<p>The Asia-Pacific is home to more people than any other region. Centered on the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, this region includes the easternmost countries of continental Asia as well as the archipelagos that punctuate the coast. Several of these countries, most notably China, experienced rapid economic growth in the second half of the 20th century, giving the region a new sense of global economic relevance that continues today. That relevance, however, depends largely on China, a power in transition whose rise is testing the network of U.S. alliances that have long dominated the region. How effectively Beijing manages its transition will shape the regional balance of power in the decades to come.</p>

Centered on the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, the Asia-Pacific region includes the easternmost countries of continental Asia as well as the archipelagos that punctuate the coast. 

Asia-Pacific

Australia

Samoa

Brunei Darussalam

Cambodia

China

Timor-Leste

Federated States of Micronesia

Fiji

Indonesia

Japan

Kiribati

Laos

Malaysia

Marshall Islands

Mongolia

Myanmar

Nauru

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North Korea

Palau

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Philippines

Singapore

Solomon Islands

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

Tonga

Tuvalu

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Vietnam

Beyond Quantitative Easing

The New Silk Road

Modernizing China’s Military

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

Globalization

Social Issues

Coping With a Nuclear North Korea

Moscow Looks to the East

China in Transition

A Japanese Awakening

Asia-Pacific: Among Great Powers

Southeast Asia: Burdened by Consensus

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Israel

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Military & Security

Politics

What is the outlook for Indonesia-Israel normalization, and what would that process look like?

Essential Geopolitics: Indonesia's Interest in Israel-Gaza

Assessments

Chile

United States

Venezuela

Saudi Arabia

India

Pakistan

People watch the USS Gravely, a Navy warship, departing the Port of Spain on Oct. 30, 2025. The U.S. warship arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 26, 2025, for joint exercises near the coast of Venezuela, as Washington ratcheted up pressure on drug traffickers and Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

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

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Saudi Meeting, Military Escalation in the Caribbean

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (C) after chairing a National Security Council on Nov. 11 in Bangkok. An armed clash on the Thai-Cambodian border raises the risk of escalations that unwind the two countries' recent peace accord, though a return to full-scale war is less likely due to U.S. economic and security leverage.

While the most likely scenario is recurring but contained flare-ups through early 2026, a more escalatory scenario remains plausible.

More Clashes, but Not Full-blown Conflict, Likely on the Cambodian-Thai Frontier

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan

Russia

Kyrgyzstan

U.S. President Donald Trump (C), joined by lawmakers and members of his administration, delivers remarks during a dinner with leaders of Central Asian countries in the East Room of the White House on Nov. 6, 2025.

Economics

Energy

The recent C5+1 summit highlighted the U.S.'s desire to boost cooperation with Central Asian countries on trade and critical minerals, but the region's geography, governance and reliance on China and Russia will ultimately limit the impact of such efforts. 

The Promise and Limits of Increased U.S. Engagement in Central Asia

Brazil

Iraq

Syria

Campaign posters Nov. 6 ahead of Nov. 11 Iraqi parliamentary elections in central Baghdad.

Environment, Science & Technology

The Weekly Rundown: Iraqi Elections, a U.S.-China Deal Enters Effect

U.S.-China Relations

South Sudan

Burundi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Kenya

Malawi

Mozambique

Rwanda

Tanzania

Uganda

Zambia

Europe

The Geopolitics of Trade

Global Trade

Over the next decade, Kenya and Tanzania will compete for the title of East Africa's leading trade gateway, particularly as global demand for Central Africa's critical minerals grows. 

The Geopolitics of Trade: The Race to Unlock East Africa, Part 1 

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a photo session for participants of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 on Sept. 1, 2025, in Tianjin, China.

The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) outlines Beijing's intent to continue current economic policies, pursue new industrial priorities, further securitize Chinese society, escalate Xi's anti-corruption campaign, and use lawfare to fend off foreign trade disputes.

President Xi Lays Out China's Plans for the Next Five Years

Snapshots

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and China's President Xi Jinping leave after their talks at the Gimhae Air Base, in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30, 2025. 

The framework deal favors China by boosting its export competitiveness, but future escalations with the U.S. are likely over the coming year due to differing interpretations of the new measures and ongoing trade tensions.

China Secures Favorable U.S. Trade Deal, New Escalations Still Likely

U.S. President Donald Trump (center) poses for a group photo with the leaders of (L-R) Singapore, East Timor, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia and Laos during the ASEAN leaders summit on Oct. 26, 2025. 

The summit highlighted the Southeast Asian bloc's attempts to boost internal unity and economic integration amid the U.S.-China rivalry, but it also exposed structural divides and external pressures that hinder unified action and leave ASEAN states vulnerable to coercion.

The Takeaways From the 2025 ASEAN Summit

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Bangladesh

Nepal

Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on Sept. 9, 2025, after youth protesters set fire to the building. 

Recent events in Nepal, Madagascar and elsewhere show how digitally coordinated, leaderless protests can succeed, but eventually face even larger challenges in sustaining the momentum for change.

Worldwide Gen Z Protesters May Be Disappointed With Their Success

Cyber

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted on Nov. 20 to repeal measures put in place in December 2024 to address the Chinese state-backed Salt Typhoon operation that was revealed throughout 2024 to have breached major telecommunications companies in the United States and globally. 

U.S.: FCC Votes To Repeal Telecom Cyber Rules Issued To Address Salt Typhoon

United Arab Emirates

The U.S. Commerce Department approved the sale of up to 35,000 of Nvidia's GB300 servers or equivalents to both the United Arab Emirates' G42 and to Saudi Arabia's Humain, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 20. 

U.S., Saudi Arabia, UAE: U.S. Approves Sale of Advanced AI Chips to Saudi, Emirati Tech Companies

Thailand's anti-corruption body publicly warned that Bangkok's crackdown on crime syndicates and money laundering networks is failing because political, bureaucratic and police elites are taking bribes and protecting criminal groups, The Straits Times reported on Nov. 20.

Southeast Asia: Entrenched Scam Syndicates Face More Raids, Though Leadership Remains Insulated

China resumed a ban on seafood imports from Japan and paused talks to resume Japanese beef imports, according to Kyodo News on Nov. 19, while Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Nov. 19 noted that Beijing would retaliate further if Japan did not apologize for recent remarks about Taiwan.

China, Japan: Beijing Rapidly Expands Retaliations Over Taiwan Spat

Air India is urging the Indian government to ask China for access to a sensitive military airspace zone in Xinjiang, which would shorten its flight paths as Air India and other Indian carriers face mounting financial strain from Pakistan's overflight ban, Reuters reported on Nov. 19.

India, China: Air India Seeks Access to Xinjiang Airspace Amid Pakistan's Overflight Ban

Netherlands

Dutch Economics Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans announced on X on Nov. 19 that he was suspending his Sept. 30 order to take temporary control of Chinese-owned semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia following consultations with Chinese officials.

Netherlands, China: Netherlands Suspends Takeover of Chinese-Owned Chipmaker Nexperia 

The South Korean navy informed Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force that it would not participate in a joint search and rescue drill slated for late November, which would have been their first instantiation of that joint drill since it was halted in 2018, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Nov. 17. 

South Korea, Japan: Cancelled Joint Drills Show Tensions Slowly Rising

Japan and Indonesia's defense and foreign ministers held a two-plus-two meeting and established a new high-level framework to accelerate defense cooperation and equipment transfer discussions, Nikkei Asia reported on Nov. 18. 

Japan, Indonesia: Tokyo, Jakarta Deepen Security Ties

Asia-Pacific

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S.: FCC Votes To Repeal Telecom Cyber Rules Issued To Address Salt Typhoon

U.S., Saudi Arabia, UAE: U.S. Approves Sale of Advanced AI Chips to Saudi, Emirati Tech Companies

Southeast Asia: Entrenched Scam Syndicates Face More Raids, Though Leadership Remains Insulated

China, Japan: Beijing Rapidly Expands Retaliations Over Taiwan Spat

India, China: Air India Seeks Access to Xinjiang Airspace Amid Pakistan's Overflight Ban

Netherlands, China: Netherlands Suspends Takeover of Chinese-Owned Chipmaker Nexperia

South Korea, Japan: Cancelled Joint Drills Show Tensions Slowly Rising

Japan, Indonesia: Tokyo, Jakarta Deepen Security Ties

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