaspora

Guatemala

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Mexico	Neighbor, trade
2	USA	Diaspora number 1, trade
3	Belize	Neighbor, border
4	Honduras	Neighbor
5	El Salvador	Neighbor

Guinea

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Senegal	Neighbor
2	Mali	Neighbor
3	Côte d’Ivoire	Neighbor
4	Liberia	Neighbor
5	Sierra Leone	Neighbor

Guinea-Bissau

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Senegal	Neighbor
2	Guinea	Neighbor
3	Portugal	Colonial ties
4	Cabo Verde	Neighbor, history
5	France	Regional, diplomacy

Guyana

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Venezuela	Neighbor, border
2	Brazil	Neighbor
3	Suriname	Neighbor
4	USA	Oil, trade
5	UK	Colonial ties

Haiti

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Dominican Republic	Neighbor, tensions
2	USA	Diaspora number 1, aid
3	France	Colonial ties
4	Canada	Diaspora
5	Brazil	Peacekeeping, aid

Honduras

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Diaspora number 1, trade
2	Guatemala	Neighbor
3	El Salvador	Neighbor
4	Nicaragua	Neighbor
5	Mexico	Trade

Hungary

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Austria	Neighbor, historical
2	Slovakia	Neighbor, EU
3	Romania	Neighbor, Hungarian minority
4	Serbia	Neighbor, Hungarian minority
5	Croatia	Neighbor

Iceland

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Denmark	Colonial ties
2	Norway	Historical ties
3	UK	Trade, history
4	USA	Military base, ally
5	Germany	EU, trade

India

Priority	Country	Reason
1	China	Rival, border
2	Pakistan	Rival, Kashmir
3	USA	Trade, politics, diaspora
4	UK	Colonial ties
5	Russia	Ally, military

Indonesia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Malaysia	Neighbor, trade, disputes
2	Singapore	Trade
3	China	Investments, trade
4	USA	Trade, politics
5	Japan	Trade, investments

Iran

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Main rival, politics
2	Israel	Main rival, geopolitics
3	Saudi Arabia	Regional rival
4	UAE	Trade, neighbor
5	Turkey	Neighbor, trade

Iraq

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Iran	Neighbor, politics
2	Turkey	Neighbor, water
3	Syria	Neighbor
4	Saudi Arabia	Neighbor, trade
5	Kuwait	Neighbor

Ireland

Priority	Country	Reason
1	UK	Neighbor, history
2	USA	Diaspora number 1, trade
3	France	EU partner
4	Germany	EU leader
5	Spain	EU, tourism

Israel

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Main ally
2	Palestine	Conflict, politics
3	Lebanon	Neighbor
4	Syria	Neighbor
5	Jordan	Neighbor, peace

Italy

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Germany	EU leader, trade
2	France	Neighbor, EU
3	Switzerland	Neighbor, trade
4	Spain	EU, tourism, culture
5	USA	NATO, culture, diaspora

Ivory Coast

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Ghana	Neighbor, trade
2	Burkina Faso	Neighbor
3	Mali	Neighbor
4	Liberia	Neighbor
5	France	Colonial ties

Jamaica

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Diaspora number 1, trade, tourism
2	UK	Colonial ties
3	Canada	Diaspora, trade
4	Cuba	Neighbor
5	Trinidad and Tobago	Caribbean neighbor

Japan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Main ally, trade
2	China	Rival, trade
3	South Korea	Rival, trade
4	Russia	Geopolitics, Kurils
5	Germany	G7, trade

Jordan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Israel	Neighbor, peace
2	Palestine	Neighbor, politics
3	Syria	Neighbor
4	Iraq	Neighbor
5	Saudi Arabia	Neighbor, ally

Kazakhstan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Russia	Neighbor, ally
2	China	Neighbor, trade
3	Uzbekistan	Neighbor
4	Kyrgyzstan	Neighbor
5	USA	Trade, diplomacy

Kenya

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Uganda	Neighbor, trade
2	Tanzania	Neighbor
3	Ethiopia	Neighbor
4	Somalia	Neighbor
5	South Sudan	Neighbor

Kiribati

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Australia	Regional partner
2	New Zealand	Regional partner
3	USA	UN relations
4	Fiji	Pacific neighbor
5	UK	Colonial ties

Kuwait

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Iraq	Neighbor, history
2	Saudi Arabia	Neighbor, GCC
3	Iran	Neighbor, rival
4	UAE	GCC neighbor
5	USA	Main ally, military

Kyrgyzstan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Kazakhstan	Neighbor
2	Uzbekistan	Neighbor
3	Tajikistan	Neighbor
4	China	Neighbor, trade
5	Russia	Main ally

Laos

Priority	Country	Reason
1	China	Neighbor, investments
2	Thailand	Neighbor, trade
3	Vietnam	Neighbor
4	Myanmar	Neighbor
5	Cambodia	Neighbor

Latvia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Russia	Neighbor, tensions
2	Lithuania	Neighbor
3	Estonia	Neighbor
4	Poland	Regional partner
5	Germany	EU, trade

Lebanon

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Syria	Neighbor, politics
2	Israel	Neighbor, conflict
3	Iran	Hezbollah, politics
4	Saudi Arabia	Ally, trade
5	France	Colonial ties

Lesotho

Priority	Country	Reason
1	South Africa	Neighbor, economy
2	UK	Colonial ties
3	USA	Aid
4	China	Investments
5	Germany	EU, aid

Liberia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Historical ties
2	Guinea	Neighbor
3	Sierra Leone	Neighbor
4	Côte d’Ivoire	Neighbor
5	UK	Colonial ties

Libya

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Egypt	Neighbor
2	Algeria	Neighbor
3	Tunisia	Neighbor
4	Chad	Neighbor
5	Niger	Neighbor

Liechtenstein

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Switzerland	Neighbor, economy
2	Austria	Neighbor
3	Germany	Neighbor, trade
4	Italy	EU, tourism
5	France	EU

Lithuania

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Russia	Neighbor, tensions
2	Belarus	Neighbor
3	Poland	Neighbor, EU
4	Latvia	Neighbor
5	Germany	EU, trade

Luxembourg

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Germany	Neighbor, trade
2	France	Neighbor, trade
3	Belgium	Neighbor, EU
4	USA	Banking, NATO
5	UK	Banking

Madagascar

Priority	Country	Reason
1	France	Colonial ties
2	Comoros	Neighbor
3	Mozambique	Neighbor
4	Tanzania	Neighbor
5	Seychelles	Regional

Malawi

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Mozambique	Neighbor
2	Zambia	Neighbor
3	Tanzania	Neighbor
4	South Africa	Trade
5	UK	Colonial ties

Malaysia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Singapore	Neighbor, trade
2	Indonesia	Neighbor
3	Thailand	Neighbor
4	Philippines	ASEAN
5	China	Trade, investments

Maldives

Priority	Country	Reason
1	India	Neighbor, main partner
2	China	Investments
3	Sri Lanka	Neighbor
4	USA	Diplomacy
5	UAE	Tourism, investments

Mali

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Burkina Faso	Neighbor, security
2	Niger	Neighbor
3	Senegal	Neighbor
4	Mauritania	Neighbor
5	Algeria	Neighbor

Malta

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Italy	Neighbor
2	UK	Colonial ties
3	Libya	Neighbor
4	Germany	EU, tourism
5	France	EU, tourism

Marshall Islands

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	UN Trusteeship, aid
2	Japan	Historical, trade
3	Australia	Regional
4	New Zealand	Regional
5	Philippines	ASEAN neighbor

Mauritania

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Senegal	Neighbor
2	Mali	Neighbor
3	Algeria	Neighbor
4	Western Sahara	Neighbor
5	France	Colonial ties

Mauritius

Priority	Country	Reason
1	India	Diaspora, trade
2	France	Colonial ties
3	UK	Colonial ties
4	South Africa	Regional trade
5	China	Investments

Mexico

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Neighbor number 1, trade
2	Canada	NAFTA/USMCA partner
3	Spain	Colonial ties
4	Guatemala	Neighbor
5	China	Trade, rival

Moldova

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Romania	Neighbor, language
2	Ukraine	Neighbor
3	Russia	Geopolitics, Transnistria
4	Germany	EU, aid
5	USA	Aid, politics

Monaco

Priority	Country	Reason
1	France	Neighbor, economy
2	Italy	Neighbor
3	UK	Tourism, expats
4	USA	Tourism, expats
5	Germany	Tourism, EU

Mongolia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	China	Neighbor, trade
2	Russia	Neighbor, trade
3	USA	Diplomacy
4	Japan	Trade, aid
5	South Korea	Trade

Montenegro

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Serbia	Neighbor, history
2	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Neighbor
3	Croatia	Neighbor
4	Albania	Neighbor
5	Italy	EU, tourism

Morocco

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Algeria	Rival, Western Sahara
2	Spain	Neighbor, migration
3	France	Colonial ties, trade
4	Italy	EU, trade
5	Germany	EU, trade

Mozambique

Priority	Country	Reason
1	South Africa	Neighbor, trade
2	Tanzania	Neighbor
3	Malawi	Neighbor
4	Zambia	Neighbor
5	Zimbabwe	Neighbor

Myanmar

Priority	Country	Reason
1	China	Neighbor, main partner
2	Thailand	Neighbor
3	India	Neighbor
4	Bangladesh	Neighbor
5	USA	Politics, sanctions

Namibia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	South Africa	Neighbor, trade
2	Angola	Neighbor
3	Botswana	Neighbor
4	Zambia	Neighbor
5	Germany	Colonial ties

Nauru

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Australia	Regional partner, aid
2	New Zealand	Regional partner
3	USA	Diplomacy
4	UK	Colonial ties
5	China	Diplomacy

Nepal

Priority	Country	Reason
1	India	Neighbor, trade
2	China	Neighbor, investments
3	Bangladesh	Neighbor
4	USA	Aid, diplomacy
5	UK	Colonial ties

Netherlands

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Germany	Neighbor, trade
2	Belgium	Neighbor, EU
3	UK	Neighbor, trade
4	France	EU partner
5	USA	NATO, trade

New Zealand

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Australia	Neighbor, ANZAC
2	China	Trade, tensions
3	USA	Ally, trade
4	UK	Colonial ties
5	Japan	Trade

Nicaragua

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Costa Rica	Neighbor, tensions
2	Honduras	Neighbor
3	USA	Politics, diaspora
4	Mexico	Regional trade
5	Spain	Colonial ties

Niger

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Nigeria	Neighbor, trade
2	Mali	Neighbor, security
3	Burkina Faso	Neighbor
4	Algeria	Neighbor
5	Chad	Neighbor

Nigeria

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Ghana	Neighbor, trade
2	Cameroon	Neighbor
3	Niger	Neighbor
4	Benin	Neighbor
5	UK	Colonial ties

North Korea

Priority	Country	Reason
1	South Korea	Main rival
2	USA	Main rival
3	China	Main ally
4	Russia	Ally
5	Japan	Politics, threats

North Macedonia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Bulgaria	Neighbor, dispute
2	Greece	Neighbor, dispute
3	Albania	Neighbor
4	Serbia	Neighbor
5	Kosovo	Neighbor

Norway

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Sweden	Neighbor, history
2	Denmark	Neighbor, history
3	Finland	Neighbor
4	Germany	EU, trade
5	UK	NATO, trade

Oman

Priority	Country	Reason
1	UAE	Neighbor, GCC
2	Saudi Arabia	Neighbor, GCC
3	Iran	Neighbor, diplomacy
4	Yemen	Neighbor, politics
5	India	Trade, diaspora

Pakistan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	India	Main rival, Kashmir
2	China	Main ally, investments
3	Afghanistan	Neighbor, border
4	Iran	Neighbor
5	USA	Ally, politics

Palau

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	UN Trusteeship, ally
2	Japan	Historical ties
3	Australia	Regional
4	Philippines	Neighbor
5	Taiwan	Diplomacy

Palestine

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Israel	Conflict, main issue
2	Jordan	Neighbor, historical
3	Egypt	Neighbor
4	USA	Politics, diplomacy
5	Turkey	Ally

Panama

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Canal, trade
2	Costa Rica	Neighbor
3	Colombia	Neighbor
4	Spain	Colonial ties
5	China	Trade, canal investment

Papua New Guinea

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Australia	Neighbor, main partner
2	Indonesia	Neighbor
3	New Zealand	Regional
4	USA	Aid, diplomacy
5	China	Investments

Paraguay

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Argentina	Neighbor, trade
2	Brazil	Neighbor, trade
3	Bolivia	Neighbor
4	USA	Trade, politics
5	Spain	Colonial ties

Peru

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Chile	Neighbor, rivalry
2	Brazil	Neighbor, trade
3	Colombia	Neighbor
4	USA	Trade, politics
5	Spain	Colonial ties

Philippines

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Ally, diaspora
2	China	Rival, South China Sea
3	Japan	Trade, aid
4	South Korea	Trade, diaspora
5	Australia	Regional

Poland

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Germany	Neighbor, EU, trade
2	Ukraine	Neighbor, war
3	Russia	Geopolitics
4	Czech Republic	Neighbor
5	Slovakia	Neighbor

Portugal

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Spain	Neighbor, trade
2	Brazil	Colonial ties, language
3	UK	Oldest ally
4	Germany	EU, trade
5	France	EU partner

Qatar

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Saudi Arabia	Rival, neighbor
2	UAE	Rival, neighbor
3	Iran	Neighbor, energy
4	USA	Main ally
5	Turkey	Ally

Romania

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Bulgaria	Neighbor, EU
2	Hungary	Neighbor, tensions
3	Ukraine	Neighbor
4	Serbia	Neighbor
5	Germany	EU leader, diaspora

Russia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Ukraine	War, main issue
2	USA	Main rival
3	China	Ally, trade
4	Germany	EU leader
5	UK	Rival

Rwanda

Priority	Country	Reason
1	DR Congo	Neighbor, conflict
2	Uganda	Neighbor
3	Tanzania	Neighbor
4	Burundi	Neighbor
5	Kenya	Trade, diaspora

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Tourism, diaspora
2	UK	Colonial ties
3	Canada	Tourism, Commonwealth
4	Trinidad and Tobago	Caribbean neighbor
5	Barbados	Caribbean

Saint Lucia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Tourism, diaspora
2	UK	Colonial ties
3	Canada	Tourism, Commonwealth
4	Trinidad and Tobago	Caribbean neighbor
5	Barbados	Caribbean

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Tourism, diaspora
2	UK	Colonial ties
3	Canada	Tourism, Commonwealth
4	Trinidad and Tobago	Caribbean neighbor
5	Barbados	Caribbean

Samoa

Priority	Country	Reason
1	New Zealand	Colonial ties, diaspora
2	Australia	Regional partner
3	USA	Diplomacy
4	Fiji	Pacific neighbor
5	UK	Colonial ties

San Marino

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Italy	Neighbor, all ties
2	USA	Diplomacy
3	UK	Diplomacy
4	Germany	EU, trade
5	France	EU, trade

Sao Tome and Principe

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Portugal	Colonial ties
2	Brazil	Portuguese language
3	Angola	Regional, trade
4	Nigeria	Regional, oil
5	USA	Diplomacy

Saudi Arabia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Iran	Main rival
2	UAE	GCC neighbor, ally
3	Yemen	Neighbor, war
4	USA	Main ally
5	UK	Trade, ally

Senegal

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Mauritania	Neighbor
2	Mali	Neighbor
3	Gambia	Neighbor
4	Guinea	Neighbor
5	France	Colonial ties

Serbia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Croatia	Neighbor, history
2	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Neighbor, politics
3	Montenegro	Neighbor, history
4	Hungary	Neighbor, EU
5	Romania	Neighbor

Seychelles

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Mauritius	Neighbor, regional
2	France	Colonial ties
3	UK	Colonial ties
4	India	Diaspora
5	China	Investments

Sierra Leone

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Liberia	Neighbor
2	Guinea	Neighbor
3	UK	Colonial ties
4	USA	Historical ties (freed slaves)
5	China	Investments

Singapore

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Malaysia	Neighbor, history
2	Indonesia	Neighbor
3	China	Trade
4	USA	Ally, trade
5	UK	Colonial ties

Slovakia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Czech Republic	Neighbor, history
2	Hungary	Neighbor
3	Poland	Neighbor
4	Austria	Neighbor
5	Ukraine	Neighbor

Slovenia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Croatia	Neighbor, important
2	Austria	Neighbor
3	Italy	Neighbor
4	Hungary	Neighbor
5	Germany	EU leader, trade

Solomon Islands

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Australia	Regional partner
2	New Zealand	Regional partner
3	Papua New Guinea	Neighbor
4	Fiji	Pacific neighbor
5	USA	Diplomacy

Somalia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Kenya	Neighbor
2	Ethiopia	Neighbor
3	Djibouti	Neighbor
4	Yemen	Neighbor
5	Turkey	Investments

South Africa

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Zimbabwe	Neighbor, politics
2	Mozambique	Neighbor
3	Namibia	Neighbor
4	Botswana	Neighbor
5	UK	Colonial ties

South Korea

Priority	Country	Reason
1	North Korea	Main rival
2	China	Trade, geopolitics
3	USA	Main ally
4	Japan	Trade, rival
5	Russia	Geopolitics

South Sudan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Sudan	Neighbor, history
2	Ethiopia	Neighbor
3	Kenya	Neighbor, trade
4	Uganda	Neighbor
5	USA	Aid, diplomacy

Spain

Priority	Country	Reason
1	France	Neighbor, EU
2	Portugal	Neighbor, EU
3	Italy	EU, culture
4	Germany	EU leader, trade
5	UK	Trade, EU legacy

Sri Lanka

Priority	Country	Reason
1	India	Neighbor, main partner
2	China	Investments
3	UAE	Diaspora, trade
4	USA	Trade, diplomacy
5	UK	Colonial ties

Sudan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	South Sudan	Neighbor, history
2	Egypt	Neighbor
3	Ethiopia	Neighbor
4	Chad	Neighbor
5	Libya	Neighbor

Suriname

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Guyana	Neighbor, border
2	Brazil	Neighbor
3	French Guiana	Neighbor
4	Netherlands	Colonial ties
5	USA	Trade, diplomacy

Sweden

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Norway	Neighbor
2	Finland	Neighbor
3	Denmark	Neighbor
4	Germany	EU leader, trade
5	USA	NATO ally

Switzerland

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Germany	Neighbor, trade
2	France	Neighbor, trade
3	Italy	Neighbor, trade
4	Austria	Neighbor
5	USA	Banking, trade

Syria

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Turkey	Neighbor, politics
2	Iraq	Neighbor
3	Israel	Neighbor, Golan
4	Jordan	Neighbor
5	Lebanon	Neighbor

Taiwan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	China	Main issue, tensions
2	USA	Main ally, arms sales
3	Japan	Neighbor, trade
4	Philippines	Neighbor
5	South Korea	Trade

Tajikistan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Uzbekistan	Neighbor
2	Kyrgyzstan	Neighbor
3	Afghanistan	Neighbor
4	China	Neighbor, investments
5	Russia	Main ally, labor diaspora

Tanzania

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Kenya	Neighbor, trade
2	Uganda	Neighbor
3	Mozambique	Neighbor
4	Zambia	Neighbor
5	Rwanda	Neighbor

Thailand

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Myanmar	Neighbor
2	Cambodia	Neighbor
3	Laos	Neighbor
4	Malaysia	Neighbor
5	China	Trade, investments

Togo

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Ghana	Neighbor
2	Benin	Neighbor
3	Burkina Faso	Neighbor
4	Nigeria	Regional trade
5	France	Colonial ties

Tonga

Priority	Country	Reason
1	New Zealand	Colonial ties, diaspora
2	Australia	Regional partner
3	Fiji	Pacific neighbor
4	Samoa	Pacific neighbor
5	USA	Diplomacy

Trinidad and Tobago

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Trade, diaspora, energy
2	UK	Colonial ties
3	Grenada	Neighbor
4	Guyana	Neighbor, trade
5	Venezuela	Neighbor, energy

Tunisia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Algeria	Neighbor
2	Libya	Neighbor
3	France	Colonial ties
4	Italy	EU, migration
5	Germany	EU, trade

Turkey

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Greece	Neighbor, rival
2	Syria	Neighbor, war
3	Iraq	Neighbor
4	Iran	Neighbor
5	Germany	EU leader, diaspora

Turkmenistan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Iran	Neighbor
2	Uzbekistan	Neighbor
3	Kazakhstan	Neighbor
4	Afghanistan	Neighbor
5	Russia	Ally, trade

Tuvalu

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Australia	Regional partner
2	New Zealand	Regional partner
3	Fiji	Pacific neighbor
4	UK	Colonial ties
5	USA	Diplomacy

Ukraine

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Russia	War, main issue
2	Poland	Neighbor, ally
3	Belarus	Neighbor
4	Romania	Neighbor
5	Slovakia	Neighbor

UAE

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Saudi Arabia	GCC partner
2	Iran	Neighbor, rival
3	Oman	Neighbor, GCC
4	Qatar	GCC, rival
5	India	Diaspora, trade

Uganda

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Kenya	Neighbor, trade
2	Tanzania	Neighbor
3	Rwanda	Neighbor
4	South Sudan	Neighbor
5	DR Congo	Neighbor

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Special relationship
2	Germany	EU leader, trade
3	France	Neighbor, EU legacy
4	Ireland	Neighbor, history
5	China	Trade, politics

USA

Priority	Country	Reason
1	China	Main rival, trade
2	Russia	Geopolitics
3	UK	Special relationship
4	Canada	Neighbor, trade
5	Mexico	Neighbor, trade

Uruguay

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Argentina	Neighbor, rival
2	Brazil	Neighbor, trade
3	Spain	Colonial ties
4	USA	Trade, diplomacy
5	Germany	EU, trade

Uzbekistan

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Kazakhstan	Neighbor
2	Tajikistan	Neighbor
3	Kyrgyzstan	Neighbor
4	Turkmenistan	Neighbor
5	Afghanistan	Neighbor

Vanuatu

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Australia	Regional partner
2	New Zealand	Regional partner
3	Fiji	Pacific neighbor
4	UK	Colonial ties
5	USA	Diplomacy

Venezuela

Priority	Country	Reason
1	USA	Main rival, sanctions
2	Colombia	Neighbor, trade, politics
3	Brazil	Neighbor
4	Guyana	Neighbor, border dispute
5	Cuba	Main ally

Vietnam

Priority	Country	Reason
1	China	Neighbor, rival, trade
2	USA	Trade, politics
3	Cambodia	Neighbor
4	Laos	Neighbor
5	Japan	Trade

Western Sahara

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Morocco	Main disputing party
2	Algeria	Main ally
3	Mauritania	Neighbor
4	Spain	Colonial ties
5	France	Diplomacy

Yemen

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Saudi Arabia	Neighbor, war
2	Oman	Neighbor
3	UAE	War, politics
4	Iran	Rival, politics
5	USA	Diplomacy

Zambia

Priority	Country	Reason
1	Zimbabwe	Neighbor
2	DR Congo	Neighbor
3	Tanzania	Neighbor
4	Malawi	Neighbor
5	Mozambique	Neighbor

Zimbabwe

Priority	Country	Reason
1	South Africa	Neighbor, main partner
2	Mozambique	Neighbor
3	Zambia	Neighbor
4	Botswana	Neighbor
5	UK	Colonial ties