South Africa

United States

Japan

Laos

Malaysia

Myanmar

South Korea

Kazakhstan

Economics

Politics

On July 7, U.S. President Donald Trump published on Truth Social seven letters addressed to the leaders of South Korea, South Africa, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Kazakhstan and Laos informing them that the United States would begin implementing 25%-40% tariffs on their goods on Aug. 1, adding that the rate would double if the countries increased tariffs on U.S. goods in retaliation.

U.S.: Trump Announces 25% to 40% Tariffs From Aug. 1 on Seven Trading Partners

Philippines

Military & Security

Japan plans to export six decommissioned Abukuma-class destroyer escorts to the Philippines to bolster Manila's maritime deterrence posture against China, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on July 6.

Japan, Philippines: Tokyo To Give Manila Destroyers

China

Taiwan

China unilaterally opened a third extension of the M503 flight route, just west of the Taiwan Strait's median line, an unofficial boundary between Taiwan and China, Reuters reported on July 6. 

China, Taiwan: Beijing Further Squeezes Taiwan Strait With Air Route Expansion

Israel

Syria

The United States will revoke its foreign terrorist organization designation on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, to further ease restrictions on the interim Syrian government, Reuters reported on July 7, citing a June 23 State Department memo. 

U.S., Syria: U.S. To Revoke HTS' Foreign Terrorist Organization Status

Ethiopia

Nigeria

Uganda

Brazil

Cuba

Iran

United Arab Emirates

Indonesia

Thailand

Vietnam

Uzbekistan

Belarus

Russia

India

BRICS+ leaders gathered in Brazil for the bloc's 17th summit and issued a joint statement defending multilateralism, calling for U.N. reform and supporting Russia's and Iran's positions in ongoing conflicts, g1 reported on July 6.

BRICS+: Bloc Increasingly Leans Away From West, but Avoids Picking Fights With U.S.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a July 6 interview on CNN that countries failing to reach a trade agreement with the United States could expect tariff rates to return to levels announced in April by Aug. 1.

U.S. Higher Tariffs To Take Effect on Aug. 1, Trump Threatens Tariffs on BRICS-Aligned Countries

Afghanistan

Russia's presidential envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, announced that Russia had officially recognized the Taliban-run Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, making it the first country in the world to do so, RIA Novosti reported on July 3.

Afghanistan, Russia: Russia Becomes First Country To Officially Recognize the Taliban Government 

Dominican Republic

Haiti

Executive director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime Ghada Fathi Waly told the U.N. Security Council that Haiti's gangs have "near-total control" of the capital Port-au-Prince, holding an estimated 90% of the city, AP reported on July 2.

Haiti: U.N. Reports Haitian Gangs Have 'Near-Total Control' of Port-au-Prince

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

Below are our latest and most relevant politics analyses.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Asia-Pacific

Europe

Eurasia

Middle East and North Africa

South Asia

The Post-Apartheid Era Ends

Venezuela's Unraveling

The Saudi Survival Strategy

The Kurdish Struggle

Israel's Survival Strategy

Turkey's Resurgence

EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

Brexit

Old Leaders in a New Africa

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

The Pulse of Political Islam

Broken Contracts in the Middle East

Russia's Internal Struggle

China in Transition

Southeast Asia: Burdened by Consensus

India's Own Worst Enemy

Pakistan: A Military With a Country

Snapshots

President Donald Trump bangs a gavel after signing a bill into law extending his 2017 tax cuts on July 4 in Washington.

The measure will prevent a sharp increase in income taxes that would shock the economy, but add to the already high U.S. government debt burden.

The Consequences of Extending Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts

Assessments

France

United Kingdom

Israel-Hamas Conflict

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

The Weekly Rundown: Netanyahu's U.S. Visit, a Franco-British Summit

U.S.-Iran Relations

Cambodia

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (center) speaks next to Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai (2nd from left) during a press conference in Bangkok following her suspension by the country's Constitutional Court on July 1, 2025. 

Paetongtarn's suspension from office over a leaked phone call with Cambodia's former leader risks collapsing her fragile government and inviting more economic disruption amid U.S. trade tensions.

A Fresh Political Crisis Erupts in Thailand Following Prime Minister's Suspension

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Georgia

A man walks past Azerbaijan's Embassy in Moscow on July 2, 2025. 

Energy

As the relationship between Azerbaijan and Russia sours, outside powers will embrace opportunities to increase their influence in the Caucasus.

 In the Caucasus, Russia's Sway Weakens Amid Quarrel With Azerbaijan

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama looks on as offerings presented by Buddhist followers are laid on a table during a Long Life Prayer offering ceremony at the Main Tibetan Temple in McLeod Ganj, near the Indian city of Dharamshala, on June 30, 2025. 

Social Issues

New clarity over the 90-year-old spiritual leader's succession plans threatens to reignite Western criticism of China's treatment of Tibetans and revive reputational risks for Western businesses active in China.

Dalai Lama's Succession Plan Revives Tibet Issue for China and the West

U.S.-China Relations

Vietnamese lawmakers vote on a merger of provinces and cities at the National Assembly in Hanoi on June 12, 2025.

The reduction in provincial- and commune-level units will initially create bureaucratic headaches, but if implemented effectively, the changes set the stage for leaner administration, fiscal efficiency, reduced corruption and improved investment conditions.

Vietnam's Administrative Overhaul: A New Era of Governance and Investment Conditions

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) speaks during a peace agreement signing ceremony between Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner (R) and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe in the Treaty Room of the State Department in Washington, D.C., on June 27, 2025. 

The peace agreement opens Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo up to significant economic opportunities, but disagreements over interpretation and continued proxy violence risk stalling the deal’s implementation.

A Fragile Peace Takes Shape Between Congo and Rwanda

Argentina

Argentina's economy minister Luis Caputo (L) and Argentine President Javier Milei walk from the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace after a meeting on April 14, 2025.

Despite recent progress, Argentina's economic and financial position remains vulnerable over the medium term.

The Challenges Facing Argentina's New IMF Program

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The third quarter of 2025 will be defined by disruptive trade policies fueling supply chain volatility and the persistent risk of escalation in major conflicts.

2025 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Australia

A photo taken in Tehran, Iran, on June 26, 2025, shows an Iranian political banner hanging near the remains of a residential building struck by an Israeli attack. 

Global Trade

The Weekly Rundown: Fragile Iran-Israel Ceasefire Holds, U.S. Tariff Deadline Approaches

Pakistan

Water runs in the Gurez valley in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir, near the India-Pakistan border, on June 3, 2025. 

Environment, Science & Technology

Diplomatic talks between India and Pakistan will likely remain stalled due to ongoing airspace closures and disputes over water-sharing, sustaining the risk of a future conflict following the two countries' military confrontation earlier this year.

Unresolved Tensions: Water, Airspace and the Future of India-Pakistan Diplomacy

Media

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2025 Third-Quarter Forecast.

2025 Third-Quarter Forecast Webcast

Politics

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S.: Trump Announces 25% to 40% Tariffs From Aug. 1 on Seven Trading Partners

Japan, Philippines: Tokyo To Give Manila Destroyers

China, Taiwan: Beijing Further Squeezes Taiwan Strait With Air Route Expansion

U.S., Syria: U.S. To Revoke HTS' Foreign Terrorist Organization Status

BRICS+: Bloc Increasingly Leans Away From West, but Avoids Picking Fights With U.S.

U.S. Higher Tariffs To Take Effect on Aug. 1, Trump Threatens Tariffs on BRICS-Aligned Countries

Afghanistan, Russia: Russia Becomes First Country To Officially Recognize the Taliban Government

Haiti: U.N. Reports Haitian Gangs Have 'Near-Total Control' of Port-au-Prince

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

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