United States

Venezuela

India

Economics

Energy

On March 24, Trump announced that the United States would impose a 25% secondary tariff on countries buying oil and gas from Venezuela, set to take effect on April 2, the Hindu reported on March 25.

India: Trump's 25% Tariff on Venezuelan Oil Poses Challenges for India

China

Spain

Politics

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media the imposition of 25% tariffs on all imports from countries that purchase Venezuelan oil and gas, Reuters reported on March 24.

U.S., Venezuela: 'Secondary' Tariffs Escalate Washington's Sanctions Policy

Sri Lanka

Military & Security

Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sri Lanka on April 5, the Economic Times reported on March 22. 

India, Sri Lanka: Modi To Visit Sri Lanka on April 5

The Indian government decided not to extend its $23 billion production-linked initiative scheme aimed at incentivizing domestic manufacturing and luring companies away from China, limiting the program to its original 14 pilot sectors, Reuters reported on March 21. 

India: $23B Manufacturing Scheme To Lapse Following Shortcomings and Delays

Bangladesh

India is refusing Bangladesh's requests to restore the regular issuance of medical visas, citing staffing shortages and strained bilateral relations, Reuters reported on March 19.

India, Bangladesh: India's Restrictions on Bangladeshi Medical Visas Create Opportunity for China

New Zealand

India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay announced on March 16 the launch of negotiations for an India-New Zealand free trade agreement, AP reported on March 17.

India, New Zealand: Governments Agree To Launch Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

Social Issues

The Dalai Lama -- the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism -- released his new book on March 11, in which he stated, "Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world," which he described as outside of China, according to a review of the book by Reuters. 

China: Dalai Lama Says Successor to be Born Outside of China

The chief minister of India's Tamil Nadu state, M. K. Stalin, invited politicians from over 40 parties to a meeting on March 5 to intensify protests against the federal government's plan to redefine constituencies in 2026 based on population, The Economic Times reported on March 4.

India: Southern States Oppose Federal Plan To Redraw Constituencies

Snapshots

Europe

United Kingdom

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) walks with New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (R) before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on March 17, 2025. 

Global Trade

U.S. tariff threats are pushing India to revamp negotiations over free trade agreements, but protectionist trade policies and other obstacles will challenge the progression of talks.

India Dusts Off Old FTA Negotiations Ahead of U.S. Tariffs

Assessments

Canada

Saudi Arabia

South Korea

Ukraine

Canadian flags are seen outside a building in Ottawa. 

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

The Weekly Rundown: Canada's Ruling Liberals Pick a New Leader, India and the EU Hold Trade Talks 

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.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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

Sub-Saharan Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Tanzania

Americas

Brazil

Colombia

Cuba

Haiti

Nicaragua

Iraq

Israel

Lebanon

Palestinian Territories

Syria

Yemen

Cambodia

Indonesia

North Macedonia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Serbia

Albania

Kosovo

Russia

South Asia

Afghanistan

The lobby of the headquarters for the U.S. Agency for International Development is seen on Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. 

Cuts to U.S.-funded humanitarian and development programs could worsen global health outcomes, destabilize security environments, accelerate democratic backsliding, and create opportunities for rival powers to expand their influence.

The Global Implications of Trump's Foreign Aid Cuts

Pakistan

Bangladeshi soldiers stand guard in Dhaka on July 27, 2024.

Since assuming power in August, Bangladesh's interim government has pursued closer ties with Pakistan and China, deepening India's concerns about regional stability and its declining influence over Dhaka.

Bangladesh's More Assertive Foreign Policy Puts India on Edge

The Geopolitics of Water

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

South Asia's rising demand for water resources will exacerbate disputes over key waterways, particularly the Brahmaputra and Indus rivers.

The Geopolitics of Water: Regional Rivals Compete for South Asia's Rivers

Germany

France

The West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 17 in Washington. Donald Trump will be inaugurated as U.S. president on Jan. 20.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: The Gaza Ceasefire, Trump's Inauguration

Columns

On Geopolitics

Asia-Pacific

Australia

Japan

Malaysia

Philippines

Taiwan

Vietnam

U.S. President Joe Biden gestures to reporters after landing on the South Lawn of the White House on Sept. 22, 2024, in Washington, D.C. 

U.S.-China Relations

Trump's more aggressive and transactional approach could deliver quick wins for the U.S.'s position in the region, though it could also strain ties with key partners. 

Trump's Asia-Pacific Approach Will Test Biden's Gains

Iran

Cyber

Water utilities are uniquely vulnerable to cyberattacks due to frequent financial and security limitations, exposing water-stressed countries to threats from hacktivists and foreign adversaries.

 The Geopolitics of Water: Cyberattacks' Impact on Water Stress in the U.S. and Beyond

Depleted groundwater reserves threaten India's agriculture, energy and manufacturing sectors, potentially sparking unrest and inter-state disputes in the absence of a coordinated national policy.

The Geopolitics of Water: India's Groundwater Crisis

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) arrive for a joint press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 25, 2020.

While U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will maintain many of the outgoing Biden administration's overarching policies toward South Asia, bilateral relationships will grow increasingly transactional.

What Trump's Second Term Means for South Asia

<p>India is endowed with favorable geographic barriers. Surrounded by oceans on three sides and the formidable Himalayan Mountains to the north, what is now modern India has been free of outside interference for much of its long history. Its large geographic size and population, coupled with weaker peripheral nations on much of its boundaries, have allowed India to become the dominant force in South Asia. Home to the world&rsquo;s second-largest population, India&rsquo;s 1.3 billion people are spread out across the peninsular nation, from the foothills of the Himalayas to the tropical south. India&rsquo;s population core is settled along the Ganges river basin, a densely populated swath of fertile land that extends across the northern Himalayan border. India&rsquo;s primary geographic challenge comes from a lack of strong internal boundaries. Modern-day India struggles to rectify the ambitions of a relatively weak national government that competes with the prerogatives of strong, diverse states &mdash; a legacy of a long history of domestic infighting between various dynasties uninhibited by mountains or other defining geography. A similar lack of defining geography still plagues India&rsquo;s northwest border. Waves of Greek, Persian, and Mongols invaded, culminating in the Mughal Empire, which united much of the subcontinent prior to British conquest. The northwestern border still poses national security risks, due to ongoing disputes with Pakistan. But rising domestic consumption means India is increasingly dependent on imported goods from distant suppliers. Surrounded by water or impassable mountains, New Delhi now faces the additional task of developing naval capabilities to secure its critical supply routes, risking maritime tensions with China in the broader Indo-Pacific basin.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

India: Trump's 25% Tariff on Venezuelan Oil Poses Challenges for India

U.S., Venezuela: 'Secondary' Tariffs Escalate Washington's Sanctions Policy

India, Sri Lanka: Modi To Visit Sri Lanka on April 5

India: $23B Manufacturing Scheme To Lapse Following Shortcomings and Delays

India, Bangladesh: India's Restrictions on Bangladeshi Medical Visas Create Opportunity for China

India, New Zealand: Governments Agree To Launch Free Trade Agreement Negotiations

China: Dalai Lama Says Successor to be Born Outside of China

India: Southern States Oppose Federal Plan To Redraw Constituencies

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support