Should the word countries be capitalized?

The word "countries" should not be capitalized unless it is the first word of a sentence or part of a proper noun.

Here are some examples:

* Correct: The United States is a country in North America.

* Incorrect: The United States is a Countries in North America.

* Correct: Countries around the world are working to combat climate change.

* Correct: The Global South consists of many countries.

It's important to note that "countries" is a common noun, which refers to a general category of things (in this case, nations). Proper nouns, on the other hand, are specific names of people, places, or things (e.g., "United States," "France," "the European Union").