<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

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Netherlands

Switzerland

Spain

Montenegro

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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

Supporters of Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik watch him speak in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, on Feb. 26, 2025. 

Military & Security

Politics

Republika Srpska's separatist leader will likely defy a ruling to step down, causing institutional paralysis and Western backlash, but early elections or a unilateral declaration of independence are also possible.

The Potential Outcomes of Bosnia's Emerging Political Crisis

Employees work at a production line as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attend the groundbreaking ceremony for a new munitions factory of German defense contractor Rheinmetall on Feb. 12, 2024, in Unterluess, Germany.

The Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loan facility will enable joint investment in critical capabilities -- such as missile defense, drones and military mobility -- while promoting joint procurement and cross-border collaboration.

How the EU's SAFE Loans Package Will Reshape Europe's Defense Industry

United States

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Russia

Afghanistan

Pakistan

The flag of Afghanistan sits on the Afghan embassy in Moscow on July 4, 2025. 

As Afghanistan's neighbors deepen ties with the Taliban and Western states remain cautious, a widening diplomatic divide threatens to complicate efforts to address the country's worsening crises and regional security risks.

The Growing International Divide Over Taliban Ties Will Risk Regional Stability

Cambodia

Thailand

Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Oval Office of the White House on July 22, 2025. 

Economics

Global Trade

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: Last-Minute U.S. Trade Talks, a New Polish President

Columns

On Geopolitics

Belarus

A view in Rostock, Germany, of the first exit of warships for the NATO exercise BALTOPS in the Baltic Sea on June 5, 2025. 

In response to Russian aggression, NATO is seeking to establish strategic control over the Baltic Sea via rearmament and more assertive posturing, creating an environment where the risk of miscalculation grows exponentially.

Baltic on the Brink: The New Flashpoint in Europe's Confrontation With Russia

A digital illustration shows a digital human head overlaying the EU flag.

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Growing internal and U.S. pressure will likely force Brussels to delay or amend its landmark AI law, fueling short-term regulatory uncertainty that could hinder the technology's development in Europe.

The Fate of the EU's Ambitious AI Act

Snapshots

The EU flag is seen on stacked cargo containers.

The framework deal avoids an escalation of tit-for-tat tariffs that would have strained both economies, but various unresolved issues could still reignite transatlantic trade tensions in the future.

New U.S.-EU Deal Averts Full-Blown Trade War -- For Now

Canada

Mexico

China

Japan

South Korea

Taiwan

A Cambodian soldier stands on a truck with a rocket launcher in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province, which borders Thailand, on July 25, 2025. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.S. Tariff Deadline Passes, Thai-Cambodian Border Tensions Persist

U.S.-China Relations

A protester holds a Ukrainian flag in downtown Kyiv on July 22, 2025, during a demonstration calling for President Volodymyr Zelensky to veto a law that reduces the powers of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies.

A new law placing Ukraine's two anti-corruption agencies under executive control raises the risk of further protests that could destabilize Zelensky's government and undermine its war effort.

In Ukraine, a Controversial Law Fuels Protests and Corruption Concerns

Flags of EU countries are seen outside the European Parliament building in Brussels, Belgium, on April 5, 2025.

The proposed budget prioritizes competitiveness, defense and strategic autonomy, but it will face significant internal resistance regarding revenue sources, spending cuts and greater centralization.

Reviewing the 2028-2034 EU Budget: New Priorities and Anticipated Pushback

EU foreign ministers convened an emergency video summit to discuss the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Politico reported on Aug. 11.

Europe, Ukraine, Russia: European Leaders To Meet Trump and Zelensky Ahead of Trump-Putin Meeting

Energy

Romanian authorities are investigating a suspected case of Russian sabotage involving the deliberate contamination of Azerbaijani crude bound for OMV Petrom's Petrobrazi refinery, G4media reported Aug. 7, citing sources close to the investigation.

Europe, Romania, Russia: Russia Suspected of Sabotage Behind Contaminated Batches of Azerbaijani Crude

Israel

Palestinian Territories

The Israeli security cabinet approved a plan to take control over Gaza City on Aug. 8, but the full cabinet will still need to approve the plan, Reuters reported the same day.

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Gaza City Takeover Plan

A German auction for offshore wind sites ended without any awards on Aug. 1, Germany's Federal Network Agency announced Aug. 6.

Germany: Offshore Wind Auction Fails To Attract Bidders for the First Time as Industry Confronts Slowdown

New Polish President Karol Nawrocki officially took office for a five-year term on Aug. 6, Reuters reported the same day. 

Poland: Newly Elected President Karol Nawrocki Takes Office

Australia

Australia's Defense Ministry announced on Aug. 5 that Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries had won a contract worth upward of $6.5 billion to supply the Royal Australian Navy with 11 advanced frigates, marking Japan's first major export deal for warships.

Japan, Australia: Frigate Deal To Expedite Naval Buildouts, Integrate Japan Into Western Security Networks

The European Union will propose sanctions against China for its alleged covert support for Russia's war in Ukraine, including the supply of Chinese-made drones and components, Politico reported on Aug. 4, citing EU sources.

EU, China: Brussels Preparing Sanctions Against Beijing Over Alleged Military Support for Russia

The United States imposed a 39% baseline tariff on imports from Switzerland, above the 31% rate previously floated in April and representing one of the highest levels imposed by the United States on any country, Reuters reported on July 31.

Switzerland, U.S.: U.S. To Impose 39% Baseline Tariff Rate on Swiss Exports

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

Europe, Ukraine, Russia: European Leaders To Meet Trump and Zelensky Ahead of Trump-Putin Meeting

Europe, Romania, Russia: Russia Suspected of Sabotage Behind Contaminated Batches of Azerbaijani Crude

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Gaza City Takeover Plan

Germany: Offshore Wind Auction Fails To Attract Bidders for the First Time as Industry Confronts Slowdown

Poland: Newly Elected President Karol Nawrocki Takes Office

Japan, Australia: Frigate Deal To Expedite Naval Buildouts, Integrate Japan Into Western Security Networks

EU, China: Brussels Preparing Sanctions Against Beijing Over Alleged Military Support for Russia

Switzerland, U.S.: U.S. To Impose 39% Baseline Tariff Rate on Swiss Exports

Forecasts

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