Forthcoming conflicts over resource claims in the arctic. Now that climate change has enabled free passage of ships through the arctic their will be conflicting ownership claims involving Russia, USA, Canada and probably China.

Libya is sliding into chaos and as Elizabeth tries to renegotiate a peace deal, a traffic incident involving a local girl threatens to derail the talks.

Elizabeth tries to find funding for the electrical grid in a Syrian refugee camp during a government shutdown.

Elizabeth has to negotiate an agreement to end the shutdown. Meanwhile, replacing Nadine proves to be difficult.

After the ambassador to Kyrgystan is declared persona non grata, Elizabeth must find away to hold the human trafficking conference in Kyrgystan.

When the President and Elizabeth refuse to negotiate with a terrorist to return a CIA asset, the rest of their team must find an acceptable way.

When a Russian dissident flees to the U.S. after contracting smallpox, Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord and retired U.N. Ambassador Kat Sandoval (Sara Ramirez) must work with Russian Foreign Minister Konstantin Avdonin (Yasen Peyankov) to contain the outbreak.

McCord and her staff must work to rectify a botched extradition of a Mexican cartel leader to the US.

Secretary McCord hosts a holiday party as part of a push to persuade Senators to sign a landmine treaty. Henry looks to incriminate the Senate majority leader with collusion with the Russians.

Secretary McCord realizes that a diplomatic solution may serve the Afghan government better than war with the Taliban. Henry and Dmitri try to convince a Russian spy to help the US. Daisy returns from maternity leave and decides to tell Joe's mother about the baby.

When Vice President Hurst feels threatened that Secretary of State McCord is vying to be the next president, she attempts to set Elizabeth up for failure by promising that Americans will continue to be able to adopt Russian orphans, despite the potential ban by Russia's president. Also, Elizabeth and Henry find out Stevie is dating Dmitri after he is followed by a Russian assassin.

After a sonic attack in Bulgaria, President Dalton threatens Russia over their alleged involvement causing his mental status to be questioned.

Elizabeth seeks creative solutions when the president of Sri Lanka's psychic convinces him to not move forward with a trade agreement with the U.S.

Jay and Kat scheme to allow LGBQT immigrants bypass the normal refugee process; however, their scheme quickly unravels when a country shuts down their border and it threatens the US standing with the country's neighboring countries.

Elizabeth is torn about presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to someone who may not deserve it. President Dalton doubts his ability to return to leadership despite being cleared by doctors.

As the 20th anniversary of the embassy bombing in Uganda approaches, emotions run high among the State Department staff, who had personal connections to lives lost that day, including Elizabeth, who must decide if the United States should lift sanctions against the country deemed responsible. Also, Henry tries to help Jason break up with Piper.

Phase 2 of Elizabeth's deal with Iran is put in jeopardy when a Senator claims that money from Phase 1 was used in a bombing that killed a US citizen. Henry mulls over whether to accept the chair of the new military ethics department.

Negotiations for an agreement to combat gang violence in South America become complicated when the US's partner is complicit in a kidnapping. Elizabeth worries she is no longer fun.

While the Secretary attends a summit intended to resolve territorial claims on the North Pole, an activist group detonates a bomb, and Russia is behind it. Henry helps a student through a hard decision.

Elizabeth must be careful of what she says and does while dealing with a refugee situation and being shadowed by a reporter.

When terrorists threaten to cause a flood in the Middle East that could kill millions of people, Elizabeth's hopes of getting a neighboring country to close the dam fade after the government suddenly goes dark during a coup. Also, Stevie is tasked with finding Russell an activity that will help manage his stress.

Elizabeth and the cabinet must brace for fallout after President Dalton announces a retaliatory nuclear strike on a nation that has launched missiles at the US.