This study investigates the evolution of international scientific collaboration networks in science diplomacy over the past decades, revealing an increasingly complex and strategically significant research landscape. Through a scientometric network analysis, we identify key trends, influential actors, and the structural transformation of global collaboration. While the United States remains a dominant hub, emerging scientific diplomacy networks in Europe, Asia, and Latin America reflect a shift toward a more decentralized and diversified global research system. The findings highlight the dual role of science diplomacy as both a mechanism for cooperation and an instrument of geopolitical strategy, particularly in contested regions such as the Arctic and space governance, where scientific partnerships often intersect with national interests. The analysis also underscores the impact of global crises, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, which catalyzed a surge in international research collaborations, reinforcing science diplomacy as a crucial tool for crisis response and public health governance. The study further reveals that while participation and connectivity have expanded, network density has declined, signaling a transition from a tightly-knit core to a broader, modular structure with specialized thematic clusters. This shift necessitates targeted policy support to sustain and enhance international collaboration, ensuring inclusivity and equitable access to global scientific diplomacy initiatives. These findings reinforce the growing institutionalization of science diplomacy, emphasizing its critical role in addressing transnational challenges, strengthening multilateral relations, and shaping global science policy in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.
Guillermo Armando Ronda-Pupo (Mon,) studied this question.