Kenya

Seychelles

South Africa

China

Economics

Politics

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng is conducting an Africa tour through Kenya, South Africa and the Seychelles during which he will meet his local counterparts through March 30, Radio France Internationale reported on March 23.

Africa: Chinese Vice President Tours Kenya, South Africa, Seychelles

United States

Afghanistan

Pakistan

Military & Security

The Afghan Taliban released Dennis Coyle, a U.S. academic the group had detained since January 2025 for unspecified reasons, The New York Times reported on March 24. 

Afghanistan, U.S.: Afghan Taliban Releases Detained U.S. National Amid U.S. Pressure

Iran

Ukraine

Russia

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine and the United States still needed to finalize an agreement on security guarantees, despite earlier claims that it was ready, Reuters reported on March 24.

Ukraine, U.S.: Security Guarantee Talks Stall as Iran War Diverts U.S. Focus

Philippines

Energy

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said energy supply risks stemming from the war in the Middle East could spur renewed discussions with China on joint energy development in the South China Sea, Bloomberg reported on March 24.

Philippines, China: Energy Pressures Drive Talks, Temporary Calm in the South China Sea

Israel

Several unnamed Israeli officials have indicated that a potential agreement between the United States and Iran is unlikely, although Pakistan offered to host negotiations as early as late in the week of March 23 to de-escalate the conflict, Reuters reported on March 24. 

U.S., Iran: Israeli Officials Say U.S.-Iran Deal Remains Unlikely, but Pakistan Offers To Host Talks

U.S.-Iran Relations

Chile

Chile's government announced it will hike gasoline prices by 41% and diesel prices by 54% effective March 26, La Tercera reported on March 24.

Chile: Fuel Price Increase To Raise Inflation and Drive Unrest

Somalia

The president of Somalia's South West state, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, accused the federal government of carrying out a "blatant invasion " of the state after clashes erupted between regional forces and local opposition fighters linked to the federal government near Baidoa on March 19, Hiiraan News reported on March 22.

Somalia: South West State President Denounces 'Blatant Invasion' by Federal Government

France

France's far-right National Rally expanded its local footprint in the second round of municipal elections on March 22, increasing its number of mayoralties across the country, though it failed to secure control of several targeted major cities, losing in Marseille, Toulon, and Nimes, Le Monde reported March 23.

France: Municipal Elections Show National Rally Gains, But Setbacks in Major Cities

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

Below are our latest and most relevant politics analyses.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

The Post-Apartheid Era Ends

Venezuela's Unraveling

The Saudi Survival Strategy

The Kurdish Struggle

Israel's Survival Strategy

Turkey's Resurgence

EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

Brexit

Old Leaders in a New Africa

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

The Pulse of Political Islam

Broken Contracts in the Middle East

Russia's Internal Struggle

China in Transition

Southeast Asia: Burdened by Consensus

India's Own Worst Enemy

Pakistan: A Military With a Country

Snapshots

Italy

Opposition supporters celebrate the defeat of a referendum on justice reform March 23 in Rome. The defeat exposes limits to the Italian government's dominance, and may embolden the fragmented opposition and strain coalition unity.

The defeat of a highly politicized judicial reform referendum exposes limits to the Italian government's dominance, and may embolden the fragmented opposition and strain coalition unity.

What a Failed Italian Referendum Means for the Meloni Government

Columns

Lebanon

Syria

Photos of prominent Hezbollah leaders are seen at the site of a reported Israeli airstrike which killed 6 members of the same family, on March 19, 2026 in Baalbek, Lebanon.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The trajectory of the war will be increasingly defined by a clash of strategic objectives that makes a quick resolution of the conflict unlikely.


The Impact the Israel-Hezbollah War Will Have on Lebanon

Assessments

Denmark

The European Parliament building in 2019 in Strasbourg, France. Parliament is set to hold a plenary vote March 26 on implementing the 2025 EU‑U.S. trade framework agreement.

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

The Weekly Rundown: A Vote on the EU‑U.S. Trade Framework, the Iran Conflict Continues

Bahrain

Kuwait

Oman

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

People walk along the corniche area on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2026.

Global Trade

Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will compel Gulf Cooperation Council states to invest in alternative trade routes and more resilient physical infrastructure.

Gulf Arab States, Shaken by Iran War, Plan Economic Pivot

Greenland

Danish Defense Minister and top candidate of Denmark's Venstre party, Troels Lund Poulsen (left), and Danish Prime Minister and top candidate of the Social Democrat Party, Mette Frederiksen (right), attend a debate in Copenhagen on March 15, 2026.

Environment, Science & Technology

The upcoming parliamentary elections could result in three distinct coalitions that would offer varying continuity in domestic economic policy and Copenhagen's approach to U.S. pressure over Greenland.

Denmark's General Elections: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Global Elections

Malaysia

A man fills up his truck at a Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) station in Kuching, Malaysia, on June 20, 2025.

While fuel subsidies have so far cushioned the impact, if the Iran-related energy disruptions persist, the government may have to sacrifice economic reforms to preserve political support before the next election.

Malaysia's Ballooning Fuel Subsidy Costs Will Test the Government's Reform Agenda

Japan

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addresses a news conference at the Prime Minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 18.

The Japanese prime minister may offer economic and security concessions during her upcoming summit with the U.S. president to avoid direct entanglement in the Iran conflict while preserving the relationship with Washington.

Iran War Heightens Stakes of Key Takaichi-Trump Summit

Smoke plumes rise above a village in southern Lebanon following Israeli airstrikes on March 16, 2026.

Even if it engages in direct talks with Lebanon, Israel is unlikely to de-escalate its military operations in the country without major concessions on border security and Hezbollah's disarmament.

Hezbollah-Israel War Set To Intensify, Despite Lebanon's Diplomatic Push

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Social Issues

Demographics may not be destiny, but it does play a major role in questions of national power.

The Geopolitics of Demographics: An Introduction

A large plume of smoke rises March 7 over Tehran after explosions were reported in the Iranian capital during the night.

The Weekly Rundown: The Iran War Continues, Takaichi Meets With Trump

A digital illustration of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s national flags.

Despite having a mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will likely only provide the kingdom with low-level defensive and technical support, rather than direct military intervention against Iran, due to various constraints.

In a War With Iran, the Pakistani-Saudi Defense Pact Has Limits 

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran, Iran, on March 7, 2026.

Limited commando raids are Trump's most viable option, as larger ground incursions in Iran would face severe logistical, political and strategic risks and remain unlikely without a major shift in regional and U.S. domestic support.

Strategic Risks and Political Hurdles for a U.S. Ground War in Iran

Politics

SITUATION REPORTS

Africa: Chinese Vice President Tours Kenya, South Africa, Seychelles

Afghanistan, U.S.: Afghan Taliban Releases Detained U.S. National Amid U.S. Pressure

Ukraine, U.S.: Security Guarantee Talks Stall as Iran War Diverts U.S. Focus

Philippines, China: Energy Pressures Drive Talks, Temporary Calm in the South China Sea

U.S., Iran: Israeli Officials Say U.S.-Iran Deal Remains Unlikely, but Pakistan Offers To Host Talks

Chile: Fuel Price Increase To Raise Inflation and Drive Unrest

Somalia: South West State President Denounces 'Blatant Invasion' by Federal Government

France: Municipal Elections Show National Rally Gains, But Setbacks in Major Cities

Forecasts

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