China

Japan

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

Japan's Ministry of Defense published its annual defense white paper on Aug. 4, listing Chinese military activities as an "unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge" to Japan.

Japan: White Paper Focused on China Threat, Defense Production and Economic Security

United States

Iran

Oman

As part of an Iran-Oman proposal under negotiation, Iranian officials would maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz's inbound route, while vessels would coordinate transit through the outbound route with Omani officials, who would then notify Iran, Reuters reported on Aug. 4.

Iran, Oman: Strait of Hormuz Proposal Would Formalize Iran's Shipping Leverage

U.S.-Iran Relations

Europe

EU member states are moving to replace the European Commission's discretionary approach to third-country participation in the Industrial Accelerator Act's "Made in Europe" scheme with a "partner origin" category tied to specific procurement commitments under trade agreements, Politico reported on Aug. 3, citing a draft compromise. 

EU: Member States Move To Narrow 'Made in Europe' Rules in Industrial Accelerator Act

Ukraine

Russia

Energy

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said in an Aug. 3 interview with Politico that Kyiv hoped refinery strikes and Western sanctions would force Russia to end the war this fall, but he warned that Moscow would otherwise resume large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy, water and sewage infrastructure.

Ukraine, Russia: Energy Deficit Will Deepen Ukraine's Winter Vulnerability

Kenya

Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta chaired a meeting of the opposition Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition, during which members agreed to rebrand the coalition ahead of Kenya's August 2027 general election and unite the country's opposition forces under one large umbrella organization, Daily Nation reported on Aug. 4.

Kenya: Former President Kenyatta Leads Opposition Talks Pressing for Broad Anti-Ruto Coalition

The Orange Democratic Movement party, or ODM, announced that it would form a technical committee with Kenya's ruling United Democratic Alliance party, or UDA, with ODM leader Oburu Odinga stating that the party would not field a presidential candidate of its own in Kenya's August 2027 general election and would instead support Kenyan President William Ruto's reelection bid, Daily Nation reported on Aug. 2.

Kenya: ODM Announces Plan for Joint Manifesto With Ruto's UDA

Japan's finance ministry confirmed on Aug. 3 that the U.S. and Japanese governments had coordinated on July 31 for Washington to buy Japanese yen to bolster the currency, the first such intervention since 1998.

Japan, U.S.: Governments Coordinate To Buy Yen for First Time Since 1998

Spain

A letter signed by 22 EU leaders on Aug. 1 criticized Spain's migration policies, blaming Madrid's regularization scheme as a pull factor and calling for stronger external borders and more effective returns, after tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on July 30, Reuters reported the same day.

Spain, EU: Spain and Schengen Under Pressure Following Ceuta Migrant Crisis

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

Snapshots

Cambodia

Thailand

A Thai soldier stands guard at a damaged border crossing point between Surin province's Chong Chom and O'Smach town on the Thai-Cambodian border, on March 12, 2026.

The Thai-Cambodian ceasefire will likely hold throughout 2026, but competing territorial claims, domestic politics and stalled diplomacy will prevent broader normalization.

Thailand and Cambodia Maintain an Uneasy Ceasefire

Assessments

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Sudan

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (C) on Oct. 26, 2023, looks on as members of the Ethiopian National Defense Force parade on Ethiopian Defense Force Day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The latest confrontation between the Ethiopian military and the Tigray Peoples' Liberation Front could signal more frequent clashes between the two sides that risk merging northern Ethiopia's conflicts with Sudan's civil war and could trigger a severe military escalation.

The latest confrontation between the Ethiopian military and the Tigray Peoples' Liberation Front could signal more frequent clashes between the two sides that risk merging northern Ethiopia's conflicts with Sudan's civil war and could trigger a severe military escalation.

Clashes Between the TPLF and Ethiopian Military Threaten Spiraling Violence in Tigray

Bangladesh

Garment workers sew clothes at a textile factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Dec. 29, 2024. 

The government's efforts to secure U.S. tariff exemptions and external financial aid will have only a modest impact without addressing the ready-made garment sector's energy shortages and other structural challenges.

The Outlook for Bangladesh's Garment Sector Under U.S. Tariffs

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (center) chats with U.S. senators before heading to a closed-door meeting at the U.S. Capitol on July 28, 2026. 

If enacted, the proposed bill would give Trump broad new authority to impose tariffs on major Russian oil buyers, but selective enforcement means it would unlikely compel Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

New U.S. Sanctions Bill Unlikely To Impact Russia's Oil Exports or War Strategy

Colombia

Venezuela

Israel

Lebanon

Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella (R) delivers a speech during a military parade commemorating Colombia's Independence Day in Medellin, Colombia, on July 20, 2026. 

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

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

The Weekly Rundown: Colombia's New President Takes Office, Brussels Gains AI Act Enforcement Powers

France

Firefighters spray water along the edge of a forest during a wildfire in southwestern France on July 25, 2026. 

While unlikely to be electorally decisive in either country, the crisis will heighten scrutiny of both governments' crisis management and elevate climate adaptation, emergency preparedness and civil protection as key national and EU policy priorities.

The Political and Security Impact of the Wildfires in France and Spain

Damaged structures are seen at the site of a U.S.-Saudi strike against Iran-backed militias in Bartalla, northern Iraq, on July 29, 2026. 

As the conflict picks back up, Trump must decide whether to offer Iran major concessions, which would alienate hawkish Republicans at home, or escalate military operations at the risk of reigniting a broader regional war.

Trump Once Again Weighs His Options Against Iran

Brunei Darussalam

Timor-Leste

Indonesia

Laos

Malaysia

Myanmar

Philippines

Singapore

Vietnam

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro (center) and other leaders leave after a group photo session on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila on July 24, 2026.

The meetings in Manila produced talks but no immediate collective action on critical regional issues like the Iran war's energy shock, intensifying South China Sea tensions and the Myanmar civil war.

ASEAN Meetings Make Little Headway on Pressing Energy and Security Issues

Iraq

U.S. President Donald Trump (right) speaks during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (2nd-L) in the Oval Office of the White House on July 14, 2026.

While the Iraqi prime minister's visit to the White House yielded some deals, implementation constraints will likely eventually lead to renewed U.S. economic pressure, further straining Baghdad's finances.

New U.S. Agreements Unlikely to Ease Iraq's Economic Woes

Chile

Chilean lawmakers in Congress celebrate at the end of the voting session on the economic reform bill on July 21, 2026.

Chile is poised to soon enact one of its broadest economic reform packages in decades, which will likely boost investor confidence and regulatory certainty, but at the expense of rising fiscal pressures.

What To Expect as Chile Prepares to Enact Sweeping Economic Reform Bill

Supporters of the far-right Vox party wave flags and shout slogans during a protest against Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid, on June 13, 2025.

Social Issues

Strict constitutional restrictions and EU institutional oversight would significantly constrain a future right-wing government's ability to implement sweeping institutional changes.

What the Far-Right Vox Entering Government Would Mean for Spain's Security and Society

Peru

United Kingdom

A couple rides past Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles displayed at Azadi Square in Tehran on July 24.

The Weekly Rundown: A Likely U.S. Escalation in Iran, Zelensky Travels to Washington

Politics

SITUATION REPORTS

Japan: White Paper Focused on China Threat, Defense Production and Economic Security

Iran, Oman: Strait of Hormuz Proposal Would Formalize Iran's Shipping Leverage

EU: Member States Move To Narrow 'Made in Europe' Rules in Industrial Accelerator Act

Ukraine, Russia: Energy Deficit Will Deepen Ukraine's Winter Vulnerability

Kenya: Former President Kenyatta Leads Opposition Talks Pressing for Broad Anti-Ruto Coalition

Kenya: ODM Announces Plan for Joint Manifesto With Ruto's UDA

Japan, U.S.: Governments Coordinate To Buy Yen for First Time Since 1998

Spain, EU: Spain and Schengen Under Pressure Following Ceuta Migrant Crisis

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