<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.

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Beyond Quantitative Easing

The Ukraine Conflict

The Politics of Pipelines

EU: Regional Blocs

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Economics

Global Trade

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The court ruling nullifies most -- though not all -- of the Trump administration's tariffs, giving U.S. trading partners temporary breathing room in negotiations while the White House searches for alternative trade measures.

The White House's Tariff Ambitions Bend -- But Do Not Break -- Under the Weight of a Court Ruling

Assessments

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Military & Security

The agreements will institutionalize defense cooperation and ease trade frictions, though lingering political constraints will limit deeper integration in the near term.

The U.K.-EU Deal Signals a Strategic Recalibration of Post-Brexit Trade and Defense Relations

South Africa

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 21 during an official trip to the United States.

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

The Weekly Rundown: South Africa's U.S. Reset, Three European Elections

U.S. President Donald Trump -- flanked by Vice President JD Vance (left) and Peter Mandelson, the U.K. ambassador to the United States (right) -- holds a phone call with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office of the White House on May 8, 2025. 

The agreement's narrow scope and quota system suggest the White House remains intent on restricting imports, meaning tariff relief for most other countries reaching deals will also be limited.

Trump Reaches First Post-Tariff Trade Deal With the U.K.

Supporters of the PiS party demonstrate April 12 in Warsaw, Poland. Poland will hold a presidential election May 18 and runoff June 1 if no candidate obtains more than 50% in the first round.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Social Issues

The outcome of Poland's election will determine whether Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist government will coexist with a cooperative president or continue to face institutional constraints from an ideologically opposed president.

Poland's Election: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Global Elections

Presidential candidate George Simion is shown on a screen addressing his supporters at the campaign headquarters of their candidate after polls closed on May 4, 2025 in Bucharest, Romania.

Far-right candidate George Simion's first-round win in Romania's presidential race highlights rising anti-establishment sentiment and uncertainty over the country's political and Western trajectory ahead of a tense May 18 runoff.

Romania Faces Turmoil After Far-Right Win in Presidential First Round

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A Gabonese brigade participates in a training exercise as part of a military program linked to the Franco-Gabonese partnership at the French military base Camp de Gaulle in Libreville on March 19, 2025. 

France's reduced influence in Africa will create space for local and foreign actors to take on greater leadership roles, but their inability to fill the security vacuum left by France's withdrawal would threaten to destabilize the region.

France, Africa and the Future, Part 2: The Age of Multi-Alignment 

A picture released on July 12, 1963, of then-French President Gen. Charles de Gaulle (2L) and Jacques Foccart (L) greeting African, Malagasy and French overseas territories veterans arriving in Paris for French Bastille Day celebrations.

After decades of cultivating tight-knit relationships with francophone African countries, France has effectively ended its forward military presence in West and Central Africa amid shifting political dynamics in both regions, which will weaken its influence on the continent but enable Paris to reallocate resources towards Europe's security.

France, Africa and the Future, Part 1: A New Balance of Power 

Iran

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Indian soldiers stand guard atop their vehicle in Srinagar, India, on April 23, 2025, following a deadly militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.

The Weekly Rundown: Escalating Pakistan-India Tensions, Canadian Elections and Pope Francis' Funeral

U.S.-Iran Relations

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Transatlantic trade tensions have created a window for tactical EU-China engagement, but structural constraints and unresolved disputes limit prospects for meaningful realignment.

Budding EU-China Rapprochement Amid U.S. Tariffs Will Have Its Limits

U.S.-China Relations

Indonesia

Energy

French President Emmanuel Macron and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto signed 27 cooperation agreements during the former's state visit to Indonesia, deepening collaboration in defense and energy, among other areas, the Indonesia Business Post reported on May 29.

France, Indonesia: Paris, Jakarta Deepen Defense, Energy Ties

During consultations on May 28, Romanian President Nicusor Dan and representatives from the three parties in government (the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians) agreed to create a technical working group to explore ways to reduce Romania's fiscal deficit, Romania Insider reported the next day. 

Romania: Mainstream Parties Agree To Reduce Large Fiscal Deficit 

At a press conference in Berlin with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that his government would help Ukraine build long-range missiles without range restrictions, though he declined to provide specifics, Bloomberg reported on May 28.

Germany, Ukraine: Berlin Pledges New Military Support, Joint Missile Development With Kyiv

EU member states approved the Security Action for Europe, or SAFE, a 150 billion euro ($170 billion) joint loan program for the bloc's defense sector, the European Council announced on May 27.

EU: Bloc Approves Joint Loan Program for Defense Sector

Vietnam

Environment, Science & Technology

France and Vietnam signed 14 cooperation agreements during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit in Hanoi, covering defense, satellite technology, transportation, vaccine production and a $10.25 billion Airbus aircraft deal, Bao Chinh Phu reported on May 26. 

France, Vietnam: Countries Deepen Partnership With Defense and Investment Deals

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 50% tariff on all EU imports starting June 1 in a post on Truth Social, arguing that negotiations with the bloc are "going nowhere."

U.S., Europe: Trump Threatens 50% Blanket Tariff on EU Goods Amid Stalled Talks

Russia

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government said it supported including the Nord Stream pipeline ban in the European Union's next sanctions package against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, the Financial Times reported May 23, citing officials familiar with the matter.

Europe, Russia: Germany Backs EU Sanctions on Nord Stream Pipelines 

Romania's Constitutional Court unanimously rejected far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) leader George Simion's request to annul the May 18 presidential election rerun, in which he was defeated by centrist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, Politico reported May 22.

Romania: Top Court Rejects Far-Right Candidate's Request to Annul Presidential Election

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

France, Indonesia: Paris, Jakarta Deepen Defense, Energy Ties

Romania: Mainstream Parties Agree To Reduce Large Fiscal Deficit

Germany, Ukraine: Berlin Pledges New Military Support, Joint Missile Development With Kyiv

EU: Bloc Approves Joint Loan Program for Defense Sector

France, Vietnam: Countries Deepen Partnership With Defense and Investment Deals

U.S., Europe: Trump Threatens 50% Blanket Tariff on EU Goods Amid Stalled Talks

Europe, Russia: Germany Backs EU Sanctions on Nord Stream Pipelines

Romania: Top Court Rejects Far-Right Candidate's Request to Annul Presidential Election

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