<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

Ukraine

Moldova

A man checks the flags of EU countries in 2004. 

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Recent negotiations saw Montenegro and Albania pushed into advanced legislative alignment while Brussels expanded accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.


The Progress, Prospects and Risks of EU Enlargement

Andy Burnham delivers a speech on June 29, 2026, in Manchester, England. 

Economics

As prime minister, Andy Burnham will likely maintain continuity on fiscal, foreign and defense policies within tight budget and market constraints, along with an incremental approach to EU relations.

Previewing Burnham's Premiership in the U.K.

United States

Iran

Israel

Lebanon

Indonesia

Myanmar

Philippines

Singapore

Thailand

Russia

ASEAN leaders hold hands for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN summit in Cebu, central Philippines on May 8, 2026. 

Military & Security

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 Tensions Remain High, ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meet With Myanmar

Snapshots

EU flags are displayed in the EU Council headquarters on July 9, 2026, in Brussels, Belgium.

While the European Union is unlikely to adopt the Spanish plan, it could drive an incremental expansion of common borrowing for strategic priorities like defense and industrial competitiveness.


Spain Broaches EU Taboo With Common Debt Proposal

A German flag flutters in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany. 

Global Trade

The package of reforms aims to revive productivity and lift Europe's largest economy out of its multi-year slump, though the package's limited nature and global trade headwinds will limit the impact in the medium term.


Germany's Labor-Market Reforms Could Lead to Modest Economic Improvements

Journalists surround French far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen (center) as she arrives with National Rally president Jordan Bardella (third from right) for a campaign rally in La Fleche, France, on July 8, 2026.

With the launch of Le Pen's campaign, the National Rally appears set to win France's 2027 presidential election, signaling a coming policy shift toward EU confrontation and weaker NATO integration, though various constraints would temper implementation.

As Le Pen Returns to the Race, What Would a Far-Right Presidency Look Like in France?

Protestors hold national flags as they gather outside Albania's prime minister's office to oppose the construction of luxury resorts, in Tirana on June 25.

Social Issues

Driven by grievances like corruption and declining public trust, protests in the Western Balkans have evolved into deep challenges to ruling elites.


The Implications of Serbia and Albania's Massive Protest Waves

The NATO headquarters is seen in Brussels, Belgium.

Environment, Science & Technology

The Weekly Rundown: Turkey Hosts NATO Summit, Iran Buries Slain Supreme Leader

U.S.-Iran Relations

Turkey

Billboards are seen ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, on June 26, 2026.

Recent U.S. military drawdowns in Germany and threatened reductions in Italy and Spain underscore the stakes of the summit on July 7-8.

Transatlantic Tensions Set To Dominate NATO Summit in Ankara

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

Cyber

Energy

A fragile truce in the Middle East, persistent energy-driven inflation, shifting U.S. trade policy and escalating regional pressures from Europe to Africa will collectively shape geopolitical risk in the third quarter.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

India

India and the United Kingdom's Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement took effect on July 15 and eliminated British tariffs on 99% of Indian exports, benefiting sectors such as processed foods, marine products, engineering goods, textiles, leather, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and gems and jewelry, Reuters reported the same day.

India, U.K.: Trade Deal Takes Effect

China

Ukraine and the European Union signed a deal to establish joint drone projects and expand production by combining Ukrainian battlefield expertise with European financing and industrial capacity, Reuters reported on July 15.

Ukraine, EU: Drone Deal Will Expand Production and Scale Combat-Tested Technology

Italy's Chamber of Deputies rejected by a single vote, 188 to 187, an amendment backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party to reintroduce preference votes into the coalition's electoral reform, with around 30 coalition lawmakers apparently voting against in a secret ballot requested by the opposition, Il Sole 24 Ore reported on July 14.

Italy: Meloni's Electoral Reform Suffers Setback With One-Vote Amendment Defeat

Dozens of heads of state and government met in Paris, France, on July 13 for a "coalition of the willing" summit in support of Ukraine, where participants announced an anti-ballistic missile coalition, Reuters reported the same day.

Ukraine, Europe: Paris Summit Deepens Kyiv's Long-Term Defense Ties With Europe

The United Kingdom and the European Union signed the treaty governing Gibraltar's post-Brexit status in Brussels, Belgium, on July 14, the British government said in a press release the same day.

Spain, U.K.: London and Brussels Sign Treaty Ending Gibraltar Land Border Checks

Leaders of the "coalition of the willing" for Ukraine are meeting in Paris, France, on July 13, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attending, to discuss air and missile defense, missile production, joint exercises and Russia's shadow fleet, Le Monde reported the same day. 

Europe, Ukraine: Coalition of the Willing Meets in Paris, Set To Declare Postwar Force Ready

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Uganda

The University of Oxford's Oxford Vaccine Group launched Phase I clinical trials for its ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine against the Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Reuters reported on July 13.

Congo: University of Oxford Launches Vaccine Trials for Bundibugyo Virus

Andy Burnham secured nominations from 322 of the U.K. Labour party's 403 members of Parliament on July 9, roughly 80% of the parliamentary party and four times the 81 required to stand, within hours of nominations opening to replace Keir Starmer as party leader and UK prime minister, the BBC reported the same day. 



U.K.: Burnham Set To Become Prime Minister As Soon As Next Week 

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

India, U.K.: Trade Deal Takes Effect

Ukraine, EU: Drone Deal Will Expand Production and Scale Combat-Tested Technology

Italy: Meloni's Electoral Reform Suffers Setback With One-Vote Amendment Defeat

Ukraine, Europe: Paris Summit Deepens Kyiv's Long-Term Defense Ties With Europe

Spain, U.K.: London and Brussels Sign Treaty Ending Gibraltar Land Border Checks

Europe, Ukraine: Coalition of the Willing Meets in Paris, Set To Declare Postwar Force Ready

Congo: University of Oxford Launches Vaccine Trials for Bundibugyo Virus

U.K.: Burnham Set To Become Prime Minister As Soon As Next Week

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