<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

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

The India-Pakistan Rivalry

The Politics of Pipelines

Banking

Crossing Borders

Globalization

Social Issues

The Pulse of Political Islam

Instability in Central Asia

South Asian Militancy

India's Own Worst Enemy

Pakistan: A Military With a Country

Assessments

Kuwait

Saudi Arabia

Turkey

People gather around an army air defense system on display at a military exhibition in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Aug. 14, 2025.

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

While they could unlock economic and strategic gains, Pakistan's new defense pacts with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will also increase its military's role in domestic policymaking and Islamabad's exposure to regional conflicts.

The Implications of Pakistan's Growing Defense Ties in the Middle East

United States

Garment workers sew clothes at a textile factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Dec. 29, 2024. 

Energy

The government's efforts to secure U.S. tariff exemptions and external financial aid will have only a modest impact without addressing the ready-made garment sector's energy shortages and other structural challenges.

The Outlook for Bangladesh's Garment Sector Under U.S. Tariffs

Ethiopia

South Africa

Brazil

Egypt

Iran

China

Russia

(From left to right) Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attend a plenary session at the BRICS summit in Kazan on Oct. 24, 2024.

The bloc's push to develop an independent payment system for trade will not immediately undermine the U.S. dollar's global dominance, though it could reduce the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions.

The Implications of an Independent BRICS Payment System

Snapshots

United Kingdom

A giant Indian flag is displayed from the country's embassy in London on May 7, 2025.

While the agreement will support both countries' economic diversification efforts, U.K. regulatory standards and supply chain challenges will limit some gains for India.

What To Expect as the India-U.K. Trade Deal Enters Force

Then-Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrives for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on July 5, 2019.

The former leader's pledged return from exile risks triggering violent unrest and would likely do little to bolster her party's near-term political prospects, but it could eventually help ease tensions with India.

What Sheikh Hasina's Return Would Mean for Bangladesh's Political Future

The U.S. and Indian flags adorn the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 20, 2023.

While the ban could prompt the U.S. to lower its proposed Section 301 tariff on India from 12.5% to 10%, unresolved concerns over manufacturing overcapacity will sustain the risk of broader, sector-specific tariffs.

India Imposes Forced Labor Import Ban to Reduce U.S. Tariff Exposure

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

A thermometer reading a high temperature is shown over an image of Earth.

Environment, Science & Technology

The compounding effects of the weather event and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are set to drive global inflation and strain agricultural output well into next year.


How the 2026 El Nino Climate Event Will Affect the Global Economy and Security

Middle East and North Africa

Europe

Eurasia

Cyber

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

A fragile truce in the Middle East, persistent energy-driven inflation, shifting U.S. trade policy and escalating regional pressures from Europe to Africa will collectively shape geopolitical risk in the third quarter.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Canada

Mexico

Japan

Cargo ships June 19 off the coast of the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal in Sharjah emirate, along the Gulf of Oman.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Japan's Takaichi Goes to India, an Unsteady U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

U.S.-Iran Relations

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke (center) participates in a protest in Amritsar, India, on June 13, 2026.

While the Cockroach Janta Party has so far struggled to convert its online popularity into large street protests, worsening economic grievances among India's youth could catalyze the movement's growth.

Can India's Viral 'Cockroach' Party Mobilize a Gen Z Uprising?

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

Eswatini

India and the five-member Southern African Customs Union signed terms of reference to begin negotiations on a preferential trade agreement, Reuters reported on Aug. 12.

India: New Delhi Revives Trade Pact Talks With Southern African Customs Union

India's lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 by voice vote without debate, The Hindu reported on Aug. 12.

India: Lok Sabha Passes Bill Amending India's Mining Law

India's central government introduced a bill in Parliament that would tighten its authority over the mining sector by curbing state-level taxes and other charges on mineral resources and bringing mineral-bearing land under federal regulation, The Economic Times reported on Aug. 10. 

India: Government To Limit States' Powers To Tax Minerals and Mining

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a mutual defense pact in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Financial Times reported on Aug. 7.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey: Governments Sign Mutual Defense Pact

India is pressing China to resume sharing water-flow data, which Beijing has not provided since the bilateral data-sharing agreement expired in June 2023, as concerns grow over its construction of the world's largest hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo, which flows downstream through India and Bangladesh, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 7.

India, China: India Raises River Data Concerns With China Over Tibet Dam

Researchers at Stanford and the Arc Institute used artificial intelligence to create 16 novel viral genomes, Science reported on Aug. 6.

Global: Scientists Use AI To Create 16 Novel Viruses

Unnamed government sources said Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir was leading a joint military and civilian government crackdown on hard-line Islamist groups to facilitate Pakistan's ties with the West, stem blasphemy-related violence, and respond to worsening insurgencies in northwest and southwest Pakistan, Reuters reported on Aug. 6. 

Pakistan: Army Chief Reportedly Leading State Crackdown on Hard-Line Islamist Groups

Sudan

United Arab Emirates

The Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, secured 100 Pakistani-made Mohafiz armored vehicles from the Pakistan Ordnance Factory in July, as well as Pakistani Shahpar drones and spare parts for its K-8 trainer and light-attack aircraft, Sudan Tribune reported on Aug. 6 based on conversations with military sources.

Sudan: SAF Secures Fresh Pakistani Weaponry, Hinting at Saudi Support

South Asia

SITUATION REPORTS

India: New Delhi Revives Trade Pact Talks With Southern African Customs Union

India: Lok Sabha Passes Bill Amending India's Mining Law

India: Government To Limit States' Powers To Tax Minerals and Mining

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey: Governments Sign Mutual Defense Pact

India, China: India Raises River Data Concerns With China Over Tibet Dam

Global: Scientists Use AI To Create 16 Novel Viruses

Pakistan: Army Chief Reportedly Leading State Crackdown on Hard-Line Islamist Groups

Sudan: SAF Secures Fresh Pakistani Weaponry, Hinting at Saudi Support

Forecasts

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