Assessments

United States

Tracking U.S. Naval Power

This map shows the approximate locations of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups and Amphibious Ready Groups.

U.S. Naval Update Map: Feb. 26, 2026

Snapshots

Europe

Iceland

Icelandic flags are seen on a street in Reykjavik.

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

The prospect of a summer referendum on EU accession reflects a strategic pivot driven by heightened anxieties over transatlantic security.


In Iceland, Security Concerns, Domestic Politics Catalyze Renewed Debate Over EU Membership

Columns

On Geopolitics

Somalia

Sudan

Egypt

Iran

Iraq

Israel

Lebanon

Libya

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

A dark earth map of the Middle East with glowing details of cities and human population density areas.

Two blocs are emerging in the Middle East: one focused on preserving existing states and institutions, and the other on creating new ones.

Preservation vs. Fragmentation: Two Paths Toward a New Order in the Middle East

Australia

European Union and Australian flags together.

Global Trade

European and Australian negotiators aim to strengthen supply chain resilience and hedge against growing global trade volatility.


The Strategic Logic Behind Revived Australia-EU Free Trade Talks 

Mexico

A burned car is seen on a highway near Acatlan de Juarez, Jalisco state, Mexico, on Feb. 22, 2026. The car was allegedly set on fire by organized crime groups in response to the killing of Nemesio Oseguera "El Mencho," the top leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

The killing of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel's notorious leader will initially improve U.S.-Mexico ties, but the likely surge in cartel violence will pose long-term risks to businesses and eventually renew pressure for U.S. military action in Mexico.

What a Cartel Leader's Killing Means for Mexico's Security and U.S. Relations

Palestinian Territories

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) inspect the honor guard during an official welcoming ceremony at the presidential complex in Ankara, Turkey, on June 22, 2022.

After years of discord, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are finding common ground as they increasingly position themselves against Emirati- and Israeli-backed regional initiatives. 

Saudi Arabia and Turkey's New Regional Alignment

China

Germany

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press Feb. 2 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump will deliver the annual State of the Union address to Congress on Feb. 24.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Trump Threatens Iran, Pledges To Reimpose Tariffs on Different Grounds

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Canada

Japan

South Korea

Vietnam

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House on Feb. 20, 2026, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Trump's use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs.

The Trump administration will use other trade authorities to replace many of the IEEPA tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court, meaning U.S. trading partners will remain incentivized to engage on trade matters.

What the Supreme Court Tariff Ruling Means for Trump and U.S. Trading Partners

Stay informed about the significant meetings and events RANE analysts are tracking.

Geopolitical Calendar

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Destroyed vehicles are strewn outside Sudan's finance ministry building in the capital Khartoum on Jan. 17, 2026, after nearly three years of devastating war in the country.

Ethiopia's apparent tilt toward the RSF paramilitary group in neighboring Sudan could trigger deadly border clashes and prompt the Sudanese military to deepen ties with Tigrayan forces.

Ethiopia Discreetly Dips Into Sudan's Civil War

On Security

An F-15 fighter plane takes off from RAF Lakenheath at sunset on Jan. 7, 2026 in Mildenhall, the United Kingdom.

The variety and size of the U.S. military buildup give Trump a breadth of options and, compared with last June, suggest that a wider, longer-lasting campaign is more plausible this time around unless a nuclear deal is reached.

Assessing Trump's Options for Military Action in Iran

France

United Kingdom

A digital illustration shows a nuclear launch map of Europe. 

Amid doubts about the U.S. security guarantee, Europe is considering using Franco-British nuclear arms to bolster its strategic autonomy within NATO, though this plan faces significant political and technical challenges.

The European Nuclear Umbrella: A Search for Strategic Autonomy

Latest

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Russia

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (left) shakes hands with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace on Feb. 19, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

Yerevan and Baku's efforts to finalize a peace treaty and realign toward the West will be tested by Russian influence operations ahead of Armenian elections and Iran's competing geopolitical interests.

To Escape Russia's Orbit, Armenia and Azerbaijan Turn to Each Other -- and the West

Lebanese flags fly outside of Lebanon's central bank in July 2023.

The proposed "gap law" for repaying depositors could unlock an IMF bailout and boost economic growth. But success is far from certain, as both passing and implementing the reform will prove challenging.

Will Lebanon's Draft Banking Law Unlock an IMF Deal?

Taiwan

A video interview of Taiwanese President William Lai plays onstage during The New York Times DealBook Summit 2025 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Dec. 3, 2025, in New York City.

President Lai's political disputes with the legislature are unlikely to ease anytime soon, which could disrupt U.S. trade and arms deals and/or jeopardize future opportunities for diplomatic engagement with China.

Taiwan's Political Dysfunction Goes Global

U.S. Naval Update Map: Feb. 19, 2026

A digital illustration shows energy and power icons set with the EU flag. 

By embedding 'Made in Europe' requirements into public procurement, the upcoming Industrial Accelerator Act represents a fundamental shift in EU economic policy.

The EU's 'Made in Europe' Plan Will Fuel Internal Divisions, Transatlantic Tensions

Argentina

An aerial photo shows Argentinian police using a water cannon truck against protesters opposing labor reforms on Feb. 11, 2026, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Although the labor reform is likely to be approved and may incrementally improve Argentina's hiring climate, its short-term economic impact will be limited.

Argentina's Milei Secures Senate Backing for Market-Oriented Labor Overhaul

Thailand

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul arrives at the Government House in Bangkok on Feb. 9, 2026.

The incumbent conservative party's victory will improve short-term political stability, but governance will remain constrained by coalition dynamics, entrenched institutions and uncertain constitutional reform.

Thailand Approves Constitutional Reform, Re-Elects Conservative Party

Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a press conference at the European Commission's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Aug. 17, 2025.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Despite its strategic imperative to secure Ukraine's Western alignment, the EU remains unlikely to grant the country full or partial membership anytime soon due to numerous challenges, with the ongoing war being chief among them.

To Keep the Promise of Ukraine's Accession Alive, the EU Mulls Alternative Options

A Syrian flag flutters above crowds gathering in central Hama, Syria, during celebrations on Dec. 5, 2025, marking one year since the fall of former President Bashar al Assad's regime.

The third Syrian state, under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, will likely emerge as a Turkish-aligned, authoritarian regime that prioritizes internal stability, reconstruction and regional neutrality, as it tries to avoid its predecessors' mistakes and excesses.

The Third Syrian State: Autocracy, Alignment and Al-Sharaa's Unique Neutrality

Poland

The flags of NATO, the EU and Poland are seen next to each other. 

Despite achieving strategic indispensability and significant military power, Poland's political influence in the EU and NATO has lagged, creating a paradox in which it is critical to executing Western strategies but peripheral to decision-making.

Has Poland Missed Its Shot at Becoming a Major EU Power?

U.S. protectionism has dramatically weakened the rules-based, multilateral trade regime established after World War II, driving governments to increasingly view trade through a national security lens rather than purely an economic one.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Conclusion

U.S. President Donald Trump, alongside (left to right) Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, speaks to the press following U.S. military actions in Venezuela, at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Jan. 3, 2026.

While Trump routinely portrays himself as unpredictable, his extensive use of U.S. military force abroad over the past year offers insight into the likely direction of his foreign policy for the remainder of his term.


Lessons From Trump’s Use of Force Abroad in His First Year Back in Office

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Energy

The United Kingdom hosted the inaugural Central Asia-U.K. (CA5+UK) foreign ministers' meeting in London, the British Foreign Office said on Feb. 26.

Central Asia, U.K.: London Launches Critical Minerals Push Across the Region

Ukraine and the United States concluded bilateral talks in Geneva, Switzerland, that focused on Ukraine's security, reconstruction and preparations for the next trilateral round with Russia, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov announced on X on Feb. 26.

Ukraine, U.S.: Bilateral Talks in Geneva Conclude Amid Kremlin's Hardening Stance

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said in a Feb. 26 post on X that indirect talks between the United States and Iran, which Oman is mediating, saw "significant progress" after two sessions were held the same day, adding that technical discussions would take place "next week" in Vienna, Austria. 

Iran, U.S.: Nuclear Talks Appear To Make Some Progress, Technical Talks Scheduled for Next Week

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Lynas Rare Earths, Australia's largest rare earths producer and the only major commercial separator outside China, reported roughly $295 million in revenue and approximately $57 million in profit from July 2025 through December 2025, marking a sharp year-on-year increase, Nikkei Asia reported on Feb. 26.

Australia: Lynas Profit Surge a Potential Sign of Viability for Non-China Rare Earths, but Risks Loom Large

North Korea

North Korea's weeklong ruling Workers' Party congress concluded on Feb. 25, with leader Kim Jong Un calling for new strategic weapons development, warning Pyongyang could destroy Seoul if threatened by South Korea or the United States, and formally defining inter-Korean ties as those between "two hostile states," rather than one state with rival governments, Yonhap News Agency reported the same day.

North Korea: Party Congress Ends With Bluster, but Door Left Open for Dialogue With Washington

The Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress removed nine serving officers from their positions as delegates to the National People's Congress, including Ground Force Commander Li Qiaoming and Information Support Force Political Commissar Li Wei, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 26. 

China: Military Purge Expands, Deepening Command Uncertainty

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that she will send to Congress a bill to reform the country's electoral system by March 2, El Pais reported on Feb. 25. 

Mexico: Government To Present Electoral Reform Proposal

South Africa

South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced during his presentation of the country's 2026 budget that South Africa's debt-to-GDP ratio would decline from fiscal year 2026-27 onward after peaking at 78.9% in 2025-26, the planned introduction of principles-based "fiscal anchor" legislation, as well as forecasts for South Africa's economic growth to stand at 1.6% in 2026 and rise to 2.0% in 2028, News24 reported on Feb. 25.

South Africa: 2026 Budget Announcement Includes Debt-to-GDP Ratio Stabilization, DA Endorsement

City authorities and businesses rebuild residential buildings damaged by Russian shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on July 12, 2023.

While European governments can fund Ukraine's war effort this year and next, securing the investment needed to rebuild damaged infrastructure will face significant political, economic and structural hurdles.

The Challenge of Rebuilding Ukraine's Economy

Algeria

The national flag of Algeria flies near the Bay of Algiers against the backdrop of the old town known as the Casbah and cargo containers in Algiers, Algeria, on Aug. 25, 2022.

Divergences between Algeria and the United Arab Emirates are poised to grow and may lead to a diplomatic break.

Algeria's Grievances With the UAE Deepen Amid Strategic Divergences

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

A NASA satellite image shows the city lights of Europe. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

In this scorecard, we take a critical look at our hits and misses in forecasting geopolitical events over the past year.

Grading Our 2025 Annual Forecast

Yemenis gather during a rally to show their support for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), which wants to revive an independent South Yemen, as they wave the old South Yemen flag in Khormaksar Square, in the coastal port city of Aden on Dec. 14, 2025. 

Achieving South Arabian independence will require Yemen's Southern Transitional Council to overcome the historical challenges that have long plagued the governance of Yemen writ large, like tribalism and regionalism.

The Precarious Path to South Arabian Independence

Angola

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Zambia

The CEO of Angola's state-owned oil and gas company Sonangol, Sebastiao Gaspar Martins, said the company was seeking to diversify into critical minerals, adding that it currently held seven concessions to explore and develop uranium, lithium and quartz, Reuters reported on Feb. 25.

Angola: Sonangol Pushes for Diversification in Critical Minerals Amid Declining Profits From Hydrocarbons

Cuba

The U.S. Treasury Department announced that it will allow the sale of oil and gas to Cuba's private sector and citizens, Reuters reported on Feb. 25.

U.S., Cuba: Oil Import Authorization To Only Marginally Alleviate Energy Crisis

Media

Finland

Sweden

Videos

Why is Turkey blocking Finland's and Sweden's accession to NATO?

Essential Geopolitics: Why Turkey Is Blocking NATO From Bringing in Sweden and Finland

Broken Contracts in the Middle East

Stratfor Middle East and North Africa Analyst Emily Hawthorne updates the political and economic situation in Algeria.

Essential Geopolitics: An Update on Algeria

Three Geopolitical Events in the Week Ahead • Oct. 21, 2019

Three Geopolitical Events in the Week Ahead • Oct. 14, 2019

In this short video Middle East and North Africa Analyst Ryan Bohl discusses three events to watch for this week.

Three Geopolitical Events in the Week Ahead • Oct. 7, 2019

Three Geopolitical Events in the Week Ahead • Sept. 23, 2019

Three Geopolitical Events in the Week Ahead • Sept. 9, 2019

Uzbekistan's strategic location and natural resources make it of significant interest to external powers, including Russia, China, and the United States.

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

Stratfor explains Uzbekistan's struggle to maintain internal unity while balancing against its regional neighbors and external powers.

Uzbekistan's Geographic Challenge

Global Perspectives

Partner Perspectives

More than 4,500 American service members have been killed in Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003. Security issues and conditions in Iraq will dictate whether U.S. forces will remain and, if so, what will be their size and mission.

The United States does not have attractive options as far as its military presence in Iraq, but it has workable ones to achieve its strategic and security goals.

To Leave or Not to Leave: The U.S. Security Dilemma in Iraq

Contributor Perspectives

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un faces a stark and narrow choice between denuclearizing or learning to accept China's growing control over his country.

By testing ICBMs and powerful nuclear weapons, the North Korean leader has placed himself in a strategic trap that threatens to leave his country at China's mercy.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un Finds Himself in a Bind of His Own Making

A Chinese effort to build influence in Africa includes a $140 million outlay to construct a new parliament building for Zimbabwe in its capital, Harare.

Infrastructure projects have helped Beijing build influence across the globe.

To Escape Russia's Orbit, Armenia and Azerbaijan Turn to Each Other -- and the West

Latest

SITUATION REPORTS

Central Asia, U.K.: London Launches Critical Minerals Push Across the Region

Ukraine, U.S.: Bilateral Talks in Geneva Conclude Amid Kremlin's Hardening Stance

Iran, U.S.: Nuclear Talks Appear To Make Some Progress, Technical Talks Scheduled for Next Week

Australia: Lynas Profit Surge a Potential Sign of Viability for Non-China Rare Earths, but Risks Loom Large

North Korea: Party Congress Ends With Bluster, but Door Left Open for Dialogue With Washington

China: Military Purge Expands, Deepening Command Uncertainty

Mexico: Government To Present Electoral Reform Proposal

South Africa: 2026 Budget Announcement Includes Debt-to-GDP Ratio Stabilization, DA Endorsement

Angola: Sonangol Pushes for Diversification in Critical Minerals Amid Declining Profits From Hydrocarbons

U.S., Cuba: Oil Import Authorization To Only Marginally Alleviate Energy Crisis

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