Iran

China

Economics

Energy

Military & Security

The CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean -- two container ships linked to China's state-owned COSCO Shipping Corp. -- attempted to exit the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz before making abrupt U-turns and heading back into the Gulf, Bloomberg reported on March 27.

MENA: Chinese Container Ships Abort Attempted Transit Through the Strait of Hormuz

United States

Environment, Science & Technology

Politics

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking the Department of Defense from labeling Anthropic, the artificial intelligence lab behind the Claude family of AI models, a supply chain risk, NPR reported on March 26.

U.S.: Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration's Punitive Actions Against Anthropic

Europe

The European Parliament will send a delegation to Beijing and Shanghai on March 31-April 2, including members of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the head of its China delegation, the parliament confirmed in a March 26 press release.

EU, China: European Parliament To Send First Delegation to China in Eight Years

Cuba

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said former President Raul Castro is involved in negotiations between Havana and Washington, AP reported on March 25. 

Cuba, U.S.: Raul Castro Participates in U.S. Talks as Leaks About Negotiations Emerge

Australia

South Korea

Vietnam

On March 25, Australia's Lynas Rare Earths and South Korea's LS Eco Energy signed a framework agreement to build a rare earth metallization facility in Vietnam, with output to feed downstream magnet production in the United States, Nikkei Asia reported the next day.

Asia-Pacific, U.S.: Newly Announced Metalization Plant Forwards Non-China Rare Earth Supply Chain

The European Parliament approved the EU-U.S. trade framework agreement on March 26 after months of delays linked to policy uncertainty in Washington and repeated tariff threats from the Trump administration over Greenland and other nontrade issues, the parliament said in a press release the same day.

EU, U.S.: European Parliament Approves EU‑U.S. Trade Framework

Tanzania

The Tanzanian government signed an agreement with U.S.-linked company Tremont Investment Group to develop the $300 million Panda Hill project, The Chanzo reported on March 25. 

Tanzania: Government Strikes $300M Niobium Deal With U.S.-Linked Company

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on March 25 that U.S. President Donald Trump's summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, originally scheduled for March 31 to April 2, had been rescheduled to May 14-15.

U.S., China: Trump-Xi Summit Rescheduled for May, Reciprocal U.S. Visit Pitched

U.S.-China Relations

The world is connected, but even the broadest topics deserve an individual look. Below are our latest and most relevant economics analyses.

Below are our latest and most relevant economics analyses.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

Beyond Quantitative Easing

The New Silk Road

The Fate of the Eurozone

South America: Split Decisions on Trade

Banking

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

Social Issues

European Disintegration

Russia's Internal Struggle

China in Transition

A Japanese Awakening

East African Integration

Assessments

South Africa

A general view of power lines near the Lethabo power station between Vereeniging and Sasolburg, South Africa, on April 17, 2024.

Although South Africa's power sector reforms remain years from completion, their gradual advancement will still attract investment in energy projects that support the country's long-term energy security and decarbonization goals.

The Outlook for South Africa's Power Sector Reforms and Energy Security

Cars drive past a gas station in Ponte Leccia on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica on March 26, 2026. 

To address Iran-related energy disruptions, the European Union will likely opt for a patchwork of national relief measures, rather than a more comprehensive market intervention.

How the EU Is Responding to Its Latest Energy Crisis

Kuwait

Oman

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

India

A medicine distributor stores Mounjaro (tirzepatide) self-injecting GLP-1 prefilled pens and vials in a fridge at his office in Thane, India, on March 20, 2026. 

India's pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors are set to grow significantly over the next several years amid manufacturing incentives, regulatory reforms and trade deals.

The Growth Outlook for India's Pharmaceutical Sector Remains Strong, Despite Global Uncertainties

The Geopolitics of Demographics

While far from deterministic, demographics plays a key role in influencing a country's domestic and international politics, as well as its economic and financial development.

The Geopolitics of Demographics: Politics and Economics

Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting in Moscow on the global oil and gas market situation on March 9, 2026.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The current surge in demand for Russian oil will likely be short-lived, but weaker sanctions enforcement and higher energy prices could nonetheless buoy Moscow's capacity to fund its war in Ukraine.

In Twist of Fate, Russia Gets a Boost From Iran-Related Oil Shocks

Bahrain

Israel

People walk along the corniche area on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2026.

Global Trade

Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will compel Gulf Cooperation Council states to invest in alternative trade routes and more resilient physical infrastructure.

Gulf Arab States, Shaken by Iran War, Plan Economic Pivot

U.S.-Iran Relations

Greenland

Denmark

Danish Defense Minister and top candidate of Denmark's Venstre party, Troels Lund Poulsen (left), and Danish Prime Minister and top candidate of the Social Democrat Party, Mette Frederiksen (right), attend a debate in Copenhagen on March 15, 2026.

The upcoming parliamentary elections could result in three distinct coalitions that would offer varying continuity in domestic economic policy and Copenhagen's approach to U.S. pressure over Greenland.

Denmark's General Elections: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Global Elections

A farmer sprinkles fertilizer over a crop of cauliflower on the outskirts of Bangalore, India, in November 2020.

The Strait of Hormuz blockade is straining global supplies of nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilizers, which could lead to lower crop yields, higher food prices and fiscal strain for agricultural producers if the disruptions persist.

Assessing the Iran War's Impact on Global Fertilizer Supplies

Japan

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addresses a news conference at the Prime Minister's office in Tokyo on Feb. 18.

The Japanese prime minister may offer economic and security concessions during her upcoming summit with the U.S. president to avoid direct entanglement in the Iran conflict while preserving the relationship with Washington.

Iran War Heightens Stakes of Key Takaichi-Trump Summit

Commercial vessels are pictured offshore in Dubai on March 11, 2026. 

A U.S.-led naval mission to protect ships from Iranian attacks would likely begin only after the war's intensity decreases, and even then, it would take weeks to organize and yield only a limited return of maritime traffic through the strait.

The Obstacles Facing the U.S. Plan for Strait of Hormuz Naval Escorts

Demographics may not be destiny, but it does play a major role in questions of national power.

The Geopolitics of Demographics: An Introduction

Ukraine

A large plume of smoke rises March 7 over Tehran after explosions were reported in the Iranian capital during the night.

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

The Weekly Rundown: The Iran War Continues, Takaichi Meets With Trump

Economics

SITUATION REPORTS

MENA: Chinese Container Ships Abort Attempted Transit Through the Strait of Hormuz

U.S.: Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration's Punitive Actions Against Anthropic

EU, China: European Parliament To Send First Delegation to China in Eight Years

Cuba, U.S.: Raul Castro Participates in U.S. Talks as Leaks About Negotiations Emerge

Asia-Pacific, U.S.: Newly Announced Metalization Plant Forwards Non-China Rare Earth Supply Chain

EU, U.S.: European Parliament Approves EU‑U.S. Trade Framework

Tanzania: Government Strikes $300M Niobium Deal With U.S.-Linked Company

U.S., China: Trump-Xi Summit Rescheduled for May, Reciprocal U.S. Visit Pitched

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