United States

Iran

Saudi Arabia

Pakistan

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will reportedly visit Saudi Arabia within the next 48 hours following an invitation from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Geo News reported on April 13. 

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia: Sharif To Visit Saudi Arabia Following Conclusion of U.S.-Iran Talks

Peru

Logistical issues prevented some 63,000 Peruvians from voting in the April 12 general election and led authorities to adopt an unprecedented measure of extending voting in affected electoral zones until April 13, El Pais reported on April 12.

Peru: Election Extended for a Day Over Logistical Issues as Fujimori and Aliaga Lead Counting

Israel

United Arab Emirates

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Iran-linked hacking group Handala Hack claimed on April 12 to have destroyed 6 petabytes of data and stolen 149 terabytes of sensitive information in a cyberattack against three Dubai government organizations, SecurityWeek reported on April 13.

Iran, UAE: Handala Hack Claims Theft and Destruction of Data in Dubai Cyberattack

Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged her ruling Liberal Democratic Party to accelerate work on constitutional revision so it can enter the 2027 party congress with a clear path toward formal amendment, particularly regarding defense, Bloomberg reported on April 12.

Japan: Prime Minister Argues for Constitutional Reform Amid Hormuz Crisis

China

Taiwan

China announced 10 new measures for Taiwan after Cheng Li-wun, the chair of Taiwan's opposition party Kuomintang, concluded a rare visit to China that included talks with President Xi Jinping, Reuters reported on April 12.

China, Taiwan: Beijing Offers Limited Economic Sweeteners Following Visit by Taiwan's Opposition Leader

Lebanon

An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said on April 13 that after Israel completes military operations against Hezbollah in Bint Jbeil -- a town roughly five kilometers (three miles) from the Israel-Lebanon border -- in the upcoming days, the IDF will have completed major military operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, The Jerusalem Post reported the same day.

Israel, Lebanon: IDF Says Bint Jbeil Operation To Mark End of Major Operations in Southern Lebanon

Kenya

Mozambique

Nigeria

France

Kenyan lawmakers approved a defense cooperation agreement with France that will grant Kenyan security forces "access to French training, technology, and expertise" and strengthen bilateral cooperation in domains that include maritime security, counterterrorism and disaster relief, the Daily Nation reported on April 12.

Kenya: Parliament Ratifies Defense Pact With France

Ukraine

Russia

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a 32-hour Orthodox Easter ceasefire from April 11-12, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv would observe, Reuters reported on April 9.

Russia, Ukraine: Putin Announces Easter Ceasefire

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

Below are our latest and most relevant military analyses. 

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

The Syrian Civil War

The Yemen Civil War

The Libyan Civil War

The Fight Against the Islamic State

The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

The India-Pakistan Rivalry

The Ukraine Conflict

Tracking U.S. Naval Power

The Battle for Mosul

Rebalancing Power in the Middle East

Coping With a Nuclear North Korea

The Jihadist Wars

Echoes of the Cold War

Instability in Central Asia

South Asian Militancy

Pakistan: A Military With a Country

Assessments

Yemen

U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks as special envoys Jared Kushner (L) and Steve Witkoff listen during a news conference after a meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran on April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

Energy

The U.S. blockade may not immediately collapse the ceasefire with Iran, but it will further disrupt maritime shipping and the global economy.

After U.S.-Iran Talks Fail, Washington Moves To Blockade the Strait of Hormuz

Canada

Vietnam

Hungary

A digital screen displaying news of U.S.-Iran peace talks April 10 in Islamabad. The United States and Iran are set to begin contentious talks April 11 in Islamabad, Pakistan, with disputes over the 10-point proposal as a framework for discussions and major gaps between U.S. and Iranian demands.

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

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Talks, Hungarians Vote

U.S.-Iran Relations

Snapshots

Haiti

Debris surrounds a school destroyed by armed gangs back in 2024 in the Solino neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 3, 2026.

Haiti's extreme insecurity and political instability are highly unlikely to improve ahead of planned elections in August, raising the risk of mass unrest that could collapse the already weakened government.

Haiti's Security and Political Crises Heighten Risk of State Collapse

A satellite view of the Persian Gulf, with the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint seen on the right.

Global Trade

Fears that U.S.-Iran talks will collapse, along with Iran's ongoing efforts to formalize its authority over the strait by imposing transit fees and limiting traffic, will likely keep shippers cautious.

Strait of Hormuz Shipping Likely To Remain Disrupted, Despite Ceasefire

Media

Podcasts

How have dynamics evolved since France and the United States withdrew from the region? 

The Decision Advantage: Jihadist Insurgency in the Sahel and West Africa

Cuba

Mexico

Venezuela

Forecast Webcast

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

2026 Second-Quarter Forecast Webcast

Iranians hold national flags as they gather in Tehran's Revolution Square after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, on April 8, 2026 in Tehran, Iran.

Upcoming negotiations face substantial hurdles as both sides present maximalist demands that could precipitate a return to high-intensity conflict.


Despite 11th-Hour U.S.-Iran Truce, Stumbling Blocks to Lasting Agreement Remain

Lithuania

Latvia

Estonia

A soldier from the "Taifun" unmanned aerial vehicle unit prepares a new strike drone for flight on April 7, 2026 in Ukraine. 

Although Moscow is threatening retaliation against Baltic states over supposed involvement in Ukraine's drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, the Kremlin will not risk a direct military confrontation with NATO.


Direct NATO-Russia Confrontation in the Baltic Unlikely, Despite Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Energy Infrastructure 

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi answers questions at a legislative budget committee session in Tokyo on April 7, 2026, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (left) looks on. 

Japan's ability to sustain increased spending on defense and other strategic investments in the coming years will be constrained by sluggish economic growth, high government debt and a challenging geopolitical landscape.

Reviewing Japan's New Budget: Balancing Spending Hikes and Fiscal Reality

The exterior facade of the Legislative Palace of Peru is seen in Lima.

With a record 35 candidates running in the April 12 race and no clear frontrunner, numerous scenarios remain possible, including a win by an anti-establishment outsider, a mainstream right-wing figure or another leftist.

Peru's Presidential Election: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Djibouti

Damage at the Azadi Sport Complex in the Iranian capital of Tehran on April 3.

The Weekly Rundown: The Iran War Continues, Taiwan's KMT Restarts China Talks

Iraq

Iraqi women light candles in memory of the victims of the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and Lebanon during a rally in Baghdad's Tahrir Square on April 2, 2026.

Violent spillover from the Iran war will further complicate Iraq's government formation process, while disrupted oil exports will heavily strain Baghdad's finances and raise the risk of unrest.

Iraq Is Caught in the Crossfire of Another Destabilizing War

Military & Security

SITUATION REPORTS

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia: Sharif To Visit Saudi Arabia Following Conclusion of U.S.-Iran Talks

Peru: Election Extended for a Day Over Logistical Issues as Fujimori and Aliaga Lead Counting

Iran, UAE: Handala Hack Claims Theft and Destruction of Data in Dubai Cyberattack

Japan: Prime Minister Argues for Constitutional Reform Amid Hormuz Crisis

China, Taiwan: Beijing Offers Limited Economic Sweeteners Following Visit by Taiwan's Opposition Leader

Israel, Lebanon: IDF Says Bint Jbeil Operation To Mark End of Major Operations in Southern Lebanon

Kenya: Parliament Ratifies Defense Pact With France

Russia, Ukraine: Putin Announces Easter Ceasefire

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