Emerging Europe and the next wave of growth: The Asia–Americas century

Emerging Europe finds itself positioned at the crossroads of two burgeoning global growth axes: Asia and the Americas. For decades, the Atlantic ocean has been the primary nexus of economic activity, with capital, technology, trade rules, and security interlinked between North America and Western Europe. However, a new wave of growth is forming across the Pacific, bringing together Asia's industrial and demographic strength with the financial, technological, and resource power of the Americas.

The International Monetary Fund predicts a robust 5.1% growth for emerging and developing Asia in 2026, with India potentially reaching a staggering 7%. Foreign direct investment in developing Asia in 2025 reached a remarkable $644 billion, accounting for roughly 40% of the global total. Meanwhile, the United States continues to be the largest recipient and source of foreign direct investment, as well as the world's most attractive destination for capital and frontier technology.

As production once concentrated in China begins to spread across South-East Asia, India, and Mexico, the Pacific is emerging as the world's most vital economic corridor. The United States' new security strategies, such as the Indo-Pacific and the 'Donroe Doctrine,' demonstrate its growing strategic focus on the Americas. In response, Latin American countries are diversifying their partnerships, creating opportunities for Europe and its most growth-hungry region.

The Asia–Americas axis, however, is not a uniform story. Latin America's growth potential is limited, with the IMF projecting only 2.3% growth for the region in 2026. Nevertheless, the Asia–Americas connection presents a valuable opportunity for Europe to tap into the growth, capital, and strategic attention flowing toward the Pacific region, especially for those European nations eager to accelerate their growth.