Across
- 2. Large South American country. Held 2 major sporting events this decade (6)
- 4. Scandinavian state. Home to a lovely frozen resort (7)
- 7. Middle Eastern nation. Shares its name with a socialite/"model" (6)
- 9. Don't eat this country at Christmas (6)
- 12. Rogue Asian State. Like boom-booms (5, 5)
- 14. Capital of the country famous for its bacon (10)
- 15. Home of the greatest spirit ever devised (8)
- 17. Syrian capital (8)
- 21. Unipolar world superpower, named after a Welshman (6, 6, 2, 7)
- 22. Caribbean Island Nation. Had a missile crisis back in the day (4)
- 24. Capital of the country that spawned Oktoberfest. Wasn't the capital for a 45 year stretch (6)
- 25. European state. A famous child was lost here (8)
- 27. Stereotypical home of the drunkards and tiny ginger people (7)
- 28. Your first city love, potentially? (5)
Down
- 1. South Pacific Island Nation. Have a tribe who worship Prince Phillip (7)
- 3. Country that invites all of its citizens to a garden party at the royal palace (14)
- 5. South Asian capital. Subject of a cruel playground game (7)
- 6. Home capital (6)
- 8. Country and Capital's name. City State. (9)
- 10. Capital city of Australia. Was purposely built for that purpose (8)
- 11. Capital of a south Asian country. My father nearly got arrested here for carrying an illegal knife onto a plane (5, 6)
- 13. Russian border state. You know someone who lives here (7)
- 16. You've claimed this as your 'second home town' (9)
- 18. The Holy See, if you know what that means (7, 4)
- 19. Formerly Constantinople during the Ottoman Empire (8)
- 20. A bit of Valley love (5)
- 23. A country that make alright cars, it could be argued (6)
- 26. Country in the Orient. China claims it's theirs, but the country disagrees (6)
- 29. Middle Eastern nation. Kind of occupied and has been on and off since the 90s (4)