United States

Environment, Science & Technology

Politics

Social Issues

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced on Feb. 20 a public inquiry into major tech platforms' content moderation policies and decisions to ban users over the content of their speech or affiliations. 

U.S.: FTC Launches Tech Censorship Inquiry

Australia

China

New Zealand

Military & Security

Australia and New Zealand are actively monitoring a Chinese naval task force transiting south off Australia's east coast 150 nautical miles east of Sydney, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported on Feb. 20.

China, Australia, New Zealand: Canberra, Wellington Monitoring PLA Naval Presence Near Their Waters

Malaysia

Economics

Malaysia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' 2025 chair, announced that it is seeking a summit with the United States to address the bloc's concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed 25% tariffs on automobiles, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, Reuters reported on Feb. 20.

ASEAN, U.S.: Chair Malaysia Seeks Summit With Washington on Tariffs

El Salvador

Mexico

Venezuela

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Feb. 20 issued a statement confirming that the Trump administration designated eight transnational criminal groups as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, or SDGTs, in addition to their designations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, or FTOs, which Rubio announced on Feb. 19.

U.S., Latin America: Criminal Groups Designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists

South Africa

South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana postponed the presentation of the country's 2025 budget after the center-right Democratic Alliance, or DA, opposed plans to increase the country's value-added tax, or VAT, rate from 15% to 17%, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 20. 

South Africa: Government Postpones Budget Over Disagreement on VAT Hike

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, "It’s possible," when asked about making a new trade deal with China, adding, "There’s a little bit of competitiveness, but the relationship I have with President Xi [Jinping] is, I would say, a great one," Bloomberg reported on Feb. 19.

U.S., China: Trump Open To Trade Negotiations, but a Deal Remains Distant

U.S.-China Relations

Ukraine

Russia

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

At a press conference, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was more confident in achieving a settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war after the Feb. 18 talks between Russian and U.S. delegations in Saudi Arabia, adding that he would probably meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin around the end of February, Reuters reported on Feb. 19. 

U.S., Russia, Ukraine: Trump Criticizes Zelensky Ahead of Putin Summit

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a notice designating eight transnational criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations, Reuters reported on Feb. 19. 

U.S., Latin America: U.S. Declares Eight Transnational Criminal Groups Foreign Terrorist Organizations

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

Assessments

South Korea

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (second from right) attends the fifth hearing of his impeachment trial over his short-lived imposition of martial law at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Feb. 4, 2025.

South Korea’s top court will likely uphold Yoon’s impeachment, clearing the way for a more progressive government. But the alternate scenario in which Yoon remains in office and fuels more protests and political instability cannot be ruled out. 

In South Korea, Yoon's Ouster Will Resolve Political Instability -- For Now

Iran

Iraq

Lebanon

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Turkey

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan welcomes his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani before attending an Arab officials' meeting in Riyadh on Jan. 12, 2025.

Saudi Arabia's re-engagement with Lebanon, Syria and Iraq aims to counterbalance Turkey, Qatar and Iran but faces limits due to sectarian politics and foreign interference, which may make Riyadh more assertive over time.

Saudi Arabia Moves To Counterbalance Turkey and Qatar, Replace Iran in the Levant

Columns

On Geopolitics

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Crowds of Palestinians gather to receive food outside a U.N. aid distribution center in the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah on Nov. 2, 2024.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The displacement of any Palestinians from the Gaza Strip will further erode post-World War II norms against population transfers, laying the groundwork for future global conflicts.

Trump's Gaza Plan Risks Further Eroding Global Constraints on Population Removals

United Kingdom

The U.K. flag is flown near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to honor the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, on Sept. 9, 2022.

While the U.K. will likely avoid major U.S. tariffs, concessions to Trump could undermine London's push to ''reset'' ties with the EU and expand economic engagement with China.

Trump's Tariff Threats Will Complicate the U.K.'s Trade Balancing Act

Media

Germany

Podcasts

Will Germany's ''fire-wall'' against the far-right hold?

Essential Geopolitics: Germany's Pivotal Upcoming Election

Global Elections

(Left to right) U.S., Saudi and Russian officials attend a meeting in Riyadh on Feb. 18, 2025.

While the talks open the door to a ceasefire, the exclusion of Ukraine and its European partners creates the risk of a deal that is not enforced and fails to end the fighting.

What To Expect From U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine

Fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stand atop a humvee in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province during a joint military exercise with the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State on Sept. 7, 2022.

The threat of a Turkish offensive and decreasing U.S. aid will increasingly pressure the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces to reach a deal with Syria's new government. 

The Uncertain Future of U.S.-Backed Kurds in Syria

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Kenya

Rwanda

Sri Lanka

Damage on Feb. 13 in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Mideast Ceasefires and Arab Gaza Proposals, the AU Summit

A truck crosses the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan, on Jan. 31, 2025. 

In addition to potentially triggering painful retaliatory tariffs from top U.S. trade partners, the tariffs could upend U.S. supply chains as domestic manufacturers struggle to boost production.

The Impact of Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs

The OECD logo is seen at the organization's headquarters in Paris, France, on Dec. 5, 2024.

Trump's move to exit the deal and investigate other countries' alleged discriminatory tax policies could result in the U.S. imposing retaliatory trade and tax measures on foreign companies and individuals.

The Impact of Trump's Withdrawal From the OECD Global Tax Deal

Snapshots

Romania

People wave Romanian flags and hold portraits of far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu during a protest in front of Romania's Constitutional Court in Bucharest on Jan. 10, 2025. 

The crisis is raising the risk of a far-right president taking office that would disrupt foreign policy and, less likely, a far-right prime minister that would strain EU relations and jeopardize crucial funds from the bloc.

Romania's Deepening Political Crisis Risks Empowering the Far-Right

France

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou (center) addresses the National Assembly in Paris, France, on Feb. 5, 2025, ahead of a vote on a no-confidence motion against him. 

The approval of a budget for 2025 averts an immediate political crisis and offers short-term relief to markets, yet France's politics are still unstable and its medium-term fiscal policy direction remains uncertain.

France Passes Its 2025 Budget, but Political and Economic Challenges Persist

Politics

SITUATION REPORTS

U.S.: FTC Launches Tech Censorship Inquiry

China, Australia, New Zealand: Canberra, Wellington Monitoring PLA Naval Presence Near Their Waters

ASEAN, U.S.: Chair Malaysia Seeks Summit With Washington on Tariffs

U.S., Latin America: Criminal Groups Designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists

South Africa: Government Postpones Budget Over Disagreement on VAT Hike

U.S., China: Trump Open To Trade Negotiations, but a Deal Remains Distant

U.S., Russia, Ukraine: Trump Criticizes Zelensky Ahead of Putin Summit

U.S., Latin America: U.S. Declares Eight Transnational Criminal Groups Foreign Terrorist Organizations

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