Niger

Iran

France

Russia

Economics

France's state-owned uranium miner Orano said Nigerien authorities had taken over the operations of its Somair mine, Le Monde reported on Dec. 4.

Niger: France's Orano Lost Operational Control of Somair Mine

The Russian ruble reached nearly 115 rubles per dollar, its lowest level since March 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported Nov. 27.

Russia: Ruble Exchange Rate Hits Lowest Point Since March 2022

China

Europe

Military & Security

European investigators now believe that a Chinese commercial vessel, the Yi Peng bulk carrier, purposely dragged its anchor for more than 100 miles to deliberately sever two underwater sea cables in the Baltic Sea, The Wall Street Journal reported Nov. 27.

Europe: Investigators Suspect Chinese Vessel of Intentional Sabotage of Sea Cables

Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Russian forces seized almost 235 square kilometers in Ukraine over the past week, setting a weekly record for territory captured in 2024, Agenstvo reported Nov. 26.

Ukraine: Russian Forces Continue Advances in the Southeast

Yemen

Russia recruited hundreds of Yemeni men, some involuntarily, to fight on the front lines in Ukraine as Moscow searches for new manpower in an attempt to avoid another major military mobilization, the Financial Times reported on Nov. 23.

Russia, Yemen: Deeper Russia-Houthi Ties May Lead to Weapons Transfers

Russia struck a facility in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro using what Russian President Vladimir Putin said was a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile, or IRBM, named Oreshnik allegedly in response to aggressive actions of NATO countries against Russia, Reuters reported on Nov. 21. 

Russia, Ukraine: Russia Strikes Ukrainian City Using New Missile

United States

The United States imposed sanctions on Gazprombank, one of the few major Russian banks not already blacklisted by Washington over Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Nov. 21. 

Russia, U.S.: Washington Sanctions Gazprombank and Subsidiaries

Vladimir Putin is open to peace talks in Ukraine mediated by Donald Trump, provided they exclude significant Russian territorial concessions and require Kyiv to abandon NATO aspirations in favor of neutrality, Reuters reported Nov. 20, citing five sources close to the Kremlin. 

Russia, Ukraine: Kremlin Sources Say Putin to Demand Limits on Ukrainian Security 

Assessments

Namibia

Tanzania

Uruguay

Kazakhstan

The NATO symbol and flags of some member countries Oct. 18 in Brussels. The NATO-Ukraine Council will meet Nov. 26 to discuss Russia's first use of an experimental ballistic missile on Ukrainian territory, which on Nov. 21 Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed involved a new medium-range, hypersonic ballistic missile known as "Oreshnik."

Energy

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: A NATO-Ukraine Summit, Putin's State Visit to Kazakhstan

Columns

On Geopolitics

People walk by destroyed houses in Pokrovsk, Ukraine, on Nov. 16, 2024.

Trump's victory has accelerated the timeline for an end to the war, though it also appears likely a cease-fire will happen on Russia's terms and may not lead to sustainable peace.

The Growing Prospect of a Cease-Fire in Ukraine

Snapshots

Austria

A view of the Gas Connect Austria natural gas distribution hub stand at Baumgarten an der March, Austria, on Nov. 16, 2024.

A muted market reaction to disrupted gas supply in Austria signals Europe's preparedness for a likely cut-off of Russian gas in the coming months.

Markets Shrug Off Russia's Gas Cut-Off to Austria

United Kingdom

Debris lies in the courtyard of a damaged house following a missile attack at an undisclosed location in Ukraine's Odesa region on Nov. 17, 2024.

The U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia with ATACMS missiles signals a policy shift but is unlikely to change the war's trajectory.

U.S. Greenlights Limited Ukrainian Strikes Inside Russia with Long-Range Missiles

Senegal

Brazil

Israel

A G-20 summit banner on Nov. 12 at City Hall in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will host G-20 leaders Nov. 18-19 in Rio de Janeiro, where he will try to secure support for three main proposals.

The Weekly Rundown: Brazil Hosts the G-20, Constitutional Crisis Looms in Israel

North Korea

On April 16, 2024, 155mm caliber shells are shown after manufacturing, ready for shipment at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant (SCAAP) in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Trump's return to the White House and North Korean support for Russia have shifted the conflict's dynamics, likely portending a further weakened position for Kyiv.

Bracing for a Protracted War in Ukraine: The Narrowing Path to a Ukrainian Victory

3D illustration of two folders and a rubber stamp with the word "declassified" printed on a document.

Cyber

The outgoing U.S. Biden administration's liberal use of "intelligence diplomacy" as a tool of foreign policy raises questions about how the incoming Trump administration will take up the torch.

Declassified: The Future of U.S. 'Intelligence Diplomacy'

Russia and Ukraine flags on a cracked wall with the silhouettes of soldiers.

Global Elections

With likely reduced U.S. support, Russia may push for more territory and pressure Kyiv to negotiate as Moscow welcomes Trump's victory.

How the U.S. Election Will Impact the War in Ukraine

Mexico

Former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election event in the early hours of Nov. 6, 2024.

Environment, Science & Technology

Israel-Hamas Conflict

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Science & Technology

Trump will place more tariffs on U.S. trade partners and reduce support for Ukraine, but he will largely maintain Biden's approach to the U.S. tech rivalry with China and the Middle East conflict.

Trump's Win Will Ripple Across the World

Germany

Denmark

Sweden

Norway

The Hywind Tampen floating offshore wind farm, situated between energy company Equinor's oil and gas fields Snorre and Gullfaks in the Norwegian North Sea off the coast of Bergen.

The likelihood of Russian attacks targeting Europe's offshore energy infrastructure is increasing, but Moscow is likely to avoid actions that could cause major disruptions.

Russia's Increasingly Aggressive Sabotage Threatens Europe's Offshore Energy Network

Azerbaijan

A natural gas compressor station is pictured on the grounds of the Baltic Sea gas pipeline prior to its opening ceremony in Budno near Goleniow, Poland. 

Despite strong interest in a deal from all parties, constraints may sink negotiations on further Russian gas transit through Ukraine. 

Ukraine Seeks Gas Transit Agreement With Azerbaijan as Gazprom Deal Nears Expiry

Moldova

An illustration of Russian and Moldovan flags.

The near rejection of the vote on EU membership reflects the continued strength of pro-Russian political forces ahead of the country's 2025 parliamentary election.

The Close Results of Moldova's Referendum Raise Fears of a Pro-Russian Government

<p>Despite being the largest country in the world by area, the Russian Federation occupies territory that is indefensible and unforgiving. The core of Russia, running from the Volga grain belts up through Moscow proper to the Baltic Sea, lacks any natural features to fortify it from attack. This is why the country has traditionally anchored its territory to major geographic barriers far from its core in an attempt to keep foreign powers distant. As a result, Russia has inevitably had to reach east across the frozen tundra of Siberia to the Pacific Ocean, southeast to the Tien Shen mountains of Central Asia, south to the Caucasus Mountains bordering Iran and Turkey, and finally west to the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe. But, there is one major hole in this geographic expanse: The Northern European plane. The Northern European plane is a gap between the Carpathian Mountains and the Baltic sea which, at its narrowest, is 480 kilometers (300 miles) across. This narrow point, referred to as the Polish funnel, lies just West of Warsaw and reaches down Krakow in the south. Russia has faced three major attackers along this axis; Napoleon, Wilhelm II, and Hitler. Most recently, the expansion of NATO and the European Union into Central and Eastern Europe has raised Russian hackles. Moscow would much prefer to control the lands between Russia and the Polish funnel &mdash; pushing as far west as possible &mdash; knowing full well that once an attacker has passed that narrow chokepoint, it is an open march to Russia&#39;s heartland. For this reason, Moscow seeks to occupy or influence its borderlands, or at the very least, maintain their neutrality. Looking beyond its indefensible borders and largely hollow interior, Russia boasts a diverse population of 144,463,450 people and a powerful military. These armed forces, backed by an autocratic political system, help protect the country&#39;s unwieldy land mass. Russia&#39;s economy is inherently fragile and highly dependent on commodity exports ranging from grain to energy. The country is traditionally at its most powerful when a strong, heavy-handed leader is in charge, such as current Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite this, though, the Kremlin must continually deal with internal political divisions, rising ethnic tensions and regional dissidence.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

Niger: France's Orano Lost Operational Control of Somair Mine

Russia: Ruble Exchange Rate Hits Lowest Point Since March 2022

Europe: Investigators Suspect Chinese Vessel of Intentional Sabotage of Sea Cables

Ukraine: Russian Forces Continue Advances in the Southeast

Russia, Yemen: Deeper Russia-Houthi Ties May Lead to Weapons Transfers

Russia, Ukraine: Russia Strikes Ukrainian City Using New Missile

Russia, U.S.: Washington Sanctions Gazprombank and Subsidiaries

Russia, Ukraine: Kremlin Sources Say Putin to Demand Limits on Ukrainian Security

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