South Africa

Economics

Energy

Military & Security

Politics

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his Feb. 12 State of the Nation address that the government is committed to creating a fully independent state-owned transmission entity, which would own and operate the country's electricity grid and manage the electricity market.

South Africa: Ramaphosa Scraps Revised Eskom Reform Breakup Plan

United States

Venezuela

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez said Venezuela will hold free and fair elections by the end of U.S. President Donald Trump's term in 2028, NBC News reported on Feb. 12. 

Venezuela: Free and Fair Elections Remain Unlikely, Despite President's Statements

Environment, Science & Technology

The U.S. Treasury Department issued on Feb. 10 a general license authorizing the provision of U.S. goods, technology, software or services for the exploration, development or production of oil and gas in Venezuela, Reuters reported the same day.

Venezuela, U.S.: Washington Allows Venezuela To Import U.S. Equipment and Software for Oil Production

Armenia

Azerbaijan

U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku and signed a Charter on Strategic Partnership, formalizing expanded cooperation on security, energy, regional connectivity and technology, Azertac reported on Feb. 10.

Azerbaijan, U.S.: Washington Elevates Baku as Regional Partner

Iran

Russia

Armenia and the United States signed a joint statement on the completion of negotiations on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement during U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit to Yerevan, Reuters reported on Feb. 9. 

Armenia, U.S.: Washington Deepens Armenia Ties With Nuclear Deal During Vance Visit

Qatar

Europe

QatarEnergy is delaying the startup of its expansion of the North Field East liquefied natural gas project until at least the fourth quarter of 2026 and potentially early 2027, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 9. 

Qatar: QatarEnergy's LNG Expansion Project Start-Up Delayed to at Least Q4

Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Russia launched a large overnight barrage of missiles and drones against Ukrainian energy infrastructure and cities during extreme cold, damaging power and heating systems across several regions just ahead of resumed U.S.-brokered talks, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia reported on Feb. 3.

Russia, Ukraine: Russia Strikes Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure Ahead of U.S.-Brokered Talks

China

The European Commission opened an in-depth investigation under the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation into Chinese wind turbine manufacturer Goldwind, according to a Feb. 3 commission press release.

EU, China: Brussels Opens Subsidy Probe Into Chinese Wind Turbine Maker Goldwind  

The world is connected, but even the broadest topics deserve an individual look. Below are our latest and most relevant energy analyses.

Below are our latest and most relevant energy analyses.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

The Libyan Civil War

The Fight Against the Islamic State

The Politics of Pipelines

_Energy

Nigeria: Obstacles to Prosperity

The Battle for Mosul

A Crude Recovery

Broken Contracts in the Middle East

Russia's Internal Struggle

East African Integration

Assessments

The U.S. and the EU flags are seen side by side on Nov. 21, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. 

By replacing Russian gas with U.S. LNG, the EU risks becoming reliant on another systemically central external supplier at a time of growing geopolitical instability and transatlantic tension.

The Strategic Risks of Europe's Pivot to U.S. LNG

Cuba

Mexico

American Airlines planes sit on the tarmac at Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on Feb. 9, 2026. 

Facing imminent economic collapse and the loss of key allies, the Cuban government will likely yield to U.S. demands for market liberalization to avoid a total breakdown of state authority while attempting to preserve political control.

Economic Concessions to U.S. Offer Path for Regime Survival in Cuba

Snapshots

Turkey

A digital satellite illustration shows Europe at night.

The EU enlargement chief's upcoming visit to Turkey signals an attempt to balance cautious engagement with clear strategic interests, rather than an imminent breakthrough on the country's stalled accession process.

Understanding the EU's Strategic Reengagement With Turkey

Mozambique

Rwanda

Tanzania

A Rwandan policeman (R) and a Rwandan soldier (L) guard TotalEnergies' Mozambique LNG project in Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique, on Sept. 29, 2022.

Mozambique's LNG projects will likely progress in 2026 amid a safer security environment, but the economic windfall remains years away.

Mozambique's LNG Sector Turns a Corner Amid Megaproject Reboot

Canada

A 3D rendering of the Canadian, U.S. and Mexican flags.

The White House is expected to utilize threats of scrapping the trilateral pact in favor of bilateral agreements as a high-stakes negotiating tactic, creating a period of intense business uncertainty and market volatility.

The Outlook for USMCA Renegotiation in 2026

Media

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2026 Annual Geopolitical Forecast.

2026 Annual Geopolitical Forecast Webcast

U.S.-China Relations

Greenland

Denmark

The Danish-flagged DMS Lauge Koch, an offshore Royal Danish Navy patrol vessel, docks at the Port of Nuuk on March 12, 2025, in Nuuk, Greenland.

Scenarios for the coming year range from unilateral military action by the United States to a U.S.-Denmark agreement to expand Washington's capabilities on the island.


How Could the U.S. Seek To 'Take' Greenland?

Cyber

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Social Issues

As elections reshape political incentives worldwide, 2026 will see major powers recalibrate diplomacy and conflict, raising the risk of fragile deals, regional instability and sudden escalation.

2026 Annual Geopolitical Forecast: An Excerpt

U.S.-Iran Relations

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

North Korea

South Korea

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet takes off from Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport on December 15, 2025 in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. If U.S. strikes escalate and cause significant casualties, it could make retaliatory measures -- including the arbitrary detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela or the harassment of energy sector vessels in the region -- more likely.

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

The Weekly Rundown: South Korea's President Visits Beijing, U.S. Operations in Venezuela

Podcasts

How has U.S. interest in the Middle East evolved over time? 

Essential Geopolitics: A Historical Look Back on U.S.-Middle East Relations

Central African Republic

Guinea

Israel

Myanmar

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Kosovo

The Bulgarian flag and the European flag waving in the wind.

The Weekly Rundown: Bulgaria Adopts the Euro, U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Persist

Algeria

People walk through a main square in Algeria's capital of Algiers on Sept. 15, 2024.

By introducing Sharia-compliant debt instruments, the Algerian government aims to tap into significant informal savings and diversify its funding sources while avoiding external debt. 

Algeria's Islamic Bonds an Incomplete Step Toward Diversifying Government Revenues

Energy

SITUATION REPORTS

South Africa: Ramaphosa Scraps Revised Eskom Reform Breakup Plan

Venezuela: Free and Fair Elections Remain Unlikely, Despite President's Statements

Venezuela, U.S.: Washington Allows Venezuela To Import U.S. Equipment and Software for Oil Production

Azerbaijan, U.S.: Washington Elevates Baku as Regional Partner

Armenia, U.S.: Washington Deepens Armenia Ties With Nuclear Deal During Vance Visit

Qatar: QatarEnergy's LNG Expansion Project Start-Up Delayed to at Least Q4

Russia, Ukraine: Russia Strikes Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure Ahead of U.S.-Brokered Talks

EU, China: Brussels Opens Subsidy Probe Into Chinese Wind Turbine Maker Goldwind

Forecasts

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