<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

Media

Graphics

A woman walks past graffiti that reads, "No war," on March 14, 2022, in Moscow, Russia. 

Military & Security

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Domestic support in Russia for its war in Ukraine may continue to fall in the coming months should setbacks and embarrassments continue. 

Russian War Support Ahead of Ukraine's Offensive 

Assessments

Democratic Republic of the Congo

United States

China

Taiwan

Greece

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C), Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (R) and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev hold talks Oct. 31, 2022, in Sochi, Russia.

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: Armenia's and Azerbaijan's Leaders Meet in Moscow, an APEC Summit in Detroit

U.S.-China Relations

Visitors wearing military camouflage stand at the entrance of the ''PMC Wagner Center,'' which is associated with the founder of the Wagner private military group (PMC), Yevgeny Prigozhin, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Nov. 4, 2022.

Wagner boss Prigozhin's public criticism of Putin's generals risks sowing divides within the Russian military and, over time, will likely contribute to the private contractor's reduced importance in the Ukraine war.

What the Escalating Wagner Feud Means for Russia's War in Ukraine -- And Beyond

Columns

On Geopolitics

Europe

Norway

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (3rd from right), Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store (4th from left) and members of their delegations meet in Oslo, Norway, on May 12, 2023. 

Environment, Science & Technology

As the Arctic Council leadership transfers from Russia to Norway, China is positioning itself to play a greater role in Arctic matters.

In the Arctic, Russia's Geopolitical Isolation Opens New Doors for China

Turkey

Japan

Thailand

Supporters of AKP and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 12, 2023, in Istanbul.

The Weekly Rundown: A G-7 Summit in Japan, Significant Elections in Turkey

South Africa

Brazil

India

An attendant stands next to South African, Indian, Russian, Brazilian and Chinese flags during a BRICS summit in Xiamen, China, on Sept. 4, 2017. 

Economics

Energy

The addition of other non-Western nations like Saudi Arabia would boost BRICS’ economic and political heft as an alternative to the G-7, though it may come at the cost of the bloc’s internal cohesion.

For BRICS, More Members Would Mean More Power -- and More Problems

Ukrainian soldiers take part in a military exercise in the Kharkiv region on May 1, 2023, amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. 

Kyiv's spring offensive will likely target the south, where even small gains could put Russian forces on the defensive and force Putin to mull more unpopular mobilization measures.

Ukraine's Counteroffensive Appears Imminent. Here's What To Watch For.

Chile

Saudi Arabia

South Korea

Russian soldiers march in Moscow on May 4, 2023, during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade on May 9.

The Weekly Rundown: Russia Marks Victory Day, Japan's Leader Visits South Korea

Snapshots

A photo taken on May 2, 2023, shows the new checkpoint set up by Azerbaijan at the entrance of the Lachin Corridor, the only land link connecting the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region to Armenia. 

A recent setback in budding Turkey-Armenia normalization could prompt Azerbaijan to more aggressively pursue its interests in Nagorno-Karabakh, raising the risk of a new conflict.

A Return to Icier Turkey-Armenia Ties Risks Emboldening Azerbaijan

People attend a rally in support of Uzbekistan's constitutional referendum on March 28, 2023, in the city of Jizzakh, located roughly 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of the capital Tashkent.

Social Issues

Despite including provisions to strengthen civil liberties, the amendments are more aimed at securing President Mirziyoyev's grip on power by enabling him to run for two more terms.

In Uzbekistan, a Constitutional Referendum Is Unlikely to Portend Liberalization

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan issued expressions of optimism about a peace treaty despite verbally sparing in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin about the future of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and regional transit corridors, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on May 25. 

Armenia, Azerbaijan: Leaders Mix Optimistic Talk With Open Argument in Moscow

South Korea will reportedly send hundreds of thousands of unitary artillery rounds to the United States, which will then send them to Ukraine, according to The Wall Street Journal on May 25.

South Korea: Seoul Reportedly to Send Munitions to Ukraine via U.S.

Hungary

The European Commission approved Hungary's request to amend contracts with Russia's state-owned Rosatom to allow for the construction of two new 1.2-gigawatt water-water energetic reactors (VVERs) at its Paks nuclear power plant, Reuters reported on May 25.

Hungary, Russia: Brussels Greenlights Hungary's Nuclear Expansion Contract With Russia

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev criticized the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union and appeared to caution against political integration between its members, The Moscow Times reported on May 25.

Kazakhstan: Tokayev Tries to Slow Eurasian Economic Union Integration, Avoid Western Sanctions

The head of the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, expressed pessimism regarding the trajectory of the Russia-Ukraine war under its current leaders, admitted that Wagner has suffered around 40,000 casualties in the battle for Ukraine's city of Bakhmut, and called for further waves of mobilization, Reuters reported on May 24.

Russia: Prigozhin Questions War Trajectory, Calls for More Mobilization

NATO leaders are preparing a plan based on U.S. and other countries' agreements with Israel that is intended to help guarantee Ukrainian security, and they expect to sign an agreement on the matter following a July NATO summit, The Wall Street Journal reported on May 22.

Ukraine, U.S.: Washington Seeks 'Israel-Style' Security Agreement for Ukraine in Lieu of NATO Membership

Ukraine now hopes to have U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets flying as early as the fall of 2023, following U.S. agreement to allow third countries to transfer the aircraft, The Washington Post reported on May 19.

Ukraine: Coalition Forms to Supply F-16s to Ukraine

The Russian Volunteer Corps and Free Russia Legion conducted a raid into the Belgorod region of Russia, temporarily occupying the border checkpoint Grayvoron and the village of Kozinka, the Moscow Times reported on May 22.

Russia, Ukraine: Anti-Putin Volunteer Groups Conduct Larger Raid Into Russia

Eurasia

SITUATION REPORTS

Armenia, Azerbaijan: Leaders Mix Optimistic Talk With Open Argument in Moscow

South Korea: Seoul Reportedly to Send Munitions to Ukraine via U.S.

Hungary, Russia: Brussels Greenlights Hungary's Nuclear Expansion Contract With Russia

Kazakhstan: Tokayev Tries to Slow Eurasian Economic Union Integration, Avoid Western Sanctions

Russia: Prigozhin Questions War Trajectory, Calls for More Mobilization

Ukraine, U.S.: Washington Seeks 'Israel-Style' Security Agreement for Ukraine in Lieu of NATO Membership

Ukraine: Coalition Forms to Supply F-16s to Ukraine

Russia, Ukraine: Anti-Putin Volunteer Groups Conduct Larger Raid Into Russia

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