<p>Everything that informs geopolitics can be found in South Asia: challenging demographics, geographic diversity, and contentious, ill-defined borders. The Himalayan Mountains form the northern border of South Asia, whose two main rivers, the Indus and the Ganges, support the region&rsquo;s great population centers. India is the region&rsquo;s dominant country, home to the world&rsquo;s fastest growing economy. But its rivalry with neighboring Pakistan, a fellow nuclear power and growing consumer market, has made South Asia one of the world&rsquo;s most dangerous nuclear flashpoints. The region is also a testament to how militancy and militarism can undermine the regional integration needed to unleash higher economic growth.</p>

Everything that informs geopolitics can be found in South Asia: challenging demographics, geographic diversity, and contentious, ill-defined borders. 

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Cargo containers painted with Chinese and U.S. flags. Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025.

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Trade disruptions, shifting military conflicts and domestic political turbulence will shape global affairs in 2025.

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When can we expect elections in Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasina's resignation?

Essential Geopolitics: The Future of Bangladeshi Politics

Chart of stock market investment trading on blue background.

Economic coercion is becoming more prevalent in international politics, with certain countries leveraging their economic power to pursue political goals. 

Economic Power in International Politics

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U.S. President Joe Biden and President Joao Lourenco of Angola on Nov. 30, 2023, at the White House. Biden on Dec. 2-4 will visit Angola, where he will focus on the Lobito Corridor project that aims to refurbish and expand railways connecting critical mineral-rich regions in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo with the Angolan port of Lobito.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Biden Visits Angola, von der Leyen's Second Term

The Geopolitics of Water

Depleted groundwater reserves threaten India's agriculture, energy and manufacturing sectors, potentially sparking unrest and inter-state disputes in the absence of a coordinated national policy.

The Geopolitics of Water: India's Groundwater Crisis

Iran

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) arrive for a joint press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 25, 2020.

While U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will maintain many of the outgoing Biden administration's overarching policies toward South Asia, bilateral relationships will grow increasingly transactional.

What Trump's Second Term Means for South Asia

A session is held in Sri Lanka's Parliament in Colombo on Aug. 20, 2020. 

The ballot could bolster the new president's ability to enact his socialist agenda, though it may also yield a hung parliament that leads to more government instability.

Previewing Sri Lanka's Parliamentary Elections

Global Elections

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A ballot is cast in front of the Japanese flag. On Nov. 11, the country will select a prime minister and convene an extraordinary session of its bicameral Diet.

The Weekly Rundown: Japan Selects a Prime Minister, Trump's Shadow Looms Over COP29

Indian soldiers walk along a road near the Zojila mountain pass that connects to Ladakh, bordering China, on Feb. 28, 2021. 

While their recent efforts to ease bilateral tensions will probably reduce the risk of border clashes, deep-seated mistrust between the two strategic rivals will very likely limit the scope of any reconciliation. 

After a Tense Few Years, India and China Try To Turn Down the Heat

Pakistan's president administers the oath of office to Justice Yahya Afridi as Afridi is sworn in as chief justice in Islamabad on Oct. 26, 2024.

The reform will allow the government to appoint Supreme Court justices who support its agenda, weakening judicial independence while likely fueling political tensions and protests.

The Implications of Pakistan's Controversial Judicial Reform

The United States, United Kingdom and European Union criticized Pakistan for trying 25 civilians in military courts following attacks on military facilities in 2023 after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, AP reported on Dec. 24.

Pakistan: U.S., U.K. and EU Raise Concerns Over Pakistan's Military Court Sentencing of Civilians

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan announced plans to urge overseas Pakistanis -- one of his key support bases -- to halt remittances unless the government fulfills his party's demands by Dec. 22, Arab News reported on Dec. 19.

Pakistan: Remittances May Decline if Opposition Demands Remain Unmet by Dec. 22

The United States announced new sanctions on Dec. 18 targeting Pakistan's long-range ballistic missile program, including the state-owned National Development Complex that oversees the program, AP reported on Dec. 19.

Pakistan: U.S. Sanctions Pakistan's Missile Program Amid Weapons Proliferation Concerns

A contentious bill introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to reform India's voting system failed to gain the two-thirds majority necessary to pass in the lower house of Parliament, AP reported on Dec. 17.

India: Lower House Rejects Proposal To Implement Simultaneous Elections

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India, marking his first overseas visit since taking office in September, AP reported on Dec. 16.

India, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's Dissanayake Makes First Overseas Visit to India

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Pakistan's Islamist Jamiat Ulema Islam party, called on the government to implement the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024, which would reduce federal control over the registration of seminaries, Al Jazeera reported on Dec. 13. 

Pakistan: Government Faces Political Standoff Over Seminary Registration Bill

Russia

Russia's state-owned oil company Rosneft agreed to supply some 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day for 10 years to private Indian refiner Reliance, a deal worth around $13 billion a year based on current prices, Reuters reported on Dec. 12.

India, Russia: Countries Reach Largest Energy Deal Yet

Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Mohammad Jashim Uddin and India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to discuss strained bilateral relations, AP reported on Dec. 9.

India, Bangladesh: Governments Discuss Recent Tensions

South Asia

SITUATION REPORTS

Pakistan: U.S., U.K. and EU Raise Concerns Over Pakistan's Military Court Sentencing of Civilians

Pakistan: Remittances May Decline if Opposition Demands Remain Unmet by Dec. 22

Pakistan: U.S. Sanctions Pakistan's Missile Program Amid Weapons Proliferation Concerns

India: Lower House Rejects Proposal To Implement Simultaneous Elections

India, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka's Dissanayake Makes First Overseas Visit to India

Pakistan: Government Faces Political Standoff Over Seminary Registration Bill

India, Russia: Countries Reach Largest Energy Deal Yet

India, Bangladesh: Governments Discuss Recent Tensions

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