<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

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Maldives

Nepal

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The India-Pakistan Rivalry

The Politics of Pipelines

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The Pulse of Political Islam

Instability in Central Asia

South Asian Militancy

India's Own Worst Enemy

Pakistan: A Military With a Country

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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

United States

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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

Supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrate with the party flags in Kolkata, India, following state elections in West Bengal.

The ruling party's expanding control across state governments will likely gradually strengthen its position in Parliament and accelerate the implementation of citizenship and labor policies.

In India, the BJP's State Election Wins Set the Stage for National Reform

An oil products tanker at Muscat Anchorage on March 21, 2026 at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.K. Elections, Iran War Resumption Risk

An oil tanker is seen docked in the southeastern Iranian coastal city of Chabahar, on the Gulf of Oman, in February 2019.

Chabahar is poised to transition from an ambitious commercial venture to a symbolic strategic asset, as India seeks to maintain long-term access and regional influence until sanctions conditions become clearer.

Expired U.S. Sanctions Waiver Threatens India's Chabahar Port Project in Iran

An International Monetary Fund team visited Colombo from June 24 to 30 to assess recent macroeconomic developments and progress on economic reforms under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, News First reported on June 30.

Sri Lanka: IMF Completes Visit to Country

Seychelles

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a three-day visit to the Seychelles on June 29, during which the two countries signed 19 agreements on sectors ranging from maritime security, healthcare and digital public infrastructure, the Seychelles News Agency reported June 30.

Seychelles, India: Modi Completes State Visit, Secures Return of Military Advisers to Island Nation

A five-man Afghan Taliban delegation met with EU staff representing 15 member states in Brussels, Belgium, for closed-door talks on the logistics of repatriating Afghan migrants deported by European governments, AP reported on June 23.

Afghanistan, EU: Afghan Taliban, EU Meet in Brussels To Discuss Migrant Deportations

Malaysia

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss strengthening bilateral relations across a range of sectors, including trade, investment and energy, The Daily Star reported on June 22.

Bangladesh: Rahman Visits Malaysia and China

India and the United Kingdom agreed to implement their free trade agreement on July 15 after London addressed India's concerns about higher U.K. steel tariffs set to take effect on July 1, Reuters reported on June 17.

India, U.K.: Trade Deal To Be Implemented Mid-July Following British Assurances on Steel Tariffs

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, who is currently on a four-day trip to China, said he discussed boosting cooperation in trade, agriculture, health, tourism, and science and technology research with Chinese officials, Reuters reported June 16.

Nepal: Foreign Minister Visits China Days After Visiting India

France

Slovakia

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on June 14 and 15, respectively, The Hindu reported the same day.

India: Modi Meets With France's Macron and Slovakia's Fico Amid G7 Summit

Pakistan presented the fiscal year 2026-27 budget, which proposes spending of 18.7 trillion rupees ($67 billion), Reuters reported on June 12.

Pakistan: Foreign Minister Presents Budget

South Asia

SITUATION REPORTS

Sri Lanka: IMF Completes Visit to Country

Seychelles, India: Modi Completes State Visit, Secures Return of Military Advisers to Island Nation

Afghanistan, EU: Afghan Taliban, EU Meet in Brussels To Discuss Migrant Deportations

Bangladesh: Rahman Visits Malaysia and China

India, U.K.: Trade Deal To Be Implemented Mid-July Following British Assurances on Steel Tariffs

Nepal: Foreign Minister Visits China Days After Visiting India

India: Modi Meets With France's Macron and Slovakia's Fico Amid G7 Summit

Pakistan: Foreign Minister Presents Budget

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