United States

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Economics

Politics

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would soon lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, though he did not mention specific demands Syria had met to earn such sanctions relief, Al Jazeera reported on May 13.

U.S., Syria: Trump Says U.S. Will Lift Sanctions on Syria

The White House announced that Saudi Arabia committed to investing $600 billion in the United States and signed other deals to expand trade and economic cooperation, especially in key areas such as artificial intelligence, transformative technologies and the U.S. healthcare sector, Reuters reported on May 13. 

U.S., Saudi Arabia: Governments Ink Deals, Investment Commitments on Trump Visit 

China

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

The U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security announced on May 13 that it had initiated a rescission of the Biden-era AI Diffusion Rule, which set export quotas on the number of AI chips exported to certain countries, and would issue a replacement rule in the future. 

U.S.: Washington Announces Rescission of AI Diffusion Rule as Nvidia Seals Humain Deal

Niger

Russia

Military & Security

A mutiny broke out at a Nigerien military garrison based in Termit, a remote desert area in northeastern Niger, after hundreds of angry soldiers denounced chronic malnutrition, lack of adequate equipment, and delays in the payment of salaries and bonuses, citing the deterioration of their living conditions, Radio France Internationale reported on May 13.

Niger: Soldiers Mutiny in Northeastern Termit Camp, U.S Ambassador Presents Credentials to Junta Leader

South Africa

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration welcomed 59 white South Africans to the United States as part of its resettlement program for South Africa's Afrikaner community, Reuters reported on May 13. 

South Africa, U.S.: Trump Administration Welcomes First Afrikaners Under Resettlement Program 

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a new delegation to Doha, Qatar, to restart stalled hostage negotiations with Hamas after the Palestinian militant group released Israeli-American Edan Alexander on May 12, The Times of Israel reported on May 13. 

Israel, Gaza: Hostage Negotiations Resume Under U.S. Pressure

Mexico

The United States announced a 15-day suspension of Mexican live cattle, horses and bison imports through the southern U.S. border over New World screwworm pest concerns, La Jornada reported May 11.

U.S., Mexico: U.S. Import Suspension of Mexican Livestock Illustrates Washington's Volatile Policy Decisions

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the launch of Humain, an artificial intelligence company owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, that will work on developing various AI models and applications, including large language models in Arabic, data centers and cloud computing infrastructure, Okaz reported on May 12.

Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Launches Humain AI Company Ahead of Trump Visit

Snapshots

Containers are seen at China's Lianyungang port in eastern Jiangsu province on May 1, 2025. 

Global Trade

U.S.-China Relations

Although the U.S.-China trade deal will bring short-term economic relief, negotiations over a broader agreement will remain fraught, particularly since the rapid reduction of U.S. tariffs will embolden China to implement strong retaliation when talks falter.

Despite Tariff Reprieve, a Broader U.S.-China Deal Will Remain Elusive

Assessments

Ukraine

This combination of pictures shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) during a press conference in Berlin on June 11, 2024, and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Moscow on March 18, 2025.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

While direct talks mark a notable development in the peace process, Moscow will not make meaningful concessions unless it faces bolder action from the West (particularly the U.S.), like asset seizures and increased military aid to Ukraine.

Russia Agrees To Hold Talks With Ukraine Amid U.S. Pressure, but Peace Will Remain Elusive

Columns

On Geopolitics

Iran

Iraq

Yemen

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B aircraft over the North Sea having taken off from RAF Fairford on July 1, 2016 in Gloucestershire, England. The tactic designed to allow intervention without deepening withdrawalism will instead do the opposite, and Washington will face more and more calls to retrench from the Middle East.

The tactic designed to allow intervention without deepening withdrawalism will instead do the opposite, and Washington will face more and more calls to retrench from the Middle East.

Washington Bumps up Against the Limits of Airpower in the Middle East

United Kingdom

U.S. President Donald Trump -- flanked by Vice President JD Vance (left) and Peter Mandelson, the U.K. ambassador to the United States (right) -- holds a phone call with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office of the White House on May 8, 2025. 

The agreement's narrow scope and quota system suggest the White House remains intent on restricting imports, meaning tariff relief for most other countries reaching deals will also be limited.

Trump Reaches First Post-Tariff Trade Deal With the U.K.

Tracking U.S. Naval Power

This map shows the approximate locations of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups and Amphibious Ready Groups.

U.S. Naval Update Map: May 8, 2025

The allure of implementing a sphere of influence model is more likely to disappoint those who may argue that it would create more stability and security.

The Temptations of a Sphere-of-Influence Model of International Relations

Kazakhstan

The OPEC logo is seen outside the bloc's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on Oct. 4, 2022.

Energy

The production boost will further decrease oil prices, which will provide some financial relief for oil-consuming countries affected by U.S. tariffs, while further straining the budgets of poorer oil producers like Iraq. 

The Mixed Economic Impact of OPEC's Production Increase

Drag-line excavator mines rare earth materials on Ukrainian soil on Feb. 25, 2025, in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine. 

A new U.S.-Ukraine economic deal offers Washington a long-term stake in Ukraine's critical resources -- and a potential lever in ceasefire diplomacy.

New Strategic Pact Gives U.S. Stake in Ukraine's Economic Future

U.S. Naval Update Map: May 1, 2025

A woman walks by anti-U.S. murals on the walls of the former U.S. embassy in downtown Tehran, Iran, on April 11, 2025. 

U.S.-Iran Relations

The U.S. will likely have to allow some Iranian uranium enrichment to ink a nuclear deal, likely resulting in Saudi Arabia seeking similar provisions for its own civilian nuclear program.

With Iran and Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Faces a Uranium Enrichment Dilemma

Canada

Europe

Italy

India

Pakistan

Indian soldiers stand guard atop their vehicle in Srinagar, India, on April 23, 2025, following a deadly militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Escalating Pakistan-India Tensions, Canadian Elections and Pope Francis' Funeral

A digital illustration of the Chinese and EU flags.

Transatlantic trade tensions have created a window for tactical EU-China engagement, but structural constraints and unresolved disputes limit prospects for meaningful realignment.

Budding EU-China Rapprochement Amid U.S. Tariffs Will Have Its Limits

The United States encompasses territory spanning from the Arctic Circle and Central Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico and the North Atlantic.    The Greater Mississippi Basin is the United States' core and serves as the underpinning of its role as a global superpower.    The basin hosts an extensive network of navigable rivers that overlay the world's largest contiguous piece of arable land. This naturally interconnected river system facilitated integration among settlers and allowed for cheap transport of goods, providing the United States with the ability to feed itself efficiently and rapidly build up industry and capital to expand west. The Midwestern core gave early America strategic depth, while an expanding U.S. coastline, naturally indented with deep harbors, provided its opening to the world.    After reaching the Pacific coast in the mid-19th century, the United States found itself insulated by two oceans. On the continent itself, geography again has worked in the country's favor: lakes to the north and deserts to the south insulate the United States' population centers, with both Canada and Mexico facing too many natural constraints of their own to seriously rival it.    This unparalleled level of wealth and protection gives the United States options that few to no countries can claim. For one, the United States has used its wealth and security to build up the world's largest navy. Control of the world's major sea-lanes gives the United States the power to facilitate or deny trade to allies or rivals of the day. The onus therefore is on the United States to carefully manage its engagements abroad and build up strategic allies to protect its overseas interests and preserve its strength at home. 

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S., Syria: Trump Says U.S. Will Lift Sanctions on Syria

U.S., Saudi Arabia: Governments Ink Deals, Investment Commitments on Trump Visit

U.S.: Washington Announces Rescission of AI Diffusion Rule as Nvidia Seals Humain Deal

Niger: Soldiers Mutiny in Northeastern Termit Camp, U.S Ambassador Presents Credentials to Junta Leader

South Africa, U.S.: Trump Administration Welcomes First Afrikaners Under Resettlement Program

Israel, Gaza: Hostage Negotiations Resume Under U.S. Pressure

U.S., Mexico: U.S. Import Suspension of Mexican Livestock Illustrates Washington's Volatile Policy Decisions

Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Launches Humain AI Company Ahead of Trump Visit

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