<p>Everything that informs geopolitics can be found in South Asia: challenging demographics, geographic diversity, and contentious, ill-defined borders. The Himalayan Mountains form the northern border of South Asia, whose two main rivers, the Indus and the Ganges, support the region&rsquo;s great population centers. India is the region&rsquo;s dominant country, home to the world&rsquo;s fastest growing economy. But its rivalry with neighboring Pakistan, a fellow nuclear power and growing consumer market, has made South Asia one of the world&rsquo;s most dangerous nuclear flashpoints. The region is also a testament to how militancy and militarism can undermine the regional integration needed to unleash higher economic growth.</p>

Everything that informs geopolitics can be found in South Asia: challenging demographics, geographic diversity, and contentious, ill-defined borders. 

South Asia

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

The India-Pakistan Rivalry

The Politics of Pipelines

Banking

Crossing Borders

Globalization

Social Issues

The Pulse of Political Islam

Instability in Central Asia

South Asian Militancy

India's Own Worst Enemy

Pakistan: A Military With a Country

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Thailand

People watch the USS Gravely, a Navy warship, departing the Port of Spain on Oct. 30, 2025. The U.S. warship arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 26, 2025, for joint exercises near the coast of Venezuela, as Washington ratcheted up pressure on drug traffickers and Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Military & Security

Politics

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.-Saudi Meeting, Military Escalation in the Caribbean

Pakistan's armed forces march in the country's National Day parade in Islamabad on March 23, 2024. 

Pakistan's new constitutional amendment threatens to sow political division over growing military powers, a weakening judiciary and reduced civilian oversight.

Pakistan's New Constitutional Amendment Reforms the Military and Judiciary

Firefighters douse a car at the suicide blast site in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Nov. 11, 2025. 

While unlikely to trigger immediate retaliation, recent explosions in both New Delhi and Islamabad will sustain the risk of renewed cross-border strikes should either country determine the other was culpable.

Back-to-Back Blasts in India and Pakistan Raise Fears of Another Escalation

Media

Podcasts

Economics

How do recent protests in Nepal compare to those in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka?

Essential Geopolitics: Political Instability in South Asia

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka logo is seen outside the bank's headquarters in Colombo on July 6, 2023.

The IMF will likely approve the fifth review of Sri Lanka's $2.9 billion bailout due to the country's strong fiscal performance, debt restructuring progress and political stability, though high poverty and delayed state-enterprise reforms pose ongoing risks.

Sri Lanka on Track To Unlock Next IMF Disbursement, but Challenges Remain

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Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on Sept. 9, 2025, after youth protesters set fire to the building. 

Recent events in Nepal, Madagascar and elsewhere show how digitally coordinated, leaderless protests can succeed, but eventually face even larger challenges in sustaining the momentum for change.

Worldwide Gen Z Protesters May Be Disappointed With Their Success

Snapshots

Representatives of various Bangladeshi political parties present the July National Charter at the South Plaza of the National Parliament in Dhaka on Oct. 17, 2025. 

The proposed reforms underscore efforts by some of Bangladesh's main political forces to curb the concentration of power, strengthen democratic institutions and ensure greater accountability and transparency.

Uncertainty Over Bangladesh Charter Implementation Will Sustain Risks of Unrest

Canada

A digital illustration of the Indian and Canadian flags.

Global Trade

India and Canada's efforts to improve relations could see them resume trade talks after a two-year hiatus. But lingering mistrust, particularly over Sikh separatist activity in Canada, may hinder deeper progress.

India and Canada's Diplomatic Reset: Opportunities and Challenges

Afghan men gather in support of the Taliban government during a rally in Khost, Afghanistan, on Oct. 13, 2025, amid heavy cross-border clashes with Pakistan.

Further violence is likely in the coming weeks and potentially longer, as the two countries' entrenched disputes regarding their shared border and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan will challenge international peace efforts.

Deadly Border Clashes Sharply Escalate Afghanistan-Pakistan Tensions

On Geopolitics

Protesters gather at the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on Sept. 9, 2025. 

Widespread discontent with corruption and economic mismanagement is fueling movements that demand greater accountability across South Asia.

Political Instability Roils South Asia

India announced the implementation of four new labor codes aimed at modernizing and streamlining the country's decades-old labor laws, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 21.

India: Federal Government Implements Labor Codes

Bangladesh's Supreme Court reinstated the practice of installing a nonpartisan caretaker government to oversee the conduct of free and fair national elections, AP reported on Nov. 20.

Bangladesh: Caretaker Government System To Resume After the Next Election

China

Air India is urging the Indian government to ask China for access to a sensitive military airspace zone in Xinjiang, which would shorten its flight paths as Air India and other Indian carriers face mounting financial strain from Pakistan's overflight ban, Reuters reported on Nov. 19.

India, China: Air India Seeks Access to Xinjiang Airspace Amid Pakistan's Overflight Ban

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Environment, Science & Technology

Rare earth yttrium oxide prices have reached $126 per kilogram, which is roughly a 1,400% increase since the beginning of 2025, when prices were about $8 per kilogram, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 17, citing Asian Metal data.

Global: Yttrium Oxide Prices Increase by 1,400% in 2025

U.S.-China Relations

Russia

Energy

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would support proposed Senate legislation that would grant him the authority to impose tariffs on countries conducting business with Russia, particularly energy importers like China and India, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 17. 

U.S., Russia: Trump Endorses Sanctions Bill Targeting Russia's Trading Partners

The International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia for ordering lethal force against anti-government protesters in the summer of 2024, AP reported on Nov. 17.

Bangladesh: Special Tribunal Sentences Former Prime Minister to Death for Crackdown on 2024 Protests

According to the Nov. 14 vote count, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling coalition, the National Democratic Alliance, is on track to comfortably retain control of Bihar state's legislature, Reuters reported the same day.

India: Modi’s NDA Coalition Is Set To Maintain Control in Bihar State

Indian authorities formally characterized the Nov. 10 Delhi blast as a "terror incident," and local media indicated security agencies were probing possible connections between the blast and a recently busted terrorist cell allegedly tied to the Pakistan-linked Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group, Reuters reported on Nov. 13.

India, Pakistan: Governments Release More Information About Recent Explosions

South Asia

SITUATION REPORTS

India: Federal Government Implements Labor Codes

Bangladesh: Caretaker Government System To Resume After the Next Election

India, China: Air India Seeks Access to Xinjiang Airspace Amid Pakistan's Overflight Ban

Global: Yttrium Oxide Prices Increase by 1,400% in 2025

U.S., Russia: Trump Endorses Sanctions Bill Targeting Russia's Trading Partners

Bangladesh: Special Tribunal Sentences Former Prime Minister to Death for Crackdown on 2024 Protests

India: Modi’s NDA Coalition Is Set To Maintain Control in Bihar State

India, Pakistan: Governments Release More Information About Recent Explosions

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