Russia

India

Economics

Politics

During his visit to Moscow, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said India and Russia will work to boost annual trade by around 50% over the next five years to reach $100 billion, emphasizing the need to address trade bottlenecks and lower nontariff barriers to achieve this target, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 21.

India, Russia: Governments Aim To Boost Annual Bilateral Trade to $100B by 2030

United States

Energy

India's state-run refiners, Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum, have resumed purchases of Russian crude for September and October delivery after discounts on Urals widened to around $3 per barrel, up from the narrower $1.70-$2 discounts seen in August, Reuters reported on Aug. 20.

India, Russia: Indian State Refineries Continue Russian Crude Purchases Despite U.S. Warnings

China

Military & Security

Marking the conclusion of the Chinese foreign minister's two-day visit to New Delhi, India and China agreed to resume bilateral direct flights, maintain communications on transboundary rivers and water issues, and establish a group to formally explore demarcating sections of their disputed border, Reuters reported on Aug. 19.

India, China: Governments Continue To Ease Tensions With New Agreements 

In his Independence Day address, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined plans to reduce consumption taxes and implement next-generation reforms to the Goods and Services Tax, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 15.

India: Modi Announces Tax Cuts, Emphasizes Self-Reliance, Pledges Support for Farmers

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is reportedly set to visit New Delhi on Aug. 18 for the first time in over three years, and he will meet with India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 14.

India, China: China Plans To Send Foreign Minister Wang Yi to New Delhi

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

In the latest sign of easing tensions between Beijing and New Delhi, China relaxed restrictions on urea exports to India, and the two countries are reportedly set to resume direct flights as early as September, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 12.

India, China: Eased Exports, Resumed Flights Show Continued Thaw in Relations

Indian sources revealed that New Delhi has paused plans to acquire new U.S. weapons and aircraft, marking the first clear signal of the government's displeasure with U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to raise tariffs on Indian imports to 50%, Reuters reported on Aug. 8.

India: Government Halts Plans To Purchase U.S. Arms Following Trump's Tariff Hike

Pakistan

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China on Aug. 31 for the annual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's Heads of Government Council, which will mark Modi's first visit to China since June 2018, Reuters reported on Aug. 6, citing an unidentified Indian government source.

India, China: India's Modi To Visit China for First Time in Over Seven Years

Assessments

Bolivia

Israel

Palestinian Territories

An aerial view shows a campaign poster of Bolivian presidential candidate Samuel Doria Medina and his supporters marching during a rally in La Paz, Bolivia, on Aug. 12, 2025.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Bolivian Elections, a Controversial Israeli Settlement Plan 

Snapshots

Workers at the Samsung plant in Sriperumbudur, India, stage a protest to demand higher wages and recognition of their union on Sept. 11, 2024. 

The labor reforms, aimed at streamlining regulations and attracting investment, face significant delays and uneven implementation due to political resistance, trade union opposition and state-level administrative challenges.

India's Labor Codes: Challenges to Nationwide Adoption

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) looks at Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 30, 2018, during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet in the coming days.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

U.S.-China Relations

The Weekly Rundown: A Trump-Putin Summit, the Deadline for a U.S.-China Tariff Pause

An oil tanker train passes near a refinery in Guwahati, India, on March 30, 2023. 

Global Trade

For now, India will likely keep importing cheap Russian oil in the hopes it can soon secure tariff relief, either directly via a U.S. trade deal or indirectly via a breakthrough in U.S.-Russia talks on Ukraine.

Will Trump's Tariffs Deter India From Buying Russian Oil?

Maldives

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) shakes hands with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu upon meeting in Male on July 25, 2025. 

Improving relations will strengthen India's strategic foothold in the Indian Ocean, while granting the Maldives access to crucial financial support.

Modi Resets Ties With the Maldives After Its 'India Out' Campaign

Iran

Australia

Japan

Europe

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. 

U.S.-Iran Relations

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

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

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

Turkey

The Geopolitics of Trade

Turkey's export strategy necessitates trade partnerships with countries in many different spheres of influence, portending both risks and opportunities as Ankara attempts to maintain its neutral middle-power status.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Turkey's Export Strategy Hinges on Neutrality

Media

Podcasts

Will the cease-fire between the two countries last?

Essential Geopolitics: The Outlook for India-Pakistan Relations

India's evolving trade strategy aims to boost key exports while protecting sensitive sectors, reflecting a blend of liberalization and long-standing protectionist instincts.

The Geopolitics of Trade: India

The Bombay Stock Exchange building May 7 in Mumbai, India. If military hostilities were to resume and lead to a prolonged conflict, Pakistan would be far less well-positioned than India to sustain it from an economic and financial perspective.

If military hostilities were to resume and lead to a prolonged conflict, Pakistan would be far less well-positioned than India to sustain it from an economic and financial perspective.

The Economic Case for an India-Pakistan Ceasefire

Indian soldiers pay respect during a wreath-laying ceremony for a soldier who was killed during a cross-border firing between India and Pakistan, in Jammu on May 12, 2025. 

While the near-term threat of severe escalation has waned, ongoing tensions over thorny issues like Kashmir and water-sharing will sustain the risk of cross-border flare-ups.

Amid India and Pakistan's Tenuous Ceasefire, Future Flare-Ups Remain Possible

<p>India is endowed with favorable geographic barriers. Surrounded by oceans on three sides and the formidable Himalayan Mountains to the north, what is now modern India has been free of outside interference for much of its long history. Its large geographic size and population, coupled with weaker peripheral nations on much of its boundaries, have allowed India to become the dominant force in South Asia. Home to the world&rsquo;s second-largest population, India&rsquo;s 1.3 billion people are spread out across the peninsular nation, from the foothills of the Himalayas to the tropical south. India&rsquo;s population core is settled along the Ganges river basin, a densely populated swath of fertile land that extends across the northern Himalayan border. India&rsquo;s primary geographic challenge comes from a lack of strong internal boundaries. Modern-day India struggles to rectify the ambitions of a relatively weak national government that competes with the prerogatives of strong, diverse states &mdash; a legacy of a long history of domestic infighting between various dynasties uninhibited by mountains or other defining geography. A similar lack of defining geography still plagues India&rsquo;s northwest border. Waves of Greek, Persian, and Mongols invaded, culminating in the Mughal Empire, which united much of the subcontinent prior to British conquest. The northwestern border still poses national security risks, due to ongoing disputes with Pakistan. But rising domestic consumption means India is increasingly dependent on imported goods from distant suppliers. Surrounded by water or impassable mountains, New Delhi now faces the additional task of developing naval capabilities to secure its critical supply routes, risking maritime tensions with China in the broader Indo-Pacific basin.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

India, Russia: Governments Aim To Boost Annual Bilateral Trade to $100B by 2030

India, Russia: Indian State Refineries Continue Russian Crude Purchases Despite U.S. Warnings

India, China: Governments Continue To Ease Tensions With New Agreements

India: Modi Announces Tax Cuts, Emphasizes Self-Reliance, Pledges Support for Farmers

India, China: China Plans To Send Foreign Minister Wang Yi to New Delhi

India, China: Eased Exports, Resumed Flights Show Continued Thaw in Relations

India: Government Halts Plans To Purchase U.S. Arms Following Trump's Tariff Hike

India, China: India's Modi To Visit China for First Time in Over Seven Years

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support