Taiwan

Economics

Politics

Taiwan's opposition-led legislature failed to pass a budget by the Dec. 31, 2025, deadline for the beginning of the Jan. 1 fiscal year, marking the first such failure in the democracy's 30-year history.

Taiwan: 2026 Budget Delayed, Bringing Political Dysfunction to New Heights

Asia-Pacific

Philippines

Military & Security

The chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was passed from Malaysia to the Philippines on Jan. 1, The Star reported. As 2026 chair, Manila will set the bloc's agenda for the year.

Asia-Pacific: The Philippines Assumes 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship

Canada

Mexico

United States

Energy

London-based Harbour Energy announced in a Dec. 31 press release that it had been appointed the operator of the Zama oil field project offshore Mexico.

Mexico: Sheinbaum Administration Names Private Company Operator of Zama Oil Field

Cote d'Ivoire

Cote d'Ivoire's ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace, or RHDP, secured a large legislative majority in the country's Dec. 26 elections, winning 197 of the 255 seats in the National Assembly, Radio France Internationale reported Dec. 29.

Cote d'Ivoire: Ruling Party Secures Landslide Victory in Legislative Elections 

Iran

Iraq

Iraq's parliament convened for the first time since the Nov. 11 elections and elected the parliamentary speaker, Haibet Al-Halbousi, who is a member of the Takadum, or Progress, party, AP reported on Dec. 29.

Iraq: Parliament Elects Speaker in First Session After November Elections

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

Saudi Arabia said its national security constitutes a "red line" it will defend, hours after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen struck vehicles and cargo in Hadramawt province that it said were supplied by a foreign military to southern separatist forces, Reuters reported on Dec. 30.

Yemen: Saudi Arabia Strikes Yemeni Separatist Arms Shipment, Allegedly Supplied by UAE

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he tasked Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni with hearing the "legitimate demands" of protesters, the president announced in a Dec. 29 post on X. 

Iran: Tehran Tries To Defuse Protests With Dialogue, Central Bank Chief Resignation

Bahrain

Bahrain announced a raft of fiscal reforms, some of which were unspecified, in a bid to reduce its debt and cut expenses, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 29. 

Bahrain: New Fiscal Package Aims To Cut Debt

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

Europe

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

Columns

On Geopolitics

A NASA satellite image shows the city lights of Europe. 

Global Trade

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

In this scorecard, we take a critical look at our hits and misses in forecasting geopolitical events over the past year.

Grading Our 2025 Annual Forecast

U.S.-China Relations

Assessments

Benin

Burkina Faso

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Madagascar

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

Rwanda

Paraguay

Venezuela

Egypt

Israel

Lebanon

Morocco

Palestinian Territories

Qatar

Syria

Turkey

Australia

Cambodia

China

Timor-Leste

Indonesia

Japan

Mongolia

Myanmar

South Korea

Thailand

Vietnam

Bulgaria

Ukraine

Russia

Afghanistan

India

Nepal

Pakistan

Flight routes.

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

As 2026 approaches, we look back at the previous year and consider the top five patterns and trends as measured by geopolitical impact.

2025: A Geopolitical Review

Media

Podcasts

How has U.S. interest in the Middle East evolved over time? 

Essential Geopolitics: A Historical Look Back on U.S.-Middle East Relations

Central African Republic

Guinea

Cyprus

Kosovo

The Bulgarian flag and the European flag waving in the wind.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Bulgaria Adopts the Euro, U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Persist

Oman

New Zealand

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks alongside Oman's Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq al-Said upon his arrival in Muscat on Dec. 17, 2025.

New trade pacts offer gains in market access and investment but India's protectionist stance on agriculture and dairy remains an obstacle to deals with the United States and European Union. 


Oman and New Zealand Deals Indicate India's Push To Diversify Trade Partnerships

Snapshots

United Kingdom

The Sevington Inland Border Facility on April 29, 2024, in southeast England. Rejoining the EU customs framework would require London to accept a common external tariff and strict regulatory alignment, meaning a successful negotiation remains unlikely in the short to medium term.

Rejoining the bloc's customs framework would require London to accept a common external tariff and strict regulatory alignment, meaning a successful negotiation remains unlikely in the short to medium term.

Despite Growing Calls, U.K. Unlikely To Rejoin EU Customs Union

Algeria

People walk through a main square in Algeria's capital of Algiers on Sept. 15, 2024.

By introducing Sharia-compliant debt instruments, the Algerian government aims to tap into significant informal savings and diversify its funding sources while avoiding external debt. 

Algeria's Islamic Bonds an Incomplete Step Toward Diversifying Government Revenues

A container ship arrives Oct. 10 at the Port of Oakland, California. In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

2026 Annual Forecast: A Global Overview

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Despite growing interest from Russia, China and Western powers, Central Asia will struggle to emerge as a true continental trade hub due to competing agendas, weak financing and coordination, and security and governance issues.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Central Asia's Struggle for Logistics Sovereignty

A stock photo shows banknotes of the Russian ruble. 

The European Union using immobilized Russian assets to fund financial support for Ukraine will probably not have major reputational or financial consequences for the eurozone.


Using Frozen Russian Assets To Fund Ukraine Unlikely To Majorly Impact the Euro

Tunisia

Tunisia's President Kais Saied (top-R) waits to take his oath of office during his swearing-in ceremony before the National Assembly in Tunis on Oct. 21, 2024. 

Despite tensions with union leaders, Tunisia's controversial finance bill will introduce reforms that attract foreign investment and increase production in key sectors.

Strikes Loom as Tunisia's Government Undermines Labor Union

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (center), flanked by his wife (left) and Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh (right), attends the official inauguration ceremony of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Guba, on Sept. 9, 2025.

Worsening tensions over sea access and Eritrea's ties to groups opposed to the Ethiopian government raise the risk of intensifying proxy clashes that could quickly escalate into a larger military confrontation.

Assessing the Risk of an Ethiopia-Eritrea War in 2026

Economics

SITUATION REPORTS

Taiwan: 2026 Budget Delayed, Bringing Political Dysfunction to New Heights

Asia-Pacific: The Philippines Assumes 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship

Mexico: Sheinbaum Administration Names Private Company Operator of Zama Oil Field

Cote d'Ivoire: Ruling Party Secures Landslide Victory in Legislative Elections

Iraq: Parliament Elects Speaker in First Session After November Elections

Yemen: Saudi Arabia Strikes Yemeni Separatist Arms Shipment, Allegedly Supplied by UAE

Iran: Tehran Tries To Defuse Protests With Dialogue, Central Bank Chief Resignation

Bahrain: New Fiscal Package Aims To Cut Debt

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support