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Sub-Saharan Africa

Iran

Podcasts

Economics

Politics

Which Sub-Saharan countries face the highest risk of protests and unrest in the coming months?

The Decision Advantage: The Outlook for Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

U.S.-Iran Relations

Assessments

Europe

Albania

Montenegro

Ukraine

Moldova

Director of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at Ulm University Medical Center Dr. Jorg M. Fegert speaks during a press conference on the handover of the final report of the Special Panel on child safety online in Brussels, Belgium, on July 13, 2026. 

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Recent negotiations saw Montenegro and Albania pushed into advanced legislative alignment while Brussels expanded accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.


The Progress, Prospects and Risks of EU Enlargement

United Kingdom

Andy Burnham delivers a speech on June 29, 2026, in Manchester, England. 

As prime minister, Andy Burnham will likely maintain continuity on fiscal, foreign and defense policies within tight budget and market constraints, along with an incremental approach to EU relations.

Previewing Burnham's Premiership in the U.K.

United States

Israel

Lebanon

Indonesia

Myanmar

Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

France

Russia

ASEAN leaders hold hands for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN summit in Cebu, central Philippines on May 8, 2026. 

Military & Security

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 Tensions Remain High, ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meet With Myanmar

Stay informed about the significant meetings and events RANE analysts are tracking.

Geopolitical Calendar

Germany

A German flag flutters in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany. 

Global Trade

The package of reforms aims to revive productivity and lift Europe's largest economy out of its multi-year slump, though the package's limited nature and global trade headwinds will limit the impact in the medium term.


Germany's Labor-Market Reforms Could Lead to Modest Economic Improvements

Tracking U.S. Naval Power

This map shows the approximate locations of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups and Amphibious Ready Groups.

U.S. Naval Update Map: July 9, 2026

Journalists surround French far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen (center) as she arrives with National Rally president Jordan Bardella (third from right) for a campaign rally in La Fleche, France, on July 8, 2026.

With the launch of Le Pen's campaign, the National Rally appears set to win France's 2027 presidential election, signaling a coming policy shift toward EU confrontation and weaker NATO integration, though various constraints would temper implementation.

As Le Pen Returns to the Race, What Would a Far-Right Presidency Look Like in France?

Snapshots

People pass a large banner depicting U.S. President Donald Trump with a target on his head, during funeral ceremonies for Iran's slain Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the Grand Mosalla on July 5 in Tehran, Iran. 

Energy

Recent tit-for-tat strikes between the United States and Iran signal the rising risk of a return to high-intensity regional conflict following the June 17 memorandum of understanding.


U.S.-Iran Truce at Risk of Collapse Over Hormuz Control Dispute

Morocco

The Geopolitics of Natural Resources

Environment, Science & Technology

The state-owned OCP Group is accelerating domestic green ammonia projects and diversifying sulfur suppliers to secure its position as a dominant agricultural and diplomatic partner across sub-Saharan Africa.

Morocco, World's Leading Phosphate Exporter, Seeks To Mitigate Strategic Vulnerabilities

North Macedonia

Serbia

Croatia

Slovenia

Kosovo

Protestors hold national flags as they gather outside Albania's prime minister's office to oppose the construction of luxury resorts, in Tirana on June 25.

Social Issues

Driven by grievances like corruption and declining public trust, protests in the Western Balkans have evolved into deep challenges to ruling elites.


The Implications of Serbia and Albania's Massive Protest Waves

Australia

China

Fiji

New Zealand

Vanuatu

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) and Fiji Minister for Public Works, Transport and Meteorological Services, Ro Filipe Tuisawau (right) shake hands during the opening of the Vuvale Skills hub in Suva on July 6, 2026.

Australia's new pacts with Fiji and Vanuatu will strengthen barriers to Chinese military access, but persistent regional development needs and China's ability to project power without local basing will still provide space for Beijing to build influence.

Australia's Pacific Pacts Strengthen, but Don't Secure, Its Strategic Position Against China

Latest

Saudi Arabia

Yemen

Armed Yemeni supporters of the Iran-backed Houthi movement brandish their weapons during a protest against U.S. strikes on Iran in Sanaa on July 10, 2026. 

The attacks do not necessarily signal an immediate return to a full-scale war between the Saudis and the Houthis or a reignition of Yemen's civil conflict, but the likelihood of more frequent flare-ups in both theaters is increasing.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis Exchange Airstrikes, Breaking Yearslong Unofficial Truce

Palestinian Territories

People gather by the rubble of destroyed buildings following an Israeli strike on an industrial area in Gaza City on July 12.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Hamas will likely continue to reject full disarmament in the hope that a more moderate Israeli government will come to power following elections in the fall.


Unfeasible Plans for Gaza Governance Hinder Progress of U.S-Backed Ceasefire 

Cars stand in line for gasoline at a Lukoil gas station on July 8, 2026, outside of Moscow, Russia.

Russia will retain the ability to produce and export most of its oil, but sustained Ukrainian strikes will erode its refining capacity, exacerbate domestic fuel shortages and raise the risk of deeper production cuts.

Ukrainian Strikes Deepen Russia's Fuel Refining Crisis

Spain

EU flags are displayed in the EU Council headquarters on July 9, 2026, in Brussels, Belgium.

While the European Union is unlikely to adopt the Spanish plan, it could drive an incremental expansion of common borrowing for strategic priorities like defense and industrial competitiveness.


Spain Broaches EU Taboo With Common Debt Proposal

Sudan

United Arab Emirates

Sudan's de facto leader and army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, waves to spectators after attending a soccer match at Kober Stadium in Khartoum on May 15, 2026.

The outbreak of the Iran war has redirected Western and Arab diplomatic attention away from Sudan, worsening the country's long-running civil war.

Humanitarian Disaster Looms in Sudan as RSF Prepares New Offensive

Oman

Maps4media-processed Sentinel-2 satellite imagery shows a broad overview of the Strait of Hormuz on June 16, 2026.

U.S.-Iran talks will face increasingly large obstacles as negotiators approach more contentious topics, namely Iran's nuclear program.

For the U.S. and Iran, the Hardest Negotiations Lie Ahead

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer poses with his wife Victoria at the door to 10 Downing Street after making a statement on his future outside 10 Downing Street on the morning of June 22, 2026, in London. 

While a swift leadership transition by mid-July could restore near-term political stability, investors will focus on whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer's successor will be able to successfully balance party unity with fiscal discipline.


Burnham Premiership Could Stabilize U.K. Politics, But Markets Remain Cautious

Columns

On Geopolitics

Chinese President Xi Jinping (center) and Premier Li Qiang attend a plenary session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People on March 9, 2026, in Beijing, China.

Beijing will prioritize employment and social stability over rapid economic growth in the coming years, pressuring businesses to boost hiring and expand benefits amid demographic pressures, rising youth unemployment and AI-related job disruptions.

China Plans To Stabilize Employment in an Age of Change

The U.S. Treasury Department building in Washington, D.C.

The legal and geographical constraints of Washington's jurisdiction make freezing the assets of countries like Iran a far more flexible and effective diplomatic tool than outright seizure. 

American Financial Power: Freezing vs. Seizing Other Countries' Foreign Assets

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?

Weaponizing raw material exports can provide short-term political leverage, but it often pushes the targeted nations to permanently restructure their trade relationships to reduce dependencies.

The Historical Lessons of Global Commodity Weaponization

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Demographic decline, driven by falling fertility rates worldwide, is likely irreversible but will also increasingly differentiate countries based on their ability to adapt through sound immigration, labor, technological and fiscal policies.

Adapting to Demographic Decline: Policy Tradeoffs and Global Divergences

As competition for natural resources and critical raw materials intensifies, companies -- not just countries -- must be more mindful of risks in their physical supply chains.

The Geopolitics of Natural Resources: An Introduction

Syria

Photos of prominent Hezbollah leaders are seen at the site of a reported Israeli airstrike which killed 6 members of the same family, on March 19, 2026 in Baalbek, Lebanon.

The trajectory of the war will be increasingly defined by a clash of strategic objectives that makes a quick resolution of the conflict unlikely.


The Impact the Israel-Hezbollah War Will Have on Lebanon

A figurine is seen in front of the logo of the U.S. AI company Anthropic during a photo session in Paris, France, on Feb. 13, 2026.

Restricting commercial and federal integration of Anthropic's AI models inadvertently risks accelerating U.S. adversaries’ efforts to catch up with American AI labs by stifling innovation and investment.

Trump Administration's Anthropic Ban Puts U.S. AI Lead at Risk

Dozens of heads of state and government met in Paris, France, on July 13 for a "coalition of the willing" summit in support of Ukraine, where participants announced an anti-ballistic missile coalition, Reuters reported the same day.

Ukraine, Europe: Paris Summit Deepens Kyiv's Long-Term Defense Ties With Europe

North Korea

South Korea

The fourth-ranking official on China's Politburo Standing Committee, Wang Huning, will lead a Chinese Communist Party and government delegation to North Korea for an "official goodwill visit" from July 15-17, the South China Morning Post reported on July 14. 

China, North Korea: Wang Goes to Pyongyang, Marking Third Major Visit in Three Months

Venezuela

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez appointed on July 13 the country's ambassador to the United States, Felix Plasencia, as the head of the newly merged Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, El Pais reported on July 14.

Venezuela, U.S.: Venezuela Appoints U.S. Ambassador To Head Foreign and Trade Ministry

The United States is making progress in securing an agreement for a 90-day ceasefire between the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, followed by political negotiations, even though both sides are still seeking amendments to U.S. proposals, Ayin Network reported on July 13 based on conversations with unnamed diplomatic sources.

Sudan: U.S. Proposal for 90-Day Ceasefire Makes Progress, but SAF-RSF Disagreements Persist

The United Kingdom and the European Union signed the treaty governing Gibraltar's post-Brexit status in Brussels, Belgium, on July 14, the British government said in a press release the same day.

Spain, U.K.: London and Brussels Sign Treaty Ending Gibraltar Land Border Checks

U.S. President Donald Trump notified lawmakers on July 10 that the United States had started military operations against Iran, Politico reported on July 13, while U.S.-Iran clashes continued on July 14.

U.S., Iran: Trump Notifies Congress of Military Operations, U.S.-Iran Clashes Continue

Science & Technology

Somalia

Egypt

Iraq

Libya

Turkey

A dark earth map of the Middle East with glowing details of cities and human population density areas.

Two blocs are emerging in the Middle East: one focused on preserving existing states and institutions, and the other on creating new ones.

Preservation vs. Fragmentation: Two Paths Toward a New Order in the Middle East

On Security

An F-15 fighter plane takes off from RAF Lakenheath at sunset on Jan. 7, 2026 in Mildenhall, the United Kingdom.

The variety and size of the U.S. military buildup give Trump a breadth of options and, compared with last June, suggest that a wider, longer-lasting campaign is more plausible this time around unless a nuclear deal is reached.

Assessing Trump's Options for Military Action in Iran

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced he would replace Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and overhaul his Cabinet as part of an updated political strategy, with Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi emerging as the frontrunner to succeed her, the Financial Times reported on July 12.

Ukraine: Zelensky Announces Cabinet Reshuffle Ahead of Winter

Nigeria

Nigeria's military announced on July 10 that it had rescued all 44 students and teachers abducted on May 15 from three schools in Osiire district, Oyo state, Al Jazeera reported on July 12.

Nigeria: Military Rescues 44 School Kidnaping Victims in Southwest Oyo State

Malaysia

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Harapan, or PH, bloc won just eight seats in Johor's state elections, down from 12, including just six for the Chinese Democratic Action Party, or DAP, within PH, down from 10, Reuters reported on July 11. 

Malaysia: Anwar Loses Ground in Johor, Raising Prospect of a Snap Election

In a Truth Social post on July 13, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States was reimposing a blockade on Iranian ports and would take a 20% fee from cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S., Iran: Trump Reimposes Blockade on Iran

Finland

Sweden

Videos

Why is Turkey blocking Finland's and Sweden's accession to NATO?

Essential Geopolitics: Why Turkey Is Blocking NATO From Bringing in Sweden and Finland

Algeria

Broken Contracts in the Middle East

Stratfor Middle East and North Africa Analyst Emily Hawthorne updates the political and economic situation in Algeria.

Essential Geopolitics: An Update on Algeria

Three Geopolitical Events in the Week Ahead • Oct. 21, 2019

Three Geopolitical Events in the Week Ahead • Oct. 14, 2019

In this short video Middle East and North Africa Analyst Ryan Bohl discusses three events to watch for this week.

Three Geopolitical Events in the Week Ahead • Oct. 7, 2019

Three Geopolitical Events in the Week Ahead • Sept. 23, 2019

Three Geopolitical Events in the Week Ahead • Sept. 9, 2019

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan's strategic location and natural resources make it of significant interest to external powers, including Russia, China, and the United States.

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

Stratfor explains Uzbekistan's struggle to maintain internal unity while balancing against its regional neighbors and external powers.

Uzbekistan's Geographic Challenge

Global Perspectives

Partner Perspectives

More than 4,500 American service members have been killed in Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003. Security issues and conditions in Iraq will dictate whether U.S. forces will remain and, if so, what will be their size and mission.

The United States does not have attractive options as far as its military presence in Iraq, but it has workable ones to achieve its strategic and security goals.

To Leave or Not to Leave: The U.S. Security Dilemma in Iraq

Contributor Perspectives

By testing ICBMs and powerful nuclear weapons, the North Korean leader has placed himself in a strategic trap that threatens to leave his country at China's mercy.

Saudi Arabia and the Houthis Exchange Airstrikes, Breaking Yearslong Unofficial Truce

Latest

SITUATION REPORTS

Ukraine, Europe: Paris Summit Deepens Kyiv's Long-Term Defense Ties With Europe

China, North Korea: Wang Goes to Pyongyang, Marking Third Major Visit in Three Months

Venezuela, U.S.: Venezuela Appoints U.S. Ambassador To Head Foreign and Trade Ministry

Sudan: U.S. Proposal for 90-Day Ceasefire Makes Progress, but SAF-RSF Disagreements Persist

Spain, U.K.: London and Brussels Sign Treaty Ending Gibraltar Land Border Checks

U.S., Iran: Trump Notifies Congress of Military Operations, U.S.-Iran Clashes Continue

Ukraine: Zelensky Announces Cabinet Reshuffle Ahead of Winter

Nigeria: Military Rescues 44 School Kidnaping Victims in Southwest Oyo State

Malaysia: Anwar Loses Ground in Johor, Raising Prospect of a Snap Election

U.S., Iran: Trump Reimposes Blockade on Iran

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