India

Politics

Partial results from the Election Commission of India show that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party is on track for a third straight term in Assam state and is sweeping West Bengal state, defeating longtime opposition leader Mamata Banerjee, while the BJP's national coalition, the National Democratic Alliance, is leading in the union territory of Puducherry, Bloomberg reported on May 4.

India: Early State Assembly Election Results Come In

Cuba

United States

Economics

The Cuban government reaffirmed on May 2 its refusal to negotiate political or economic reforms with the United States, and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said U.S. President Donald Trump had elevated threats to "dangerous and unprecedented" levels, Deutsche Welle reported on May 3.

Cuba, U.S.: Cuba Says It Will Not Negotiate Reforms as U.S. Steps Up Sanctions

South Africa

Zimbabwe

Military & Security

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made an unannounced visit to Zimbabwe, during which he met Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and some of his key allies, ZimLive reported on May 4.

Zimbabwe: South Africa's Ramaphosa Makes Surprise Visit Amid Escalating Tensions Over Constitutional Reform

Europe

Armenia

Armenia hosted the European Political Community summit in Yerevan for the first time, bringing together more than 40 leaders from countries including France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Ukraine, Poland and Moldova, Armenpress reported on May 4.

Armenia, EU: Yerevan Hosts EPC Summit Ahead of First EU-Armenia Summit

Indonesia

Japan

Vietnam

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signed agreements with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung to deepen cooperation on energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and space during the former's visit to Hanoi, Reuters reported on May 2.

Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam: Tokyo Deepens Strategic Foothold in Southeast Asia

Iran

China

China's Ministry of Commerce issued an injunction blocking domestic compliance with U.S. sanctions on five Chinese refiners accused by Washington of buying Iranian oil, state news agency Xinhua reported on May 2.

China, U.S.: Beijing Prohibits Compliance With U.S. Sanctions Over Iran

U.S.-China Relations

European trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic will meet U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Paris, France, on May 5, following U.S. President Donald Trump's May 1 threat to raise tariffs on EU car and truck imports to 25% from 15%, citing alleged noncompliance with the U.S.-EU trade agreement reached in July 2025, Politico reported on May 4, citing a European Commission spokesperson.

EU, U.S.: Trump Threatens Higher Auto Tariffs on EU, Raising Risk of Further Trade Escalation

Germany

The Pentagon announced plans to withdraw around 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months, though it remains unclear which bases would be affected and whether forces would return to the United States or be redeployed elsewhere, Reuters reported on May 1. 

Germany, U.S.: U.S. Plans 5,000-Troop Drawdown From Germany, Cancels Long-Range Missile Deployment

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

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

Assessments

Brazil

The Geopolitics of Natural Resources

If President Lula wins reelection in October, his administration would continue balancing the promotion of green initiatives with the expansion of mining and drilling, while retaining strategic neutrality in the U.S.-China competition.

The Balance Between Environmental and Extractive Policies in Brazil's Presidential Election, Part 1

Snapshots

United Kingdom

While a Ukraine loan scheme will offer opportunities for British companies, it will not reintegrate the United Kingdom into EU defense structures.

A Small Step for EU-British Defense Cooperation

Media

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Podcasts

Why is the United States involved in the mediation process? 

The Decision Advantage: Key Drivers of the Congo-Rwanda Conflict

Australia

An oil products tanker at Muscat Anchorage on March 21, 2026 at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman. 

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.K. Elections, Iran War Resumption Risk

U.S.-Iran Relations

An oil tanker is seen docked in the southeastern Iranian coastal city of Chabahar, on the Gulf of Oman, in February 2019.

Chabahar is poised to transition from an ambitious commercial venture to a symbolic strategic asset, as India seeks to maintain long-term access and regional influence until sanctions conditions become clearer.

Expired U.S. Sanctions Waiver Threatens India's Chabahar Port Project in Iran

What are the key domestic pressures impacting U.S. strategy?

The Decision Advantage: The Outlook for U.S.-Iran Negotiations

Kazakhstan

Russia

An aerial view shows the Kazakh village of Ulken (foreground), where the country's first nuclear power plant is set to be built, on Sept. 22, 2024.

Kazakhstan will seek to balance its reliance on Russia to build its first nuclear plant by partnering with China on subsequent projects and by leveraging new mining laws to extract downstream technology from foreign partners.

Kazakhstan's Strategy to Control Its Nuclear Future Amid Russian Leverage

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer departs 10 Downing Street on April 29 in London. While a leadership challenge against the British prime minister is possible, policy continuity is likely no matter who governs.

While a leadership challenge against the British prime minister is possible, policy continuity is likely no matter who governs. Meanwhile, strong pro-independence gains are possible in Scotland and Wales, but not near-term independence.

Labour's Starmer Faces Bleak Local U.K. Electoral Prospects

Direction signs point to Germany and France in the town of Schengen where the 1985 European Schengen Agreement was signed on May 11, 2016 in Schengen, Luxembourg. 

The reintroduction of border controls by countries across the Schengen area is acting as a slow structural drag on the continent's economic competitiveness.


'Temporary' Schengen Border Controls Threaten Europe's Integrated Supply Chains

Iraq

Israel

A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard next to a national flag as pilgrims march from the center of Baghdad toward the shrine of Imam Moussa al-Kadhim, the seventh of 12 revered imams in Shiite Islam, during an annual religious commemoration on Feb. 16, 2023.

Ali al-Zaidi's lack of experience and ties to a U.S.-sanctioned bank will complicate his attempts to form a government by the constitutional deadline.

Iraq's Prime Minister-Designate Likely To Struggle To Form Government

South Korea

Employees walk at the construction site of a gas metering station, part of the pipeline link between Bulgaria and Greece near the village of Malko Kadievo, on March 18, 2022. 

The Weekly Rundown: No U.S.-Iran Breakthrough, EU Ban on Spot Market Russian LNG

Parliament House is seen in New Delhi, India.

The ruling BJP will continue pushing to enact a women's legislative quota, either as a standalone law that could intensify intra-party competition before the 2029 elections, or as a part of broader political reforms that could trigger a north-south regional crisis.

Modi's Push to Redraw India's Electoral Map Faces a Setback

Politics

SITUATION REPORTS

India: Early State Assembly Election Results Come In

Cuba, U.S.: Cuba Says It Will Not Negotiate Reforms as U.S. Steps Up Sanctions

Zimbabwe: South Africa's Ramaphosa Makes Surprise Visit Amid Escalating Tensions Over Constitutional Reform

Armenia, EU: Yerevan Hosts EPC Summit Ahead of First EU-Armenia Summit

Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam: Tokyo Deepens Strategic Foothold in Southeast Asia

China, U.S.: Beijing Prohibits Compliance With U.S. Sanctions Over Iran

EU, U.S.: Trump Threatens Higher Auto Tariffs on EU, Raising Risk of Further Trade Escalation

Germany, U.S.: U.S. Plans 5,000-Troop Drawdown From Germany, Cancels Long-Range Missile Deployment

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