Bolivia

Economics

Politics

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz's government came to an agreement with protesting unions and activists to repeal Decree 5503, which declared an economic emergency, while maintaining the measures related to the removal of the fuel subsidy, DW reported on Jan. 11.

Bolivia: Government To Repeal Controversial Economic Decree, With Subsidy Cuts Remaining

Germany

India

Military & Security

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in India's western state of Gujarat, where the two leaders sought to deepen economic and security cooperation and signed agreements covering sectors ranging from critical minerals to traditional medicine, AP reported on Jan. 12.

India, Germany: Agreements Strengthen Economic and Security Cooperation

Japan

Hirofumi Yoshimura, the head of the Japan Innovation Party, a coalition partner of the government, told reporters he believed elections for the lower house of parliament would soon occur following Jan. 9 talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Reuters reported on Jan. 11.

Japan: Takaichi Seriously Considering Risky Snap Elections

China

Europe

The European Union outlined a process for Chinese electric vehicle exporters to make minimum price offers to "remove the injurious effects of the subsidization" in China, AP reported on Jan. 12. 

Europe, China: Price Floor Deal To Resolve Electric Vehicle Tariff Dispute, For Now

United States

U.S. prosecutors launched a criminal probe into the Federal Reserve related to the renovation of the Fed's D.C. headquarters in an apparent attempt to weaken the Fed's independence, the Financial Times reported on Jan. 12.

U.S.: Prosecutors Launch Criminal Investigation Into Powell

Somalia

Israel

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi called on Arab nations under the leadership of Saudi Arabia to take action against Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, drawing parallels between Somaliland and Yemen's now-dissolved Southern Transitional Council, Garowe Online reported on Jan. 12. 

Somalia: Defense Minister Calls Arab Nations To Take Action Against Somaliland

Mexico

U.S. President Donald Trump said during an interview with Fox News on Jan. 8 that the United States would soon conduct operations targeting drug cartels on Mexican soil, The Hill reported the same day.

U.S., Mexico: Trump Says U.S. Will Conduct Operations Against Mexican Cartels

Taiwan

Taiwan's more pro-China Kuomintang, or KMT, and the Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, are in the final stages of talks to revive the Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum in order to facilitate economic and cultural exchanges, the South China Morning Post reported on Jan. 9.

Taiwan: Opposition Seeks To Revive Controversial Forum With China

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

Nigeria

Colombia

Cuba

Venezuela

Greenland

Iran

Norway

Ukraine

Russia

Pakistan

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Global Trade

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2026 highlights high-impact, low-probability risks and trends from the annual forecast presented in more extreme terms.

RANE's Top 10 Risks for 2026

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Uganda

Supporters of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate and opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, gather to attend a campaign rally in Kampala, on Nov. 24, 2025. 

President Museveni's expected reelection is set to trigger opposition protests, but a heavy-handed crackdown will likely restore order within weeks, enabling him to resume focus on infrastructure projects and mitigating intra-elite tensions.

Previewing Uganda's General Elections

Activists hold Iranian flags in support of the ongoing protests in Iran during a rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 3, 2026.

The demonstrations could endure for several more weeks or months before they are ultimately suppressed, opening the door to risky Israeli and/or U.S. military or covert action against Iranian senior leadership amid the turmoil.

Protests in Iran Provide a Window for U.S. and/or Israeli Intervention

Canada

A 3D rendering of the Canadian, U.S. and Mexican flags.

Energy

The White House is expected to utilize threats of scrapping the trilateral pact in favor of bilateral agreements as a high-stakes negotiating tactic, creating a period of intense business uncertainty and market volatility.

The Outlook for USMCA Renegotiation in 2026

Media

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2026 Annual Geopolitical Forecast.

2026 Annual Geopolitical Forecast Webcast

Sudan

Syria

Yemen

Saudi-backed forces are seen on the outskirts of Yemen's Hadramawt province, where the UAE-backed secessionist Southern Transitional Council (STC) recently launched an offensive, on Jan. 3, 2026. 

The Gulf nations' growing battle for influence is straining bilateral ties and fueling proxy conflicts in places like Yemen and Sudan, though both sides will likely avoid any escalation that could harm their economies.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE Pursue Divergent Paths in a Multipolar World

Denmark

The Danish-flagged DMS Lauge Koch, an offshore Royal Danish Navy patrol vessel, docks at the Port of Nuuk on March 12, 2025, in Nuuk, Greenland.

Scenarios for the coming year range from unilateral military action by the United States to a U.S.-Denmark agreement to expand Washington's capabilities on the island.


How Could the U.S. Seek To 'Take' Greenland?

Brazil

Guyana

Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez (C) gestures during the official picture of the new National Assembly in Caracas on Jan. 5, 2026. 

Venezuela's acting president is most likely to cooperate with the United States to keep the country's regime intact, but other, more volatile scenarios remain possible. 

Venezuela's Post-Maduro Outlook: Potential Scenarios

Israel-Hamas Conflict

As elections reshape political incentives worldwide, 2026 will see major powers recalibrate diplomacy and conflict, raising the risk of fragile deals, regional instability and sudden escalation.

2026 Annual Geopolitical Forecast: An Excerpt

Columns

On Geopolitics

A NASA satellite image shows the city lights of Europe. 

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

Benin

Burkina Faso

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Madagascar

Mali

Niger

Rwanda

Paraguay

Egypt

Lebanon

Morocco

Palestinian Territories

Qatar

Turkey

Australia

Cambodia

Timor-Leste

Indonesia

Mongolia

Myanmar

Philippines

South Korea

Thailand

Vietnam

Bulgaria

Afghanistan

Nepal

Flight routes.

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

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

Economics

SITUATION REPORTS

Bolivia: Government To Repeal Controversial Economic Decree, With Subsidy Cuts Remaining

India, Germany: Agreements Strengthen Economic and Security Cooperation

Japan: Takaichi Seriously Considering Risky Snap Elections

Europe, China: Price Floor Deal To Resolve Electric Vehicle Tariff Dispute, For Now

U.S.: Prosecutors Launch Criminal Investigation Into Powell

Somalia: Defense Minister Calls Arab Nations To Take Action Against Somaliland

U.S., Mexico: Trump Says U.S. Will Conduct Operations Against Mexican Cartels

Taiwan: Opposition Seeks To Revive Controversial Forum With China

Forecasts

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