The global economy is undergoing a significant shift, with the next phase of growth emerging along an axis that spans Asia and the Americas. This development presents opportunities for emerging Europe, which has historically focused on Atlantic integration, to position itself as a key beneficiary.
A new economic corridor
The flow of capital, technology, and trade is increasingly bridging the Pacific, connecting Asia’s industrial and demographic might with the financial, technological, and resource prowess of the Americas. According to the International Monetary Fund, emerging and developing Asia is projected to experience 5.1 per cent growth in 2026, with India’s growth rate expected to reach around seven per cent. In 2025, developing Asia attracted 644 billion US dollars in foreign direct investment, accounting for approximately 40 per cent of the global total. Meanwhile, the United States remains the world’s largest recipient and source of foreign direct investment.
There is a notable shift in production patterns, with industries previously concentrated in China now expanding into South-East Asia, India, and Mexico. South-East Asia has surpassed East Asia as the largest destination for foreign direct investment in Asia, with India’s inflows increasing by 44 per cent last year. Mexico has become an integral part of the North American market, while countries like Brazil, Chile, and Peru supply essential minerals, energy, and food to Asian industries.
Geopolitical forces at play
The major powers are adjusting their strategies to align with this new economy. The United States’ National Security Strategy, released in December 2025, outlines a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, aiming to prevent hostile foreign incursions or ownership of key assets in the hemisphere. Following strikes on Venezuela in January 2026, the President adopted the term “Donroe Doctrine.” This security doctrine prioritizes the protection of American interests over development plans, and its implementation has raised concerns about sovereignty among European nations.
However, the increasingly assertive stance of the United States also creates opportunities for countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Canada to diversify their partnerships. These nations will not abandon their relationships with the United States, but they will seek to engage with other regions, including Europe. Similarly, Asian economies handling between American and Chinese pressure are demanding alternative partners, creating an opening for European countries to establish themselves as reliable and trustworthy collaborators.
Investors are increasingly prioritizing trust, alignment, and resilience when making decisions, rather than solely focusing on cost. Strategic sectors now account for 44 per cent of global greenfield project values, up from 16 per cent in 2020. A region that demonstrates reliability, operates effectively under pressure, and develops defense-industrial and energy capacity in real-time can present a compelling narrative to investors.
Collectively, emerging Europe, with a combined economic bloc of roughly three trillion dollars, can surpass the sum of its national strategies by adopting a cooperative approach, competing for investment where necessary, and collaborating on a regional level where scale is essential.
What the axis is, and what it is not
The concept of the Asia–Americas axis requires clarity to avoid becoming a mere slogan. It does not imply that every part of the Americas is experiencing rapid growth. According to the IMF, Latin America and the Caribbean are projected to grow at only 2.3 per cent this year, significantly lower than sub-Saharan Africa’s 4.5 per cent. Furthermore, capital investment does not always follow growth in a straightforward manner: Latin America attracted 188 billion US dollars in foreign direct investment in 2025, while Africa, despite growing almost twice as fast, received only about 70 billion US dollars.
The Asia–Americas axis describes the regions where scale, capital, technology, and strategic attention are converging. Two essential complements to this axis are the Gulf, which remains a significant mobilizer of capital for infrastructure, energy, logistics, and technology, and Africa, which represents the demographic frontier of the century when approached as fifty-four distinct economies.
CEE, from convergence to connection
Emerging Europe‘s growth ambitions cannot be fulfilled by relying solely on European growth. The IMF expects the euro area to grow by 1.1 per cent in 2026, and emerging and developing Europe by 1.7 per cent. The energy shock has added to existing pressures on competitiveness, demography, and technological dependence. Within emerging Europe, growth prospects are uneven, with Poland expected to grow at 3.5 per cent in 2026, while Romania is projected to stagnate at 0.1 per cent.
The Asia–Americas century presents an opportunity for emerging Europe to shift its focus from convergence to connection. The first wave of growth in emerging Europe resulted from integration into Europe, but the next wave must come from connecting with regions where growth, capital, and strategic attention are concentrating. Emerging Europe already possesses the ambition, entrepreneurial energy, and industrial base necessary for growth; what is missing is an outward-oriented approach.
The question is no longer just about attracting Asian and American investment but about how emerging Europe can become a hub where Asian and American companies meet Europe, and where its own companies can reach out to both. This is the difference between being a destination for the next wave of growth and being an integral part of it.
Opportunities in emerging Europe
Emerging Europe needs a second transformation from convergence to connection. The first shift was led by governments through EU membership and integration. The next wave must be driven by companies led by governments as enablers.
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