<p>Eurasia is the world&rsquo;s most expansive region. It connects the East to the West, forming a land bridge that borders Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and South Asia. Forming the borders of this massive tract of land are the Northern European Plain, the Carpathian Mountains, the Southern Caucasus Mountains, the Tien Shan Mountains and Siberia. At the heart of Eurasia is Russia, a country that throughout history has tried, to varying degrees of success, to extend its influence to Eurasia&rsquo;s farthest reaches &mdash; a strategy meant to insulate it from outside powers. But this strategy necessarily creates conflict throughout Russia&rsquo;s borderlands, putting Eurasia a near constant state of instability.</p>

Eurasia connects the East to the West, forming a land bridge that borders Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and South Asia. 

Eurasia

Armenia

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Ukraine

Uzbekistan

Azerbaijan

Georgia

Belarus

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Russia

Moldova

The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

Cyber

The Ukraine Conflict

The Politics of Pipelines

The New Silk Road

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

A Crude Recovery

The Second Space Race

Echoes of the Cold War

Russia's Internal Struggle

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

Moscow Looks to the East

Instability in Central Asia

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Brazil

Chile

United States

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Politics

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

The Weekly Rundown: Putin Goes to China, New U.S. Tariffs on China

U.S.-China Relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (left), surrounded by their respective delegations, hold a meeting in Beijing, China, on Oct. 18, 2023. 

Economics

Energy

Military & Security

The Russian president will likely push for greater trade, military and energy cooperation, but a breakthrough is unlikely unless it happens on China's terms.

What To Expect During Putin's Trip to China

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on Dec. 15, 2023, in in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Democratic backsliding will likely complicate government efforts to attract Western investment, but could portend improved relations with neighbors and Russia and China.

Gauging the Implications of Kyrgyzstan's Democratic Backsliding

Chad

Panama

France

Serbia

Hungary

Panamanian presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino on May 1, 2024, in Panama City. Panamanians will vote May 5 to select their next president and all 71 members of the National Assembly.

The Weekly Rundown: Panama Holds General Elections, Xi Visits Europe

Snapshots

Europe

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) reservoirs are seen at the Yamal LNG plant in the port of Sabetta, located on the Yamal Peninsula in northwest Siberia, Russia.

The restrictions would further complicate Russia's efforts to increase LNG production, while having only a limited impact on the EU's natural gas supplies.

The Implications of the EU's Proposed Sanctions on Russian LNG

People hold Moldovan national flags as they gather outside the presidential palace in Chisinau on Dec. 14, 2023, to celebrate the European Council's decision to open accession talks with Moldova.

In the lead-up to the October presidential election and referendum on Moldova's EU integration, Moscow and its Moldovan political allies will step up their efforts to destabilize the country's pro-European government.

In Moldova, Two Key Votes Portend More Pro-Russian Political Agitation

Guests attend a naming ceremony for the Valentin Pikul black class tanker of Russia's Rosneft oil company on Sept. 11, 2023, in Bolshoi Kamen, outside of Vladivostok, Russia. 

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Russia's current economic challenges are unlikely to prompt Moscow to de-escalate in Ukraine this year or next, though a drop in oil revenues may eventually combine with other factors to change its calculations in the long term.

Reassessing Russia's Ability To Finance Its War in Ukraine

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko gives a speech during his annual address to the Belarusian People and the National Assembly in Minsk on Jan. 28, 2022.

The upcoming All-Belarusian People's Assembly is poised to deepen Belarus' ties with Russia while also laying the groundwork for President Lukashenko's eventual succession process.

In Belarus, a Congress Will Lock in Integration With Russia -- and Lukashenko's Legacy

Media

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

South Asia

Forecast Webcast

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Israel-Hamas Conflict

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Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2024 Second-Quarter Geopolitical Forecast.

2024 Second-Quarter Geopolitical Forecast Webcast

U.S.-Iran Relations

First-year cadets of the Military Institute of the Taras Shevchenko National University take their oaths on Sept. 8, 2023, in Kyiv, Ukraine.

While the law will bolster Kyiv's ability to continue resisting Russia's invasion, it carries political risks and will not let Ukraine deal a decisive blow against Russia.

What Ukraine's Mobilization Law Will Mean for the War With Russia

Russian troops attacked two locations in Ukraine's Kharkiv region and gained a foothold in a number of Ukrainian settlements along the Russia-Ukraine border, Reuters reported on May 10.

Ukraine, Russia: Russia Opens New Front With Attacks in Kharkiv Region

A Ukrainian drone attacked an oil refinery in Russia's republic of Bashkortostan, which is located around 1,500 kilometers (about 932 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border, The Moscow Times reported on May 9. 

Ukraine, Russia: Ukraine Attacks Russian Refinery in Bashkortostan in Farthest Strike Yet

Belgium

The European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union's lending arm, announced changes to its lending criteria to allow for more direct investment into the defense sector, Euractiv reported May 9.

EU, Ukraine: EIB to Expand Financing on Defense, EU to Use Profits From Russian Funds for Ukraine

Vladimir Putin was inaugurated for a fifth term as Russia's president at a ceremony at the Kremlin that was boycotted by the United States and only attended by six of 27 EU member states (France, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Malta and Cyprus), Reuters reported on May 7. 

Russia: Putin Inaugurated for Fifth Term as Opposition Calls His Election Illegitimate

Russian authorities arrested a U.S. service member on theft charges in Vladivostok in Russia's Far East, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on May 7.

Russia, U.S.: Russia Arrests American on Theft Charges

U.S. government agencies indicted and sanctioned Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, a 31-year-old Russian national, for his role as the administrator and developer of LockBit, one of the most prolific global ransomware groups in the world, Reuters reported on May 7.

U.S.: Government Indicts Prolific LockBit Ransomware Group Leader

Russia's Defense Ministry announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorized exercises in order to increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to carry out combat missions, AP reported May 6.

Russia, Ukraine: Russia To Conduct Non-Strategic Nuclear Exercises in Response to Western Statements

Eritrea

Cuba

Nicaragua

Venezuela

Egypt

Iran

Saudi Arabia

Turkey

Norway

Reporters Without Borders published its 2024 World Press Freedom Index, indicating that suppression of journalists and political attacks on the press have "significantly intensified" in the last year, The Guardian reported on May 3.

Global: Press Freedom Declines Amid Pivotal Elections Around the World

Eurasia

SITUATION REPORTS

Ukraine, Russia: Russia Opens New Front With Attacks in Kharkiv Region

Ukraine, Russia: Ukraine Attacks Russian Refinery in Bashkortostan in Farthest Strike Yet

EU, Ukraine: EIB to Expand Financing on Defense, EU to Use Profits From Russian Funds for Ukraine

Russia: Putin Inaugurated for Fifth Term as Opposition Calls His Election Illegitimate

Russia, U.S.: Russia Arrests American on Theft Charges

U.S.: Government Indicts Prolific LockBit Ransomware Group Leader

Russia, Ukraine: Russia To Conduct Non-Strategic Nuclear Exercises in Response to Western Statements

Global: Press Freedom Declines Amid Pivotal Elections Around the World

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