<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. 

South Asia

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

The India-Pakistan Rivalry

The Politics of Pipelines

Banking

Crossing Borders

Globalization

Social Issues

The Pulse of Political Islam

Instability in Central Asia

South Asian Militancy

India's Own Worst Enemy

Pakistan: A Military With a Country

Assessments

Then-Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrives for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on July 5, 2019.

Military & Security

Politics

The former leader's pledged return from exile risks triggering violent unrest and would likely do little to bolster her party's near-term political prospects, but it could eventually help ease tensions with India.

What Sheikh Hasina's Return Would Mean for Bangladesh's Political Future

United States

The U.S. and Indian flags adorn the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 20, 2023.

Economics

While the ban could prompt the U.S. to lower its proposed Section 301 tariff on India from 12.5% to 10%, unresolved concerns over manufacturing overcapacity will sustain the risk of broader, sector-specific tariffs.

India Imposes Forced Labor Import Ban to Reduce U.S. Tariff Exposure

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

A thermometer reading a high temperature is shown over an image of Earth.

Environment, Science & Technology

The compounding effects of the weather event and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are set to drive global inflation and strain agricultural output well into next year.


How the 2026 El Nino Climate Event Will Affect the Global Economy and Security

Middle East and North Africa

Europe

Eurasia

Cyber

Energy

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

A fragile truce in the Middle East, persistent energy-driven inflation, shifting U.S. trade policy and escalating regional pressures from Europe to Africa will collectively shape geopolitical risk in the third quarter.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Canada

Mexico

Iran

Japan

United Kingdom

Cargo ships June 19 off the coast of the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal in Sharjah emirate, along the Gulf of Oman.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Japan's Takaichi Goes to India, an Unsteady U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

U.S.-Iran Relations

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke (center) participates in a protest in Amritsar, India, on June 13, 2026.

While the Cockroach Janta Party has so far struggled to convert its online popularity into large street protests, worsening economic grievances among India's youth could catalyze the movement's growth.

Can India's Viral 'Cockroach' Party Mobilize a Gen Z Uprising?

View of the river in the mountains of northern Pakistan.

Reduced coordination on river data and forecasting will increase uncertainty in water management, while the potential expansion of Indian upstream infrastructure could portend faster, more unstable crises with Pakistan.

What To Expect if India Starts Halting Indus Water Flows to Pakistan

Snapshots

Australia

China

Fiji

(From left to right) Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference after their Quad meeting in New Delhi on May 26, 2026.

The meeting proved the grouping is still functional, but it faces strong constraints in turning ambitious coordination frameworks into functional maritime, infrastructure, critical minerals and energy initiatives that blunt Chinese regional influence.

Takeaways From Quad Summit: New Initiatives, Enduring Constraints and Future Uncertainty

Israel

Lebanon

Philippines

Armenia

Kazakhstan

Russia

A cargo ship anchored May 16 in the Strait of Hormuz near Larak Island, Iran. Major gaps in negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program persist, and the U.S.-Iran ceasefire will remain fragile over the next week.

The Weekly Rundown: Rubio Visits India, a Fragile U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Afghan protesters burn a Pakistani flag during a demonstration in Helmand Province in 2016.

Gains from the Afghan Taliban's growing regional ties will be hindered by enduring disputes, logistical constraints, infrastructure security risks, and Pakistan's possible absence from future multilateral engagements.

How the Afghan-Pakistani Conflict Is Redrawing Regional Relations

Addressing a parliamentary meeting of lawmakers from the country's ruling coalition, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a "foolproof" public examination system and said authorities have taken "strict steps" to prevent future exam leaks, according to the parliamentary affairs minister, The Indian Express reported on July 21.

India: Modi Calls for Testing System Reform as Protesters Pledge Further Demonstrations

Thousands of protesters linked to the Cockroach Janta Party youth group marched to India's Parliament on July 20, the opening day of its monsoon session, to demand the education minister's resignation over recent controversies surrounding school exams and to press authorities on other youth grievances, AP reported on July 20.

India: Thousands of Young 'Cockroach' Protesters March to Parliament, Drawing Crackdown

Pakistan's state minister for interior said authorities have bolstered security for the Saindak Copper-Gold Project, Pakistan's largest Chinese-operated copper and gold mine, after Saindak Metals Ltd. expressed concerns with local security conditions in the restive Balochistan province, Reuters reported on July 15.

Pakistan: Authorities Bolster Security for Mining Project Amid Security Concerns

India and the United Kingdom's Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement took effect on July 15 and eliminated British tariffs on 99% of Indian exports, benefiting sectors such as processed foods, marine products, engineering goods, textiles, leather, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and gems and jewelry, Reuters reported the same day.

India, U.K.: Trade Deal Takes Effect

New Zealand

During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Auckland, New Zealand, the two countries agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and establish a comprehensive "Roadmap to 2030" encompassing cooperation across defense, maritime security, trade, agriculture, disaster management, tourism, sports, culture and science, The Hindu reported on July 12.

India, New Zealand: Governments Elevate Ties

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has remained exiled in India since her August 2024 popular ouster, plans to return to Bangladesh in December alongside colleagues from her Awami League party to surrender, Reuters reported on July 10.

Bangladesh: Hasina To Return Home Alongside Party Colleagues in December

During a visit to Melbourne, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured an agreement under which Australia will sell uranium to India for civilian power generation, Bloomberg reported on July 9. 

India, Australia: Australia Signs Uranium Export Agreement With India

Indonesia

India and Indonesia advanced defense ties as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta and signed agreements for Indonesia to acquire BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Bloomberg reported on July 7. 

India, Indonesia: Governments Deepen Defense and Economic Cooperation

South Asia

SITUATION REPORTS

India: Modi Calls for Testing System Reform as Protesters Pledge Further Demonstrations

India: Thousands of Young 'Cockroach' Protesters March to Parliament, Drawing Crackdown

Pakistan: Authorities Bolster Security for Mining Project Amid Security Concerns

India, U.K.: Trade Deal Takes Effect

India, New Zealand: Governments Elevate Ties

Bangladesh: Hasina To Return Home Alongside Party Colleagues in December

India, Australia: Australia Signs Uranium Export Agreement With India

India, Indonesia: Governments Deepen Defense and Economic Cooperation

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support