<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

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Czech Republic

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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

Greenland

Danish Defense Minister and top candidate of Denmark's Venstre party, Troels Lund Poulsen (left), and Danish Prime Minister and top candidate of the Social Democrat Party, Mette Frederiksen (right), attend a debate in Copenhagen on March 15, 2026.

Economics

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Military & Security

Politics

The upcoming parliamentary elections could result in three distinct coalitions that would offer varying continuity in domestic economic policy and Copenhagen's approach to U.S. pressure over Greenland.

Denmark's General Elections: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Global Elections

United States

Iran

Commercial vessels are pictured offshore in Dubai on March 11, 2026. 

A U.S.-led naval mission to protect ships from Iranian attacks would likely begin only after the war's intensity decreases, and even then, it would take weeks to organize and yield only a limited return of maritime traffic through the strait.

The Obstacles Facing the U.S. Plan for Strait of Hormuz Naval Escorts

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Social Issues

Demographics may not be destiny, but it does play a major role in questions of national power.

The Geopolitics of Demographics: An Introduction

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil talks to the media before the start of an Eurogroup ministers meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on March 9, 2026. 

While the EU is making some progress on a capital markets union, a fully unified market remains unlikely anytime soon due to fragmented national laws and disagreements over centralized regulatory control.

A European Capital Markets Union: Incremental Progress and Enduring Obstacles

Chile

Colombia

Israel

Lebanon

China

Plumes of smoke rise following reported explosions in Tehran on March 2, 2026, after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top military leaders, prompting a new wave of Iranian retaliatory missile attacks across the region. 

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

The Weekly Rundown: War in the Middle East, U.S.-China Trade Talks

U.S.-Iran Relations

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) on Feb. 25 at the quay of the North Port in Malmo, Sweden. A prolonged conflict in the Middle East would increase Europe's exposure to security risks, including potential attacks on European-linked assets, renewed migration pressures and an elevated terrorism threat, particularly if European capitals assume a more active military or diplomatic role against the Iranian regime.

A protracted regional war threatens to expose the Continent to risks ranging from cyberattacks against critical infrastructure to a renewed influx of asylum seekers.

Prolonged Conflict in Iran Would Elevate Security, Migration Threats Against Europe

A woman holds a photo of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iranians protest against attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States on Feb. 28, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. 

Global Trade

Depending on the duration of maritime disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the escalating conflict is set to subject European economies to significant energy market volatility.

European Economic Growth Likely To Suffer From Impact of U.S. and Israel-Iran War

Canada

Australia

Japan

India

The Tehran skyline on Dec. 30, 2025. On March 2, U.S. and Iranian negotiators will meet in Vienna, Austria, to begin technical talks on a nuclear deal.

The Weekly Rundown: The Conflict in the Middle East, Merz meets Trump 

Snapshots

A digital illustration shows energy and power icons set with the EU flag. 

By embedding 'Made in Europe' requirements into public procurement, the upcoming Industrial Accelerator Act represents a fundamental shift in EU economic policy.

The EU's 'Made in Europe' Plan Will Fuel Internal Divisions, Transatlantic Tensions

Icelandic flags are seen on a street in Reykjavik.

The prospect of a summer referendum on EU accession reflects a strategic pivot driven by heightened anxieties over transatlantic security.


In Iceland, Security Concerns, Domestic Politics Catalyze Renewed Debate Over EU Membership

Benin

Burkina Faso

Cote d'Ivoire

Mali

Niger

The chiefs of staff of the French, Ivorian and Beninese militaries discussed jihadist activity in northern Benin and Cote d'Ivoire and strengthening trilateral counterterrorism cooperation on March 19, Radio France Internationale reported on March 20.

West Africa: France, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire To Deepen Counterterrorism Coordination

Ukraine

At a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, Hungary refused to lift its veto on a 90 billion euro ($104 billion) EU loan package intended to support Ukraine's government finances and war effort, despite strong pressure from other leaders, Euronews reported on March 19.

Hungary, EU: Hungary Vetoes EU Loan Package for Ukraine

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on March 19-20 for a summit dominated by the fallout from the Iran conflict, particularly emergency options to curb surging energy prices, Politico reported on March 19, citing draft EU documents. 

EU: EU Leaders Debate Emergency Energy Measures as Iran Conflict Drives Prices Higher

The European Parliament's trade committee is set to vote on March 19 on legislation implementing key elements of the 2025 EU-U.S. trade framework agreement after lead negotiators agreed to move ahead with the process, Politico reported on March 17.

EU, U.S.: European Parliament Negotiators Move EU-U.S. Trade Deal Toward Full Vote

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Australia on March 23-25 to meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with both sides indicating the long-negotiated Australia-EU free trade agreement is in its "final stretch" and likely to be finalized during the visit, the Australian Financial Review reported on March 18.

Australia, EU: Trade Deal Likely Imminent as Strategic Pressures Override Agricultural Deadlock

Finland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom are exploring a new multilateral mechanism to jointly finance and procure weapons, munitions and other military equipment with the aim of accelerating defense investment and expanding demand amid Europe's broader rearmament push, according to a March 17 joint statement by the three governments.

U.K., Netherlands, Finland: Countries Explore New Joint Defense Financing and Procurement Mechanism

Belgium

Russia

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said the European Union should normalize relations with Russia to restore access to cheaper energy, according to a March 14 interview with L'Echo.

Belgium, Russia: Belgian Prime Minister Calls for EU Normalization With Moscow, Renewed Energy Trade

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she had discussed with the United Nations the possibility of a Black Sea grain deal-type agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and would discuss the possibility of expanding the mandate of the European Union's Red Sea naval mission to protect vessels transiting the strait, Reuters reported on March 16.

MENA: Plans Emerge To Try To Open the Strait of Hormuz

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

West Africa: France, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire To Deepen Counterterrorism Coordination

Hungary, EU: Hungary Vetoes EU Loan Package for Ukraine

EU: EU Leaders Debate Emergency Energy Measures as Iran Conflict Drives Prices Higher

EU, U.S.: European Parliament Negotiators Move EU-U.S. Trade Deal Toward Full Vote

Australia, EU: Trade Deal Likely Imminent as Strategic Pressures Override Agricultural Deadlock

U.K., Netherlands, Finland: Countries Explore New Joint Defense Financing and Procurement Mechanism

Belgium, Russia: Belgian Prime Minister Calls for EU Normalization With Moscow, Renewed Energy Trade

MENA: Plans Emerge To Try To Open the Strait of Hormuz

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