<p>The Asia-Pacific is home to more people than any other region. Centered on the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, this region includes the easternmost countries of continental Asia as well as the archipelagos that punctuate the coast. Several of these countries, most notably China, experienced rapid economic growth in the second half of the 20th century, giving the region a new sense of global economic relevance that continues today. That relevance, however, depends largely on China, a power in transition whose rise is testing the network of U.S. alliances that have long dominated the region. How effectively Beijing manages its transition will shape the regional balance of power in the decades to come.</p>

Centered on the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, the Asia-Pacific region includes the easternmost countries of continental Asia as well as the archipelagos that punctuate the coast. 

Asia-Pacific

Australia

Samoa

Brunei Darussalam

Cambodia

China

Timor-Leste

Federated States of Micronesia

Fiji

Indonesia

Japan

Kiribati

Laos

Malaysia

Marshall Islands

Mongolia

Myanmar

Nauru

New Zealand

North Korea

Palau

Papua New Guinea

Philippines

Singapore

Solomon Islands

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

Tonga

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

Vietnam

Beyond Quantitative Easing

The New Silk Road

Modernizing China’s Military

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

Globalization

Social Issues

Coping With a Nuclear North Korea

Moscow Looks to the East

China in Transition

A Japanese Awakening

Asia-Pacific: Among Great Powers

Southeast Asia: Burdened by Consensus

Assessments

Chile

United States

Venezuela

Israel

Saudi Arabia

India

Pakistan

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

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (C) after chairing a National Security Council on Nov. 11 in Bangkok. An armed clash on the Thai-Cambodian border raises the risk of escalations that unwind the two countries' recent peace accord, though a return to full-scale war is less likely due to U.S. economic and security leverage.

While the most likely scenario is recurring but contained flare-ups through early 2026, a more escalatory scenario remains plausible.

More Clashes, but Not Full-blown Conflict, Likely on the Cambodian-Thai Frontier

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan

Russia

Kyrgyzstan

U.S. President Donald Trump (C), joined by lawmakers and members of his administration, delivers remarks during a dinner with leaders of Central Asian countries in the East Room of the White House on Nov. 6, 2025.

Economics

Energy

The recent C5+1 summit highlighted the U.S.'s desire to boost cooperation with Central Asian countries on trade and critical minerals, but the region's geography, governance and reliance on China and Russia will ultimately limit the impact of such efforts. 

The Promise and Limits of Increased U.S. Engagement in Central Asia

Brazil

Iraq

Syria

Campaign posters Nov. 6 ahead of Nov. 11 Iraqi parliamentary elections in central Baghdad.

Environment, Science & Technology

The Weekly Rundown: Iraqi Elections, a U.S.-China Deal Enters Effect

U.S.-China Relations

South Sudan

Burundi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Kenya

Malawi

Mozambique

Rwanda

Tanzania

Uganda

Zambia

Europe

The Geopolitics of Trade

Global Trade

Over the next decade, Kenya and Tanzania will compete for the title of East Africa's leading trade gateway, particularly as global demand for Central Africa's critical minerals grows. 

The Geopolitics of Trade: The Race to Unlock East Africa, Part 1 

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a photo session for participants of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 on Sept. 1, 2025, in Tianjin, China.

The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) outlines Beijing's intent to continue current economic policies, pursue new industrial priorities, further securitize Chinese society, escalate Xi's anti-corruption campaign, and use lawfare to fend off foreign trade disputes.

President Xi Lays Out China's Plans for the Next Five Years

Snapshots

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and China's President Xi Jinping leave after their talks at the Gimhae Air Base, in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30, 2025. 

The framework deal favors China by boosting its export competitiveness, but future escalations with the U.S. are likely over the coming year due to differing interpretations of the new measures and ongoing trade tensions.

China Secures Favorable U.S. Trade Deal, New Escalations Still Likely

U.S. President Donald Trump (center) poses for a group photo with the leaders of (L-R) Singapore, East Timor, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia and Laos during the ASEAN leaders summit on Oct. 26, 2025. 

The summit highlighted the Southeast Asian bloc's attempts to boost internal unity and economic integration amid the U.S.-China rivalry, but it also exposed structural divides and external pressures that hinder unified action and leave ASEAN states vulnerable to coercion.

The Takeaways From the 2025 ASEAN Summit

Columns

On Security

Madagascar

Nigeria

South Africa

Ecuador

Peru

Jordan

Lebanon

Morocco

Tunisia

Turkey

Serbia

Bangladesh

Nepal

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

On Geopolitics

Germany

Slovakia

Hungary

Ukraine

European Council President Antonio Costa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrive for a meeting of the European Council on Oct. 23. The EU pursuit of geopolitical independence is being severely tested by Russia's direct security aggression, China's control over critical raw materials and competing economic pressures from the United States.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The EU pursuit of geopolitical independence is being severely tested by Russia's direct security aggression, China's control over critical raw materials and competing economic pressures from the United States.

Europe's Dual Challenge From China and Russia

The United States and South Korea on Nov. 14 jointly released a fact sheet about their Oct. 29 trade deal, with U.S. tariffs dropping from 25% to 15% and South Korea pledging to invest $200 billion in strategic projects, including energy and artificial intelligence, at a pace of $20 billion per year, but reserving the right to renegotiate if it faces economic difficulties.

South Korea, U.S.: Trade Deal Roughly Outlines Tariffs, Investments, Shipbuilding

Argentina

El Salvador

Guatemala

The United States has reached framework agreements with Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and Guatemala that will remove U.S. tariffs on some foods and other imported goods from these countries while also giving U.S. companies greater access to their markets, Reuters reported on Nov. 14.

Americas: Trade Deals To Help Ease Food Inflation, Secure Market Access for U.S. Manufacturers

Taiwanese legislator and founder of the civil defense organization Kuma Academy, Puma Shen, spoke on Nov. 13 in Berlin at the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, to a hearing of the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid about the threats to Western democracies from China's offline and online disinformation campaigns, Focus Taiwan reported. 


Taiwan: Taiwan's Third Europe Speaking Event Imperils EU-China Trade Talks, But Drills Unlikely

Cyber

The United States unveiled a new Scam Center Strike Force, a multi-agency task force to dismantle scam compounds in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos that defraud U.S. citizens and rely on forced labor, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 13.

U.S., Southeast Asia: Washington Launches Strike Force Targeting Regional Scam Centers

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto unveiled a new bilateral security treaty that obliges both nations to consult each other in the event of a security threat and to consider individual or joint measures in response, the Australian Financial Review reported on Nov. 12.

Australia, Indonesia: Canberra, Jakarta Unveil New Security Treaty

Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire for roughly 10 minutes along the border between Thailand's Sa Kaeo province and Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province, an area under Thailand's effective control but subject to overlapping territorial claims, AP reported on Nov. 12.

Thailand, Cambodia: Fresh Clash Follows Peace Plan Suspension

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Eurasia

South Asia

The International Energy Agency stated in its World Energy Outlook, published Nov. 12, that oil demand would not peak by 2050 unless current energy transition policies globally became more ambitious.

Global: IEA's 2025 World Energy Outlook Published With New Current Policies Scenario

Guinea

Guinean junta leader Gen. Mamadi Doumbouya inaugurated the start of iron ore exports from the country's $23 billion Simandou mine at the port of Morebaya, Radio France Internationale reported on Nov. 11.

Guinea: Authorities Inaugurate the Start of Iron Ore Exports From $23B Simandou Mine 

Asia-Pacific

SITUATION REPORTS

South Korea, U.S.: Trade Deal Roughly Outlines Tariffs, Investments, Shipbuilding

Americas: Trade Deals To Help Ease Food Inflation, Secure Market Access for U.S. Manufacturers

Taiwan: Taiwan's Third Europe Speaking Event Imperils EU-China Trade Talks, But Drills Unlikely

U.S., Southeast Asia: Washington Launches Strike Force Targeting Regional Scam Centers

Australia, Indonesia: Canberra, Jakarta Unveil New Security Treaty

Thailand, Cambodia: Fresh Clash Follows Peace Plan Suspension

Global: IEA's 2025 World Energy Outlook Published With New Current Policies Scenario

Guinea: Authorities Inaugurate the Start of Iron Ore Exports From $23B Simandou Mine

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