AssessmentsMar 7, 2026 | 13:00 GMT
The Weekly Rundown: War in the Middle East, U.S.-China Trade Talks
A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.
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AssessmentsMar 6, 2026 | 21:07 GMT
Geopolitical Calendar
Stay informed about the significant meetings and events RANE analysts are tracking.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 6, 2026 | 19:59 GMT
Russia, Iran, U.S.: Moscow Reportedly Sharing Targeting Intelligence With Tehran
Russia has been providing Iran with targeting intelligence on U.S. military assets in the Middle East since the outbreak of hostilities on Feb. 28, including the locations of warships and aircraft, The Washington Post reported on March 6, citing U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 6, 2026 | 19:57 GMT
China, Iran: Beijing in Talks With Tehran for Safe Passage of Tankers
China is negotiating with Iran to secure safe passage of oil and liquefied natural gas tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, transit that has been heavily disrupted amid the U.S. and Israel-Iran war, according to three diplomatic sources quoted by Reuters on March 5.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 6, 2026 | 16:50 GMT
U.S., Venezuela: Resumption of Diplomatic Ties Indicates Sustained Collaboration
The U.S. and Venezuelan governments agreed to resume diplomatic and consular ties, El Pais reported on March 5.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 6, 2026 | 16:30 GMT
U.S., Latin America, Caribbean: U.S. and Allies Agree on Aggressive Approach Against Latin American Drug Trafficking
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a deal with military officials from 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries ideologically aligned with President Donald Trump's administration to fight narcoterrorist groups, Reuters reported March 5.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 6, 2026 | 16:29 GMT
Global: Brent Tops $90 per Barrel for the First Time in Nearly Two Years
European crude oil benchmark Brent broke through $90 per barrel on March 6 for the first time since April 2024, Bloomberg reported the same day.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 6, 2026 | 16:18 GMT
Japan, Canada: Tokyo, Ottawa Elevate Ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, announced that bilateral ties between their countries had been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Carney's visit to Tokyo, alongside plans for an economic security dialogue focused on critical minerals, supply chains and advanced technologies, the CBC reported March 6.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 6, 2026 | 16:10 GMT
MENA: U.S. Looks To Accelerate Weapons Production, Israel Launches Attacks on Beirut Suburbs
The U.S. Trump administration is set to meet with defense contractors to push for accelerated weapons production amid diminished munitions stockpiles while the United States escalates its attacks on Iran, using B-2 bombers to drop 2,000 pound bombs on underground ballistic missile sites in the second phase of the war, Reuters reported on March 6.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 6, 2026 | 15:43 GMT
Syria: Turkey Requests MI6 Protection From U.K. for al-Sharaa
The Turkish intelligence agency MIT asked the British spy agency MI6 in February to help protect Syrian provisional President Ahmad al-Sharaa amid Islamic State efforts to kill him, Reuters reported March 6.
READ MOREAssessmentsMar 6, 2026 | 13:57 GMT
Evaluating the Spillover Risks of the Iran War for Egypt and Turkey
Though Iran is less likely to target Egypt and Turkey as part of its retaliation than other regional countries, cuts to energy exports risk forcing Cairo and Ankara to rely on more expensive imports of liquefied natural gas.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 5, 2026 | 21:34 GMT
Ukraine, U.S.: Kyiv Offers Drone Expertise for Patriot Missiles
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered to share Ukraine's expertise in countering Iranian Shahed drones with the United States and Gulf partners in exchange for additional Patriot missiles and interceptors, Bloomberg reported on March 5.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 5, 2026 | 21:31 GMT
Azerbaijan, Iran: Drone Strike on Naxcivan Raises Escalation Risks
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Iran had committed a "terrorist act" and instructed the armed forces to prepare retaliatory measures after four Iranian drones crossed into the Naxcivan exclave, injuring four people and damaging the airport terminal and a nearby school, Reuters reported on March 5.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 5, 2026 | 21:28 GMT
China: Beijing's 2026 Economic Plans Remain Unambitious
China's Premier Li Qiang delivered the 2026 Government Work Report on March 5, with most economic goals for 2026 largely consistent with 2025, including the scale of special treasury bonds for infrastructure and consumer subsidies as well as unemployment and inflation targets, though the GDP growth goal dropped to 4.5%-5.0%.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 5, 2026 | 21:24 GMT
Iran, Israel: IDF Says It Struck Iran's Cyber Warfare Headquarters
The Israel Defense Forces said on March 4 that it conducted airstrikes against a facility in Tehran used as Iran's cyber warfare headquarters.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 5, 2026 | 21:20 GMT
U.S.: White House Weighs Regulations Restricting AI Chip Shipments Abroad
The administration of U.S. President Trump is drafting regulations that would restrict shipments of artificial intelligence chips to any foreign destination without American approval, Bloomberg reported on March 5.
READ MOREAssessmentsMar 5, 2026 | 20:00 GMT
Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam Assess Their U.S. Trade Deals After IEEPA Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the Trump administration's use of the IEEPA curtails rapid tariff escalation but preserves slower enforcement pathways, leaving Japan and South Korea exposed primarily to potential reactivation of higher auto sector tariffs, while Indonesia -- and especially Vietnam -- face higher risks of targeted tariffs and other punitive trade measures.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 5, 2026 | 18:08 GMT
MENA: Iran War Enters Second Phase
The U.S. and Israel-Iran war has entered its second phase as U.S. and Israeli strikes have increasingly targeted Iran's underground ballistic missile sites and as the pace of Iranian attacks has slowed over the past several days, Reuters reported on March 4.
READ MOREAssessmentsMar 5, 2026 | 18:06 GMT
Prolonged Conflict in Iran Would Elevate Security, Migration Threats Against Europe
A prolonged conflict in the Middle East would increase Europe's exposure to security risks, including potential attacks on European-linked assets, renewed migration pressures and an elevated terrorism threat, particularly if European capitals assume a more active military or diplomatic role against the Iranian regime.
READ MORESituation ReportMar 5, 2026 | 17:52 GMT
Australia, Canada: Middle Powers Align on Critical Minerals and Broader Strategic Cooperation
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney signed new agreements on critical minerals cooperation and broader collaboration in defense, trade and artificial intelligence during the latter's visit to Canberra, The New York Times reported on March 5.
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