Ukraine

Russia

Economics

Energy

Military & Security

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Scores of Ukrainian drones and missiles targeted Moscow overnight, hitting Moscow's Kapotnya Oil Refinery for the second time in a week, disrupting airport operations and forcing road closures in and around the capital, Reuters reported on June 17.

Ukraine, Russia: Ukraine Hits Kapotnya as Russia's Fuel Strains Grow

Zimbabwe

Politics

Zimbabwe's National Assembly voted 216-42 to approve constitutional amendments extending presidential terms from five to seven years, Bloomberg reported on June 18.

Zimbabwe: Parliament Approves Plans To Extend President Mnangagwa's Term to 2030

Niger

Unknown attackers targeted Niger's Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey for over two hours, leading to gunfire and explosions that killed at least 35 people, 22 of whom were assailants, before security forces regained control, RFI reported on June 18. 

Niger: At Least 35 Killed Following Gunfire, Explosions at Niamey's Main Airport

United States

Europe

Speaking ahead of a NATO defense ministers' summit in Brussels, Belgium, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month review of U.S. force posture and basing in Europe, tying its outcome to how quickly European allies assume primary responsibility for the Continent's defense, a June 18 transcript by the U.S. Department of Defense shows.

U.S., Europe: U.S. Launches Force Posture Review as It Presses Europe To Shoulder Its Own Defense

Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding to de-escalate the regional conflict and open talks on reaching a final agreement, AP reported on June 17.

U.S., Iran: U.S.-Iran MoU Enters Into Effect

U.S.-Iran Relations

The Group of Seven leaders agreed to increase deliveries of air defense systems, interceptors and long-range capabilities to Ukraine and said they were ready to grant Ukraine licenses to expand military production, Reuters reported on June 17.

Ukraine, G7, Russia: G7 Licensing Plan Will Not Quickly Fix Ukraine's Air Defense Gap

The U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding calls for an extension of the ceasefire, a 60-day period to reach a final agreement that addresses Iran's nuclear program, a halt to all regional military operations, the immediate end of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports and the return of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to normal levels within 30 days, according to a draft text Bloomberg published on June 16.

U.S., Iran: Draft MoU includes $300B Reconstruction Fund, Sanctions Relief and Halt to Fighting

Germany

Poland

Germany and Poland signed a new bilateral defense cooperation agreement in Warsaw on June 17 focused on cooperation in the Baltic Sea, infrastructure and cybersecurity, a joint press release indicates.

Poland, Germany: Berlin and Warsaw Sign Bilateral Defense Pact, but Without Mutual Defense Clause

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

Below are our latest and most relevant military analyses. 

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

The Syrian Civil War

The Yemen Civil War

The Libyan Civil War

The Fight Against the Islamic State

The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

The India-Pakistan Rivalry

Cyber

The Ukraine Conflict

Tracking U.S. Naval Power

The Battle for Mosul

Rebalancing Power in the Middle East

Coping With a Nuclear North Korea

The Jihadist Wars

Echoes of the Cold War

Instability in Central Asia

South Asian Militancy

Pakistan: A Military With a Country

Assessments

India

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke (center) participates in a protest in Amritsar, India, on June 13, 2026.

Social Issues

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?

Algeria

The Council of the National Assembly, Algeria's primary legislative body, is seen in Algiers.

Upcoming elections are unlikely to change the pro-president composition of Algeria's lower house, making significant policy change or reforms unlikely.

Algeria's Parliamentary Elections Will Yield Policy Continuity

Pakistan

View of the river in the mountains of northern Pakistan.

Environment, Science & Technology

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

An Iranian woman walks past a mural depicting Iran and the United States at the negotiation table, painted on the outer walls of the former U.S. embassy in Tehran, on Feb. 6, 2026.

While the deal will reduce the immediate threat of renewed conflict, shipping through Hormuz will likely resume only gradually amid the risk that talks stall, flare-ups resume and vessels face renewed harassment.

U.S.-Iran Deal Pauses Conflict, but the Path to Peace Remains Fraught

France

United Kingdom

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting with leaders of the G7 Engagement Groups ahead of the upcoming G7 summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris on June 10, 2026. 

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

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Talks Continue, France Hosts G7 Summit

Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago club on Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Declining public approval and notable primary losses for traditional pro-Israel lawmakers suggest that a future U.S. Congress will increasingly push for military assistance to be conditioned.

U.S.-Israeli Ties Likely To Continue Cooling as Public Opinion Sours

Iraq

Members of Saraya al-Salam gather during a ceremony in the city of Samarra on June 4, 2026, marking their separation from the Sadrist movement and their integration into the Iraqi security forces.

Several militant factions have recently expressed a desire to integrate into Iraq's government structures, but more hard-line groups are unlikely to follow suit without Iran's approval.

Iraq's Push To Disarm Iranian-Backed Militias Will Have Only Partial Success

Columns

On Geopolitics

A 3D satellite-style visualization of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.

As the Iran war drags on, the Strait of Hormuz is increasingly likely to remain closed for an extended period.

Will the Strait of Hormuz Remain Closed Until 2027?

Brazil

A passerby walks past the Banco Master building in Sao Paulo on Jan. 22, 2026, after Brazil's central bank ordered its shutdown due to a major liquidity crunch and "serious violations" of financial regulations.

Brazil faces severe institutional friction and heightened market volatility as a widening investigation into massive financial fraud threatens to ensnare prominent politicians, justices and businesspeople.

Deepening Corruption Scandal Could Upend Brazilian Presidential Race

A Ukrainian flag flies in Riga, Latvia, on May 18, 2026.

Even a sustainable peace settlement would leave Kyiv grappling with a $600 billion reconstruction bill, demanding high levels of foreign direct investment and stringent governance reforms.

Ukraine's Defense Will Continue To Strain Government Finances

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Uganda

Red Cross volunteers wearing personal protective equipment lower the body of an Ebola victim into a casket at a health center in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, on June 8, 2026.

The escalating outbreak will likely persist for several more months, likely disrupting regional supply chains, mining investments in Congo and potentially Uganda's start of oil production.

Ebola Makes Deadly Comeback in Congo

People pass by a building in Ramat Gan, Israel, that was destroyed by an Iranian ballistic missile on May 5, 2026. 

Recent direct strikes between Israel and Iran did not immediately collapse the regional truce, but recurrent tit-for-tat escalations would reduce the chance of an agreement between Washington and Tehran.

Iran-Israel Escalation Threatens Negotiations To End Iran War

Military & Security

SITUATION REPORTS

Ukraine, Russia: Ukraine Hits Kapotnya as Russia's Fuel Strains Grow

Zimbabwe: Parliament Approves Plans To Extend President Mnangagwa's Term to 2030

Niger: At Least 35 Killed Following Gunfire, Explosions at Niamey's Main Airport

U.S., Europe: U.S. Launches Force Posture Review as It Presses Europe To Shoulder Its Own Defense

U.S., Iran: U.S.-Iran MoU Enters Into Effect

Ukraine, G7, Russia: G7 Licensing Plan Will Not Quickly Fix Ukraine's Air Defense Gap

U.S., Iran: Draft MoU includes $300B Reconstruction Fund, Sanctions Relief and Halt to Fighting

Poland, Germany: Berlin and Warsaw Sign Bilateral Defense Pact, but Without Mutual Defense Clause

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support