United States

Ukraine

Russia

Military & Security

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had discussed strengthening Ukraine's air defenses with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in France, including air defense systems and possible licenses for Ukraine to produce anti-ballistic systems and missiles, RBC-Ukraine reported on June 16. 

Ukraine, U.S.: G7 Partners Press Trump on Ukraine's Air Defense Gap

Nigeria

The Abuja Federal High Court directed Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister five opposition parties, including presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar's African Democratic Congress, or ADC, and prevent them from partaking in Nigeria's 2027 general election for failing to meet electoral performance thresholds set out in the Nigerian Constitution, the Daily Trust reported on June 15.

Nigeria: Federal High Court Orders Electoral Commission To Deregister Leading Opposition Party

Europe

Economics

The European Parliament voted 440 in favor, 151 against and 50 abstaining to approve legislation implementing the July 2025 EU-U.S. trade framework, the parliament announced in a June 16 press release.

EU, U.S.: European Parliament Approves EU-U.S. Trade Deal Implementation

China

Nepal

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, who is currently on a four-day trip to China, said he discussed boosting cooperation in trade, agriculture, health, tourism, and science and technology research with Chinese officials, Reuters reported June 16.

Nepal: Foreign Minister Visits China Days After Visiting India

Iran

Energy

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a new round of negotiations with the United States focused on Iran's nuclear program will likely begin on June 19 after the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding enters into effect, Al Jazeera reported on June 16. 

U.S., Iran: U.S. and Iran Likely To Restart Negotiations on Nuclear Program on June 19

U.S.-Iran Relations

Sudan

Saudi Arabia

The Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, is no longer seeking to purchase Iranian weapons and is instead looking to build closer ties with the United States and Saudi Arabia to end Sudan's civil war, Bloomberg reported on June 16, quoting a senior SAF source. 

Sudan: SAF Official Claims Halt to Purchases of Iranian Weapons in Push To Woo Trump Administration

Myanmar

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing during the latter's state visit to China, where the two leaders signed 18 cooperation agreements, Xinhua reported June 16.

China, Myanmar: Beijing Gives Myanmar's New Government a Legitimacy Boost

Israel

Lebanon

Syria

Speaking on the sidelines at the Group of Seven summit alongside Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Israel's campaign in Lebanon, saying it went too far, and added that he thought Syria would do a better job of fighting Lebanon's Hezbollah than the Israelis, Bloomberg reported on June 16.

Syria, Lebanon: Trump Suggests Syrian Troops Should Fight Hezbollah

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

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

Algeria

The Council of the National Assembly, Algeria's primary legislative body, is seen in Algiers.

Upcoming elections are unlikely to change the pro-president composition of Algeria's lower house, making significant policy change or reforms unlikely.

Algeria's Parliamentary Elections Will Yield Policy Continuity

France

United Kingdom

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting with leaders of the G7 Engagement Groups ahead of the upcoming G7 summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris on June 10, 2026. 

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 Talks Continue, France Hosts G7 Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago club on Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Declining public approval and notable primary losses for traditional pro-Israel lawmakers suggest that a future U.S. Congress will increasingly push for military assistance to be conditioned.

U.S.-Israeli Ties Likely To Continue Cooling as Public Opinion Sours

A digital illustration of Europe.

Environment, Science & Technology

The EU's push to reduce its reliance on foreign technology suppliers risks angering both China and the U.S., while execution will be hindered by domestic industrial constraints and internal political divisions.

Key Takeaways From the EU's Tech Sovereignty Package

Turkey

The ousted chair of Turkey's opposition Republican People’s Party, Ozgur Ozel, addresses lawmakers during his party's group meeting in the Turkish parliament on June 2, 2026, in Ankara, Turkey. 

Turkey's main opposition party will struggle to gain traction amid legal battle and deepening internal divisions, freeing up the ruling party to consider returning to more unorthodox economic policies ahead of the 2028 election.

Turkey's Opposition Struggles To Stay United in the Face of Legal Strife

Iraq

Members of Saraya al-Salam gather during a ceremony in the city of Samarra on June 4, 2026, marking their separation from the Sadrist movement and their integration into the Iraqi security forces.

Several militant factions have recently expressed a desire to integrate into Iraq's government structures, but more hard-line groups are unlikely to follow suit without Iran's approval.

Iraq's Push To Disarm Iranian-Backed Militias Will Have Only Partial Success

Columns

On Geopolitics

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?

Snapshots

Brazil

A passerby walks past the Banco Master building in Sao Paulo on Jan. 22, 2026, after Brazil's central bank ordered its shutdown due to a major liquidity crunch and "serious violations" of financial regulations.

Brazil faces severe institutional friction and heightened market volatility as a widening investigation into massive financial fraud threatens to ensnare prominent politicians, justices and businesspeople.

Deepening Corruption Scandal Could Upend Brazilian Presidential Race

A Ukrainian flag flies in Riga, Latvia, on May 18, 2026.

Even a sustainable peace settlement would leave Kyiv grappling with a $600 billion reconstruction bill, demanding high levels of foreign direct investment and stringent governance reforms.

Ukraine's Defense Will Continue To Strain Government Finances

People pass by a building in Ramat Gan, Israel, that was destroyed by an Iranian ballistic missile on May 5, 2026. 

Recent direct strikes between Israel and Iran did not immediately collapse the regional truce, but recurrent tit-for-tat escalations would reduce the chance of an agreement between Washington and Tehran.

Iran-Israel Escalation Threatens Negotiations To End Iran War

Media

Podcasts

Will the United States continue to pay the "blood and treasure" tax to subsidize global energy security, or is the Hormuz war the catalyst for a fundamental retrenchment?

The Decision Advantage: What the Hormuz War Means for U.S. Grand Strategy

Peru

North Korea

Armenia

A banner depicting the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on June 3 in Tehran. There will be an elevated risk of sporadic U.S.-Iran clashes over the next week, as no signs of a diplomatic breakthrough in U.S.-Iran negotiations on a memorandum of understanding have emerged.

The Weekly Rundown: Armenian Elections, Xi Goes to North Korea

Politics

SITUATION REPORTS

Ukraine, U.S.: G7 Partners Press Trump on Ukraine's Air Defense Gap

Nigeria: Federal High Court Orders Electoral Commission To Deregister Leading Opposition Party

EU, U.S.: European Parliament Approves EU-U.S. Trade Deal Implementation

Nepal: Foreign Minister Visits China Days After Visiting India

U.S., Iran: U.S. and Iran Likely To Restart Negotiations on Nuclear Program on June 19

Sudan: SAF Official Claims Halt to Purchases of Iranian Weapons in Push To Woo Trump Administration

China, Myanmar: Beijing Gives Myanmar's New Government a Legitimacy Boost

Syria, Lebanon: Trump Suggests Syrian Troops Should Fight Hezbollah

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