<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

Snapshots

China

Russia

Participants of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 pose for photos in Tianjin, China, on Sept. 1, 2025.

Economics

Energy

Global Trade

U.S. trade uncertainty will help China deepen trade ties with its Central Asian neighbors and infrastructure ties with Russia, but its relations with India will remain inhibited by border disputes and differing defense priorities.

China Positions Itself as Growth Catalyst for Central Asia at SCO Summit

Assessments

United States

A freight train carrying cargo containers rides along a railway track in Ajmer, India, on Aug. 26, 2025. 

Politics

While India will remain engaged in U.S. trade talks, a deal that secures relief from Trump's 50% tariff will remain elusive amid New Delhi's reluctance to reduce its agricultural protections and Russian oil purchases. 


U.S. Tariffs Strain India's Exports Amid Stalled Trade Talks

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

The Geopolitics of Trade

Environment, Science & Technology

Military & Security

Geopolitical, security and environmental risks threaten to disrupt trade through crucial waterways, including the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the Suez Canal, the Danish and Turkish straits, and the Panama Canal.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Threats to Maritime Chokepoints Endanger Global Trade, Part 2

Ecuador

Mexico

North Korea

Ukraine

Helicopters fly in the sky during a rehearsal for a military parade Aug. 24 in Beijing.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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

The Weekly Rundown: An SCO Summit, Rubio Closes Security Deals With Mexico and Ecuador

Diverse security risks threaten maritime chokepoints around the world, presenting unique challenges to international trade.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Threats to Maritime Chokepoints Endanger Global Trade, Part 1

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a meeting on May 14, 2015, in Xian, China. 

While Trump-era tariff pressures offer a new economic incentive for cooperation, Beijing and New Delhi are unlikely to fully normalize ties due to enduring strategic and security concerns.

Despite Modest Improvement, India-China Relations Face Enduring Challenges

Supporters of Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami party wave the national flag in Dhaka during a rally held to call for the introduction of a proportional representation system in the country's forthcoming general election on July 19, 2025. 

While delays remain possible, the interim government will likely hold elections in February 2026 as promised, paving the way for a functioning parliament and the implementation of key reforms.

A Set Election Date Eases Political Uncertainty in Bangladesh

Bolivia

Israel

Palestinian Territories

An aerial view shows a campaign poster of Bolivian presidential candidate Samuel Doria Medina and his supporters marching during a rally in La Paz, Bolivia, on Aug. 12, 2025.

The Weekly Rundown: Bolivian Elections, a Controversial Israeli Settlement Plan 

Workers at the Samsung plant in Sriperumbudur, India, stage a protest to demand higher wages and recognition of their union on Sept. 11, 2024. 

The labor reforms, aimed at streamlining regulations and attracting investment, face significant delays and uneven implementation due to political resistance, trade union opposition and state-level administrative challenges.

India's Labor Codes: Challenges to Nationwide Adoption

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) looks at Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 30, 2018, during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet in the coming days.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: A Trump-Putin Summit, the Deadline for a U.S.-China Tariff Pause

U.S.-China Relations

In a Truth Social post on Sept. 1, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that India had agreed to reduce its tariffs on U.S. goods to zero, though he did not specify when the offer was made, Bloomberg reported the same day.

U.S., India, China, Russia: Modi Meets Putin and Xi at SCO Summit

Canada

India and Canada appointed new high commissioners to each other's capitals, marking the restoration of diplomatic ties 10 months after both countries expelled one another's top envoys amid a dispute over an alleged political assassination, Reuters reported on Aug. 28.

Canada, India: Governments Restore Diplomatic Ties With Appointment of New Envoys

U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods, raising them to as high as 50%, took effect as scheduled on Aug. 27, Reuters reported the same day.

U.S., India: 50% U.S. Tariffs Hit India

Indian refiners, including Reliance Industries and other state-run and private companies, plan to scale back Russian crude imports to around 1.4 million-1.6 million barrels per day from October, down from the roughly 1.8 million bpd daily average seen in the first half of the year, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 26.

U.S., India: India To Slightly Scale Back Russian Oil Imports Ahead of Rising U.S. Tariffs

Pakistan and Bangladesh pledged to boost bilateral trade, investment and connectivity following Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's visit to Dhaka, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 25.

Pakistan, Bangladesh: Governments Strengthen Relations

During his visit to Moscow, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said India and Russia will work to boost annual trade by around 50% over the next five years to reach $100 billion, emphasizing the need to address trade bottlenecks and lower nontariff barriers to achieve this target, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 21.

India, Russia: Governments Aim To Boost Annual Bilateral Trade to $100B by 2030

India's state-run refiners, Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum, have resumed purchases of Russian crude for September and October delivery after discounts on Urals widened to around $3 per barrel, up from the narrower $1.70-$2 discounts seen in August, Reuters reported on Aug. 20.

India, Russia: Indian State Refineries Continue Russian Crude Purchases Despite U.S. Warnings

Marking the conclusion of the Chinese foreign minister's two-day visit to New Delhi, India and China agreed to resume bilateral direct flights, maintain communications on transboundary rivers and water issues, and establish a group to formally explore demarcating sections of their disputed border, Reuters reported on Aug. 19.

India, China: Governments Continue To Ease Tensions With New Agreements 

South Asia

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., India, China, Russia: Modi Meets Putin and Xi at SCO Summit

Canada, India: Governments Restore Diplomatic Ties With Appointment of New Envoys

U.S., India: 50% U.S. Tariffs Hit India

U.S., India: India To Slightly Scale Back Russian Oil Imports Ahead of Rising U.S. Tariffs

Pakistan, Bangladesh: Governments Strengthen Relations

India, Russia: Governments Aim To Boost Annual Bilateral Trade to $100B by 2030

India, Russia: Indian State Refineries Continue Russian Crude Purchases Despite U.S. Warnings

India, China: Governments Continue To Ease Tensions With New Agreements

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