Somalia

Military & Security

Politics

Somali opposition figures, including the Somali Future Council coalition, or SFC, and former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, said the term of Somalia's parliament had expired, and both the SFC and Farmajo stressed that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term would expire on May 15, Somalia Today reported on April 15. 

Somalia: Dispute Over Duration of Presidential, Parliamentary Terms Portends Constitutional Crisis

Ethiopia

The chief administrator of Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, Lt. Gen. Tadesse Werede, said he would not step down after Ethiopia's federal government extended his term for one year, Addis Standard reported on April 15.

Ethiopia: Tigray Chief Administrator Says He Will Not Step Down Amid TPLF Pressure

India

A special session of India's Parliament beginning on April 16 is expected to discuss a constitutional amendment that would increase the size of the lower house from 543 to 850 members, Bloomberg reported on April 15.

India: BJP To Propose Constitutional Amendment on Delimitation and Parliament Expansion

Azerbaijan

Russia

Russia and Azerbaijan said they had agreed to settle the consequences of the December 2024 crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 near Aktau, Kazakhstan, including compensation payments, and stated the incident resulted from the unintended operation of a Russian air defense system, a joint foreign ministry statement published on April 15 said.

Russia, Azerbaijan: Moscow and Baku Settle 2024 Azerbaijan Airlines Crash Dispute

United States

Venezuela

Economics

The United States issued two new general licenses allowing financial transactions with some Venezuelan banks and ‌government officials, the U.S. Treasury Department announced on April 13. 

U.S. Venezuela: Washington Issues Licenses for Venezuelan Banks

Indonesia

France

Energy

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in defense procurement, defense industrial cooperation and energy transition work, AFP reported on April 15.

Indonesia, France: Paris Visit Advances Defense Buildout as Jakarta Broadens Strategic Options

China

Vietnam

Environment, Science & Technology

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam signed cooperation documents covering agriculture, education and railway construction, and China pledged deeper cooperation on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, digital infrastructure and state technology systems, Reuters reported on April 15. 

China, Vietnam: Rail, Digital and Security Deals Deepen Institutional Ties

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

The Democratic Republic of Congo's government and the Rwandan-backed M23 signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Committee of the Red Cross, or ICRC, providing for the transfer of an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Congolese soldiers held in areas under M23 control, RFI reported on April 15.

Congo: M23 Signs Soldier Transfer Deal Amid Ongoing Geneva Peace Talks With Government

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

Nigeria

The Dangote petroleum refinery plant is seen in Lagos, Nigeria, on April 6, 2026.

Nigeria will enjoy a short-term revenue boost from elevated oil prices, but the potential for renewed instability in the Niger Delta could undermine efforts to increase oil production.

Nigeria's Oil Gains From Iran War Face Old Challenges

Philippines

A Chinese navy ship (background left) is seen while an Australian navy ship (right) takes part in a maritime cooperative activity with the Philippines and Canada in the disputed waters of the South China Sea on Sept. 3, 2025.

China, the Philippines and Vietnam's efforts to rebalance coercive activity with diplomatic engagement have temporarily lowered escalation risks, but persistent rivalries ensure long-term volatility.

In the South China Sea, Managed Tension Masks Long-Term Volatility

Columns

On Geopolitics

The Geopolitics of Natural Resources

Weaponizing raw material exports can provide short-term political leverage, but it often pushes the targeted nations to permanently restructure their trade relationships to reduce dependencies.

The Historical Lessons of Global Commodity Weaponization

Media

Podcasts

An in-depth, forward-looking examination of key risks and trends to watch as the legal, regulatory and compliance landscape continues to evolve.

The Decision Advantage: The Outlook for the Legal, Regulatory and Compliance Landscape

Hungary

Ukraine

Peter Magyar, lead candidate of the Tisza party, speaks to reporters in Budapest on April 13, 2026, after his party's sweeping victory in Hungary's parliamentary elections.

With a two-thirds supermajority, the new government will be able to dismantle Orban's entrenched institutional and economic influence, as well as reset EU relations. But a swift and drastic reversal in Hungary-Ukraine relations remains unlikely.

Hungary's Pro-EU Opposition Wins Big, Ending the Orban Era

Iran

Israel

Lebanon

Yemen

U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks as special envoys Jared Kushner (L) and Steve Witkoff listen during a news conference after a meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran on April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan. 

The U.S. blockade may not immediately collapse the ceasefire with Iran, but it will further disrupt maritime shipping and the global economy.

After U.S.-Iran Talks Fail, Washington Moves To Blockade the Strait of Hormuz

Canada

Peru

A digital screen displaying news of U.S.-Iran peace talks April 10 in Islamabad. The United States and Iran are set to begin contentious talks April 11 in Islamabad, Pakistan, with disputes over the 10-point proposal as a framework for discussions and major gaps between U.S. and Iranian demands.

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, Hungarians Vote

U.S.-Iran Relations

Snapshots

Haiti

Debris surrounds a school destroyed by armed gangs back in 2024 in the Solino neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 3, 2026.

Haiti's extreme insecurity and political instability are highly unlikely to improve ahead of planned elections in August, raising the risk of mass unrest that could collapse the already weakened government.

Haiti's Security and Political Crises Heighten Risk of State Collapse

Argentina

View of the Perito Moreno Glacier at Los Glaciares National Park near El Calafate, Santa Cruz province, Argentina, taken on June 8, 2025.

By dismantling uniform national protections in favor of provincial oversight, Argentina aims to stimulate its extractive-export economy but will risk the long-term security of water-dependent sectors and the environment.

Argentina's Revised Glaciers Law Will Unlock Mining Investment, but Risks Environmental Degradation

Vietnamese Communist Party general secretary To Lam speaks during the opening session of the National Assembly in Hanoi on April 6, 2026.

The leadership consolidation points to a governing model focused on speed, discipline and execution, albeit with increased risks stemming from reduced internal debate and fewer institutional checks.

Vietnam's Lam Makes History by Assuming Dual Role of Party Leader and President

Cuba

Mexico

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Taiwan

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2026 Second-Quarter Geopolitical Forecast.

2026 Second-Quarter Forecast Webcast

Lithuania

Latvia

Estonia

A soldier from the "Taifun" unmanned aerial vehicle unit prepares a new strike drone for flight on April 7, 2026 in Ukraine. 

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Although Moscow is threatening retaliation against Baltic states over supposed involvement in Ukraine's drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, the Kremlin will not risk a direct military confrontation with NATO.


Direct NATO-Russia Confrontation in the Baltic Unlikely, Despite Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Energy Infrastructure 

Politics

SITUATION REPORTS

Somalia: Dispute Over Duration of Presidential, Parliamentary Terms Portends Constitutional Crisis

Ethiopia: Tigray Chief Administrator Says He Will Not Step Down Amid TPLF Pressure

India: BJP To Propose Constitutional Amendment on Delimitation and Parliament Expansion

Russia, Azerbaijan: Moscow and Baku Settle 2024 Azerbaijan Airlines Crash Dispute

U.S. Venezuela: Washington Issues Licenses for Venezuelan Banks

Indonesia, France: Paris Visit Advances Defense Buildout as Jakarta Broadens Strategic Options

China, Vietnam: Rail, Digital and Security Deals Deepen Institutional Ties

Congo: M23 Signs Soldier Transfer Deal Amid Ongoing Geneva Peace Talks With Government

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support