Mali

Military & Security

Politics

In a rare video message released Dec. 22, influential Malian religious leader Imam  Mahmoud  Dicko called on Malians to "rise up and come together" and end restrictions on freedoms and widespread hardship, RFI reported Dec. 23.

Mali: Leading Imam Issues Rare Video Appeal for Malians To Rise Up

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Russia

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian told Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia, that substantial and positive changes are underway in the South Caucasus, citing resumed rail transit through Azerbaijan and a new agenda to restore key railway segments connecting Armenia with Azerbaijan and Turkey, Armenpress reported Dec. 22.

Armenia, Russia: Leaders Tout Transport Links Amid Regional Geopolitical Shifts

Madagascar

Russia has delivered an arms shipment to Madagascar's military government, Bloomberg reported Dec. 22.

Madagascar: Russia Delivers Weapons Shipment to New Junta 

United States

China

Environment, Science & Technology

The Office of the United States Trade Representative concluded a yearlong Section 301 investigation, finding China's semiconductor industrial policies "unreasonable," but said any new tariffs on Chinese legacy chips will be delayed until June 2027 with rates announced at least 30 days in advance, the Financial Times reported Dec. 23. 

China: Washington Delays New Chip Tariffs to 2027 Amid Fragile Trade Truce

U.S.-China Relations

Tunisia

Nourredine Taboubi, the secretary-general of the Tunisian General Labor Union, or UGTT, resigned, Reuters reported Dec. 23.

Tunisia: Chief of Largest Labor Union Resigns Ahead of Strike

Colombia

Economics

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Dec. 22 signed a decree stating that the country was facing an "imminent fiscal crisis" and declaring a 30-day economic emergency, allowing the government to adopt special taxes to reach its revenue target for 2026, Deutsche Welle reported Dec. 23. 

Colombia: President Petro Declares Economic Emergency To Implement Special Taxes

Global Trade

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) blacklisted all new foreign-made drones and components on Dec. 22, deeming that they pose "an unacceptable risk" to U.S. national security, Reuters reported Dec. 23.

U.S.: FCC Prohibits Approval of All New Foreign-Made Drones 

Indonesia

Indonesian officials said Jakarta and Washington had resolved all substantive issues in bilateral tariff talks and planned to formally sign a trade agreement in late January during a visit by President Prabowo Subianto to meet U.S. President Donald Trump, the South China Morning Post reported Dec. 23. 

Indonesia, U.S.: Jakarta Claims Trade Deal Issues Resolved, Paving Way for January Signing

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

Snapshots

United Kingdom

The Sevington Inland Border Facility on April 29, 2024, in southeast England. Rejoining the EU customs framework would require London to accept a common external tariff and strict regulatory alignment, meaning a successful negotiation remains unlikely in the short to medium term.

Rejoining the bloc's customs framework would require London to accept a common external tariff and strict regulatory alignment, meaning a successful negotiation remains unlikely in the short to medium term.

Despite Growing Calls, U.K. Unlikely To Rejoin EU Customs Union

Assessments

Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addresses the Bundestag on Dec 17 in Berlin. Persistent internal divisions and narrow parliamentary majorities are forcing the dilution of key economic and defense initiatives, undermining investor confidence in Germany's capacity for reform.

Persistent internal divisions and narrow parliamentary majorities are forcing the dilution of key economic and defense initiatives, undermining investor confidence in Germany's capacity for reform.

Deadlock and Dissent Leave Merz's Reform Agenda Floundering

Venezuela

Cambodia

Thailand

Ukraine

A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II on Dec. 15 taxis at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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

The Weekly Rundown: French Budget Deadlock, U.S.-Russia Talks in Miami

Israel

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

YemenYemenis rally to show their support for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council on Dec. 14, 2025.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Escalating tensions and potential violence between the Southern Transitional Council and Saudi-backed forces create security vacuums that Houthi rebels will likely exploit.



Yemen's Anti-Houthi Bloc Is Fracturing

Algeria

People walk through a main square in Algeria's capital of Algiers on Sept. 15, 2024.

Energy

By introducing Sharia-compliant debt instruments, the Algerian government aims to tap into significant informal savings and diversify its funding sources while avoiding external debt. 

Algeria's Islamic Bonds an Incomplete Step Toward Diversifying Government Revenues

A container ship arrives Oct. 10 at the Port of Oakland, California. In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

Cyber

In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

2026 Annual Forecast: A Global Overview

A stock photo shows banknotes of the Russian ruble. 

The European Union using immobilized Russian assets to fund financial support for Ukraine will probably not have major reputational or financial consequences for the eurozone.


Using Frozen Russian Assets To Fund Ukraine Unlikely To Majorly Impact the Euro

South Africa

Chile

France

The Ukrainian flag is projected on the facade of Berlaymont, the European Commission headquarters, in Brussels on Nov. 18 to commemorate the Nov. 18, 2024, Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Weekly Rundown: A European Council Decision on Ukraine Financing, South Africa Braces for Commission Findings

Tunisia's President Kais Saied (top-R) waits to take his oath of office during his swearing-in ceremony before the National Assembly in Tunis on Oct. 21, 2024. 

Despite tensions with union leaders, Tunisia's controversial finance bill will introduce reforms that attract foreign investment and increase production in key sectors.

Strikes Loom as Tunisia's Government Undermines Labor Union

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (center), flanked by his wife (left) and Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh (right), attends the official inauguration ceremony of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Guba, on Sept. 9, 2025.

Worsening tensions over sea access and Eritrea's ties to groups opposed to the Ethiopian government raise the risk of intensifying proxy clashes that could quickly escalate into a larger military confrontation.

Assessing the Risk of an Ethiopia-Eritrea War in 2026

Iran

Lebanon

Palestinian Territories

Israeli air defence systems are activated to intercept Iranian missiles over the Israeli city of Tel Aviv amid a fresh barrage of Iranian rockets on June 16, 2025.

If effective, the laser air defense system will significantly reduce the cost of intercepting short-range aerial threats and bolster Israel's multilayered protection against aerial attacks.


The Role of Iron Beam in Israel's Evolving Defense Architecture

Jordanian police close the entrance of a Muslim Brotherhood headquarters on April 23, 2025, in Amman, Jordan.

While the White House has initiated a review process to label the Muslim Brotherhood a Foreign Terrorist Organization, it is unlikely to result in a comprehensive ban on the group.

U.S. Unlikely To Broadly Designate Muslim Brotherhood as a Terrorist Organization

Politics

SITUATION REPORTS

Mali: Leading Imam Issues Rare Video Appeal for Malians To Rise Up

Armenia, Russia: Leaders Tout Transport Links Amid Regional Geopolitical Shifts

Madagascar: Russia Delivers Weapons Shipment to New Junta

China: Washington Delays New Chip Tariffs to 2027 Amid Fragile Trade Truce

Tunisia: Chief of Largest Labor Union Resigns Ahead of Strike

Colombia: President Petro Declares Economic Emergency To Implement Special Taxes

U.S.: FCC Prohibits Approval of All New Foreign-Made Drones

Indonesia, U.S.: Jakarta Claims Trade Deal Issues Resolved, Paving Way for January Signing

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