<p>Everything that informs geopolitics can be found in South Asia: challenging demographics, geographic diversity, and contentious, ill-defined borders. The Himalayan Mountains form the northern border of South Asia, whose two main rivers, the Indus and the Ganges, support the region&rsquo;s great population centers. India is the region&rsquo;s dominant country, home to the world&rsquo;s fastest growing economy. But its rivalry with neighboring Pakistan, a fellow nuclear power and growing consumer market, has made South Asia one of the world&rsquo;s most dangerous nuclear flashpoints. The region is also a testament to how militancy and militarism can undermine the regional integration needed to unleash higher economic growth.</p>

Everything that informs geopolitics can be found in South Asia: challenging demographics, geographic diversity, and contentious, ill-defined borders. 

South Asia

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Maldives

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The India-Pakistan Rivalry

The Politics of Pipelines

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The Pulse of Political Islam

Instability in Central Asia

South Asian Militancy

India's Own Worst Enemy

Pakistan: A Military With a Country

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A destroyed church is seen in Mosul, Iraq.

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The Islamic State's main threat to the West in 2026 will remain its ability to inspire lone-actor violence, though in the coming years the group's African, Afghan and Syrian branches may become increasingly capable of directing mass casualty attacks in Western countries.

The Islamic State's Enduring Threat to the West

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A container ship arrives Oct. 10 at the Port of Oakland, California. In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

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In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

2026 Annual Forecast: A Global Overview

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on Sept. 1, 2025.

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While Putin's Dec. 4-5 visit may yield some progress in defense, energy and trade cooperation, India will likely maintain selective engagement with Russia as it navigates U.S. pressure and continues diversifying its arms suppliers.

What To Expect as Putin Visits India

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Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their bilateral meeting during the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Putin-Modi Meeting, Honduras General Election

Employees work at a garment factory in Tiruppur, in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu, on Sept. 23, 2025.

While the reforms will eventually create a more competitive, transparent and predictable labor market, the potential for uneven state-level adoption and protests will create challenges for companies in the near term. 

India's Labor Code Reforms: Opportunities and Implementation Challenges

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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.

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

Pakistan's armed forces march in the country's National Day parade in Islamabad on March 23, 2024. 

Pakistan's new constitutional amendment threatens to sow political division over growing military powers, a weakening judiciary and reduced civilian oversight.

Pakistan's New Constitutional Amendment Reforms the Military and Judiciary

Firefighters douse a car at the suicide blast site in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Nov. 11, 2025. 

While unlikely to trigger immediate retaliation, recent explosions in both New Delhi and Islamabad will sustain the risk of renewed cross-border strikes should either country determine the other was culpable.

Back-to-Back Blasts in India and Pakistan Raise Fears of Another Escalation

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How do recent protests in Nepal compare to those in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka?

Essential Geopolitics: Political Instability in South Asia

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka logo is seen outside the bank's headquarters in Colombo on July 6, 2023.

The IMF will likely approve the fifth review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 billion bailout due to the country's strong fiscal performance, debt restructuring progress and political stability, though high poverty and delayed state-enterprise reforms pose ongoing risks.

Sri Lanka on Track To Unlock Next IMF Disbursement, but Challenges Remain

New Zealand

India and New Zealand on Dec. 22 announced that they had reached a free trade agreement aimed at deepening economic ties, Bloomberg reported.

India, New Zealand: Free Trade Agreement Announced

Oman

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Oman, India signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement to strengthen bilateral trade and investment, Reuters reported on Dec. 18.

India, Oman: Governments Sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

India's lower house passed legislation to open the nuclear power sector to private participation and allow foreign companies to partner with Indian companies and obtain licenses to set up nuclear power plants, Reuters reported on Dec. 17.

India: Atomic Energy Bill Passed in India's Lower House

India streamlined business visas for Chinese professionals by dropping a layer of scrutiny and cutting approval times to under a month, Reuters reported on Dec. 12. 

India, China: India Eases Red Tape To Fast-Track Business Visas for Chinese Professionals

Bangladesh's Election Commission announced that the country will hold parliamentary elections on Feb. 12, Reuters reported on Dec. 11.

Bangladesh: Election Commission Announces Election Date

The International Monetary Fund's executive board approved Pakistan's latest loan review, releasing roughly $1.2 billion and helping keep Pakistan's IMF program on track, Reuters reported on Dec. 9.

Pakistan: IMF Executive Board Approves Funding Under Pakistan's Second Review

Australia

Australia imposed financial sanctions and a travel ban on Afghanistan's minister of virtue and vice, minister of higher education, minister of justice and chief justice for alleged complicity in oppressing women and girls as well as minority groups in Afghanistan, among other offenses, according to a statement Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade released on Dec. 6. 

Australia, Afghanistan: Australia Sanctions Afghan Taliban Officials Over Alleged Human Rights Concerns

During his Dec. 4-5 visit, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, and both agreed to expand and diversify trade, Reuters reported on Dec. 5.

India, Russia: Putin and Modi Agree To Deepen India-Russia Trade

South Asia

SITUATION REPORTS

India, New Zealand: Free Trade Agreement Announced

India, Oman: Governments Sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

India: Atomic Energy Bill Passed in India's Lower House

India, China: India Eases Red Tape To Fast-Track Business Visas for Chinese Professionals

Bangladesh: Election Commission Announces Election Date

Pakistan: IMF Executive Board Approves Funding Under Pakistan's Second Review

Australia, Afghanistan: Australia Sanctions Afghan Taliban Officials Over Alleged Human Rights Concerns

India, Russia: Putin and Modi Agree To Deepen India-Russia Trade

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