<p>To the west of Eurasia lays Europe, a region predisposed to division. It is surrounded on nearly all sides by islands and peninsulas that make it difficult for Europe to cohere. The northern half of the continent, moreover, sits on a plain whose short, meandering rivers tend to empower countries without forcing them to work with others. The southern half is situated on more mountainous terrain that has historically impeded the creation of strong, unified economies. As a result, Europe is a continent riven by pockets of distinct cultures whose differences are all too often irreconcilable.</p>

Europe is a continent riven by pockets of distinct cultures whose differences are all too often irreconcilable.

Europe

Belize

Andorra

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Holy See

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

North Macedonia

San Marino

Sweden

United Kingdom

Bulgaria

Portugal

Serbia

Croatia

Poland

Romania

Cyprus

Norway

Austria

Slovakia

Albania

Slovenia

Netherlands

Switzerland

Spain

Montenegro

Monaco

Italy

Ireland

Iceland

Hungary

Kosovo

Beyond Quantitative Easing

The Ukraine Conflict

The Politics of Pipelines

EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

Brexit

The Fate of the Eurozone

Banking

Crossing Borders

Globalization

European Disintegration

Echoes of the Cold War

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

Assessments

South Africa

United States

South Korea

Ukraine

The Reichstag on Jan. 22 in Berlin. The center-right alliance between the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, is widely expected to emerge as the largest bloc in the Bundestag after the Feb. 23 general election and lead the next coalition government.

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

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: German Elections, Macron and Starmer Meet Trump

China

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

Podcasts

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

Essential Geopolitics: Germany's Pivotal Upcoming Election

Global Elections

Russia

(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

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

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

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

Campaign posters featuring various German parties are pictured in Kastel, western Germany, on Jan. 22, 2025, ahead of parliamentary elections.

A two-party coalition could lead to more streamlined decision-making in Berlin, while a three-party coalition may lead to instability, prolonging policy uncertainty both domestically and within the EU.

Germany's Election: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Ecuador

Jordan

India

Jordan's King Abdullah II speaks to the press in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12, 2024.

The Weekly Rundown: Trump Meets With India and Jordan's Leaders, Ecuador Holds Elections

Sub-Saharan Africa

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Tanzania

Americas

Brazil

Colombia

Cuba

Haiti

Nicaragua

Venezuela

Iraq

Israel

Lebanon

Palestinian Territories

Syria

Yemen

Cambodia

Indonesia

South Asia

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

The lobby of the headquarters for the U.S. Agency for International Development is seen on Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. 

Social Issues

Cuts to U.S.-funded humanitarian and development programs could worsen global health outcomes, destabilize security environments, accelerate democratic backsliding, and create opportunities for rival powers to expand their influence.

The Global Implications of Trump's Foreign Aid Cuts

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Apple stopped offering its Advanced Data Protection feature for new users in the United Kingdom following London's January order for Apple to build a backdoor enabling the government to access encrypted user data, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 21.

U.K.: Apple Stops Offering End-to-End iCloud Encryption Service in U.K.

Ambassadors from the European Union's 27 member states unanimously approved the bloc's 16th sanctions package against Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Politico reported on Feb. 19.

Europe, Russia, Ukraine: EU Approves New Sanctions Against Russia, Prepares Military Aid for Ukraine

Egypt

Energy

Cyprus and Egypt signed agreements that would see Cyprus send offshore natural gas to Egypt, where liquefaction facilities at Idku and Damietta would commercialize and reexport the gas, AP reported on Feb. 17.

Cyprus, Egypt: Countries Sign Agreements To Export Cypriot Gas via Egypt

France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain and the European Commission issued a joint statement insisting on being included in any future negotiations concerning Ukraine's fate following a meeting with Ukraine's foreign minister in Paris, France, Reuters reported on Feb. 12. 

Europe, Ukraine: Europe Demands a Seat at the Negotiating Table for Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump held his first officially recognized phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and, immediately afterward, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since retaking office on Jan. 20, Reuters reported on Feb. 12.

U.S., Russia, Ukraine: Trump Holds First Official Phone Calls With Putin, Zelensky

Government formation negotiations between Austria's far-right Freedom Party and the center-right Austrian People's Party broke down over disagreements on the allocation of key ministerial positions, Reuters reported on Feb. 12, citing a statement from Freedom Party leader and chancellor candidate Herbert Kickl.

Austria: Coalition Negotiations Involving Far-Right Freedom Party Party Collapse

The European Commission is considering introducing a temporary gas price cap as part of a broader Feb. 26 industrial policy package to boost competitiveness and curb energy costs in the bloc, the Financial Times reported on Feb. 12.

EU: Brussels Weighs Gas Price Cap Amid Soaring Costs, Despite Opposition From Industry Groups

The French Parliament rejected a no-confidence motion tabled by the far-left France Unbowed party (LFI) against Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's minority government for using Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to pass part of the social security budget without a vote, Le Monde reported Feb. 10. 

France: PM Bayrou Survives Another No-Confidence Vote Over 2025 Budget

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

U.K.: Apple Stops Offering End-to-End iCloud Encryption Service in U.K.

Europe, Russia, Ukraine: EU Approves New Sanctions Against Russia, Prepares Military Aid for Ukraine

Cyprus, Egypt: Countries Sign Agreements To Export Cypriot Gas via Egypt

Europe, Ukraine: Europe Demands a Seat at the Negotiating Table for Ukraine

U.S., Russia, Ukraine: Trump Holds First Official Phone Calls With Putin, Zelensky

Austria: Coalition Negotiations Involving Far-Right Freedom Party Party Collapse

EU: Brussels Weighs Gas Price Cap Amid Soaring Costs, Despite Opposition From Industry Groups

France: PM Bayrou Survives Another No-Confidence Vote Over 2025 Budget

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support