* Refers to a specific country: For example, "The United States is a powerful nation."
* Is part of a formal name: For example, "The Republic of Korea is a nation located in East Asia."
You don't capitalize "nation" when it:
* Is used as a general term: For example, "Every nation has its own unique culture."
* Is part of a common phrase: For example, "the nation's economy."
Here are some examples:
Capitalized:
* The Nation of France
* The United States of America
* The Nation of Canada
Not capitalized:
* The importance of international cooperation between nations.
* The nation's economy is strong.
Ultimately, the best way to know when to capitalize "nation" is to consider the context of the sentence.