United States

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

Politics

Science & Technology

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign a memorandum on Feb. 21 that will authorize the creation of reciprocal tariffs in response to foreign digital services taxes, or DSTs, imposed by various other countries on a variety of large U.S. technology companies, Bloomberg reported the same day.

U.S.: White House Expected To Greenlight Reciprocal Tariffs Targeting Digital Services Taxes 

Mexico

Military & Security

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum submitted to Congress two constitutional reform proposals aimed at protecting the country's national sovereignty from foreign intervention and introducing the crime of terrorism for those involved in arms trafficking, La Jornada reported on Feb. 20.

Mexico: Pro-Sovereignty Constitutional Reform Risks Souring U.S.-Mexico Relations

Social Issues

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced on Feb. 20 a public inquiry into major tech platforms' content moderation policies and decisions to ban users over the content of their speech or affiliations. 

U.S.: FTC Launches Tech Censorship Inquiry

Malaysia

Malaysia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' 2025 chair, announced that it is seeking a summit with the United States to address the bloc's concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed 25% tariffs on automobiles, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, Reuters reported on Feb. 20.

ASEAN, U.S.: Chair Malaysia Seeks Summit With Washington on Tariffs

El Salvador

Venezuela

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Feb. 20 issued a statement confirming that the Trump administration designated eight transnational criminal groups as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, or SDGTs, in addition to their designations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, or FTOs, which Rubio announced on Feb. 19.

U.S., Latin America: Criminal Groups Designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists

China

U.S.-China Relations

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, "It’s possible," when asked about making a new trade deal with China, adding, "There’s a little bit of competitiveness, but the relationship I have with President Xi [Jinping] is, I would say, a great one," Bloomberg reported on Feb. 19.

U.S., China: Trump Open To Trade Negotiations, but a Deal Remains Distant

Ukraine

Russia

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

At a press conference, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was more confident in achieving a settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war after the Feb. 18 talks between Russian and U.S. delegations in Saudi Arabia, adding that he would probably meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin around the end of February, Reuters reported on Feb. 19. 

U.S., Russia, Ukraine: Trump Criticizes Zelensky Ahead of Putin Summit

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a notice designating eight transnational criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations, Reuters reported on Feb. 19. 

U.S., Latin America: U.S. Declares Eight Transnational Criminal Groups Foreign Terrorist Organizations

Assessments

South Africa

South Korea

Germany

France

United Kingdom

The Reichstag on Jan. 22 in Berlin. The center-right alliance between the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, is widely expected to emerge as the largest bloc in the Bundestag after the Feb. 23 general election and lead the next coalition government.

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

The Weekly Rundown: German Elections, Macron and Starmer Meet Trump

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. 20, 2025

Columns

On Geopolitics

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Crowds of Palestinians gather to receive food outside a U.N. aid distribution center in the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah on Nov. 2, 2024.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The displacement of any Palestinians from the Gaza Strip will further erode post-World War II norms against population transfers, laying the groundwork for future global conflicts.

Trump's Gaza Plan Risks Further Eroding Global Constraints on Population Removals

Europe

The U.K. flag is flown near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to honor the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, on Sept. 9, 2022.

While the U.K. will likely avoid major U.S. tariffs, concessions to Trump could undermine London's push to ''reset'' ties with the EU and expand economic engagement with China.

Trump's Tariff Threats Will Complicate the U.K.'s Trade Balancing Act

(Left to right) U.S., Saudi and Russian officials attend a meeting in Riyadh on Feb. 18, 2025.

While the talks open the door to a ceasefire, the exclusion of Ukraine and its European partners creates the risk of a deal that is not enforced and fails to end the fighting.

What To Expect From U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine

Syria

Turkey

Fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stand atop a humvee in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province during a joint military exercise with the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State on Sept. 7, 2022.

The threat of a Turkish offensive and decreasing U.S. aid will increasingly pressure the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces to reach a deal with Syria's new government. 

The Uncertain Future of U.S.-Backed Kurds in Syria

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Kenya

Rwanda

Lebanon

Sri Lanka

Damage on Feb. 13 in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza.

The Weekly Rundown: Mideast Ceasefires and Arab Gaza Proposals, the AU Summit

A truck crosses the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan, on Jan. 31, 2025. 

In addition to potentially triggering painful retaliatory tariffs from top U.S. trade partners, the tariffs could upend U.S. supply chains as domestic manufacturers struggle to boost production.

The Impact of Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs

The OECD logo is seen at the organization's headquarters in Paris, France, on Dec. 5, 2024.

Trump's move to exit the deal and investigate other countries' alleged discriminatory tax policies could result in the U.S. imposing retaliatory trade and tax measures on foreign companies and individuals.

The Impact of Trump's Withdrawal From the OECD Global Tax Deal

U.S. Naval Update Map: Feb. 13, 2025

India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during a luncheon at the U.S. State Department on June 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

Discussions between the two leaders will likely focus on addressing India's trade surplus with the U.S., exploring ways to mitigate potential tariffs, and deepening defense cooperation.

What To Expect From Modi's Meeting With Trump

Ecuador

Jordan

Jordan's King Abdullah II speaks to the press in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12, 2024.

The Weekly Rundown: Trump Meets With India and Jordan's Leaders, Ecuador Holds Elections

The United States encompasses territory spanning from the Arctic Circle and Central Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico and the North Atlantic.    The Greater Mississippi Basin is the United States' core and serves as the underpinning of its role as a global superpower.    The basin hosts an extensive network of navigable rivers that overlay the world's largest contiguous piece of arable land. This naturally interconnected river system facilitated integration among settlers and allowed for cheap transport of goods, providing the United States with the ability to feed itself efficiently and rapidly build up industry and capital to expand west. The Midwestern core gave early America strategic depth, while an expanding U.S. coastline, naturally indented with deep harbors, provided its opening to the world.    After reaching the Pacific coast in the mid-19th century, the United States found itself insulated by two oceans. On the continent itself, geography again has worked in the country's favor: lakes to the north and deserts to the south insulate the United States' population centers, with both Canada and Mexico facing too many natural constraints of their own to seriously rival it.    This unparalleled level of wealth and protection gives the United States options that few to no countries can claim. For one, the United States has used its wealth and security to build up the world's largest navy. Control of the world's major sea-lanes gives the United States the power to facilitate or deny trade to allies or rivals of the day. The onus therefore is on the United States to carefully manage its engagements abroad and build up strategic allies to protect its overseas interests and preserve its strength at home. 

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S.: White House Expected To Greenlight Reciprocal Tariffs Targeting Digital Services Taxes

Mexico: Pro-Sovereignty Constitutional Reform Risks Souring U.S.-Mexico Relations

U.S.: FTC Launches Tech Censorship Inquiry

ASEAN, U.S.: Chair Malaysia Seeks Summit With Washington on Tariffs

U.S., Latin America: Criminal Groups Designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists

U.S., China: Trump Open To Trade Negotiations, but a Deal Remains Distant

U.S., Russia, Ukraine: Trump Criticizes Zelensky Ahead of Putin Summit

U.S., Latin America: U.S. Declares Eight Transnational Criminal Groups Foreign Terrorist Organizations

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