Germany

Politics

German lawmakers rejected a controversial migration bill proposed by the center-right Christian Democratic Union, led by chancellor front-runner Friedrich Merz, ahead of the Feb. 23 federal elections, DW reported on Jan. 31.

Germany: Parliament Rejects Center-Right Migration Bill Amid Controversial Far-Right Backing and Political Backlash

Germany's Center-right Christian Democratic Union leader and chancellor front-runner Friedrich Merz proposed a major overhaul of Germany's migration policies and signaled his willingness to accept support from the far-right Alternative for Germany party to pass the legislation, Die Welt reported on Jan. 24.

Germany: Likely Next German Chancellor Merz Opens to Support From Far-Right Party

United States

Europe

France

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House as a "challenge" during a joint press conference in Paris, France, but emphasized Europe’s strength, unity and determination while remaining a "constructive and self-confident partner" for the United States, Reuters reported on Jan. 22.

France, Germany: Lame Ducks Macron and Scholz Pledge Unity in Dealing With Trump's U.S.

Syria

Italy

Economics

Energy

During a meeting between European, U.S. and Arab diplomats, Syrian and Saudi officials called on Western governments to ease sanctions on Syria, and European diplomats agreed to discuss sanctions relief in Syria during a Jan. 27 foreign ministers meeting, Al Jazeera reported on Jan. 12.

Syria: Arab Diplomats Call on EU To Ease Sanctions on Syria

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a confidence vote in parliament, with 394 lawmakers voting against him, 207 in favor and 116 abstaining, DW reported on Dec. 16. 

Germany: Bundestag Ousts Scholz in No-Confidence Vote, Paving Way for February Elections

Israel

United Kingdom

Military & Security

The International Criminal Court, or ICC, issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Nov. 21 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel: ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant

China

Lithuania

Finland

Sweden

Russia

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

The operations of two subsea cables running across the Baltic Sea -- the C-Lion1 subsea cable connecting Finland and Germany and the nearby BCS East-West Interlink cable linking Lithuania to the Swedish island of Gotland -- were disrupted apparently due to physical damage, Reuters reported on Nov. 18.

Europe: Two Baltic Subsea Cables Ruptured in Suspected Sabotage

Germany will hold snap federal elections on Feb. 23, 2025, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz set to introduce a confidence vote in his now minority coalition government in the Bundestag on Dec. 16, Reuters reported on Nov. 12.

Germany: Scholz Agrees to Earlier Confidence Vote and Snap Elections

Assessments

South Africa

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.

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

Media

Podcasts

Global Elections

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

Essential Geopolitics: Germany's Pivotal Upcoming Election

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

Palestinian Territories

Indonesia

India

The West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 17 in Washington. Donald Trump will be inaugurated as U.S. president on Jan. 20.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: The Gaza Ceasefire, Trump's Inauguration

Columns

On Geopolitics

A compressor gas station of the Yamal–Europe pipeline is seen on Feb. 19, 2022, in Wloclawek, Poland. 

The expiration of the Russia-Ukraine transit deal underscores Europe's ongoing efforts to sever its reliance on Russian resources, with far-reaching implications for energy markets and geopolitics in the region and beyond. 

The End of Russian Gas via Ukraine Cements Europe's New Energy Landscape

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

A sign reading ''leader of insurgents'' on a photo of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's face is held up during a protest calling for Yoon's ouster in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 8, 2024. 

The Weekly Rundown: Putin's Annual Press Conference, Another Impeachment Vote in South Korea

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Paraguay

Uruguay

(From left to right) Argentine President Javier Milei, Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Paraguayan President Santiago Pena pose for a photo during the Mercosur summit in Montevideo on Dec. 6, 2024. 

The agreement offers significant market access and diversification opportunities for both trade blocs, but it also faces a complex ratification process and potential political backlash in Europe.

25 Years in the Making: Reviewing the EU-Mercosur Trade Deal

What are the long-term implications for German politics?

Essential Geopolitics: Germany's Government Collapse

Double exposure of abstract creative financial chart hologram on German flag and blue sky background.

Amid rising tensions over economic policy, Germany's fractious coalition government finally collapsed, opening the door to an early election. 

Economic Divides Topple Germany's Fractious Coalition Government

Snapshots

The U.S. and EU flags.

Cyber

Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency is set to disrupt trans-Atlantic relations, likely escalating trade tensions, weakening already limited cooperation on climate and tech policy, and straining EU unity on defense and support for Ukraine. 

What Trump's Return to Office Means for the European Union

With both nations looking inward in 2025, the European Union will be deprived of its central leadership, leaving it without clear strategic direction or decisive policymaking.

French and German Struggles Leave the EU Adrift

Denmark

Norway

The Hywind Tampen floating offshore wind farm, situated between energy company Equinor's oil and gas fields Snorre and Gullfaks in the Norwegian North Sea off the coast of Bergen.

The likelihood of Russian attacks targeting Europe's offshore energy infrastructure is increasing, but Moscow is likely to avoid actions that could cause major disruptions.

Russia's Increasingly Aggressive Sabotage Threatens Europe's Offshore Energy Network

<p>Germany is a country located in Central Europe, bordered by Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark. The country has mountainous terrain in the south, dominated by the Alps, with a plateau and forests in the center and the north. The Rhine, the Danube and the Elbe rivers, combined with Germany&#39;s central location in Europe and its access to the North Sea, allowed the country to become a leading exporter and one of the most prosperous economies in Europe. Between the late 10th and early 19th centuries, the territories of today&#39;s Germany were the heart of the Holy Roman Empire, a collection of small kingdoms, principalities, duchies and city-states. This led to the development of multiple seats of political and economic power that achieved unity in 1871. While Berlin is Germany&#39;s capital and most populous city, the country also has several economic and political centers, including Hamburg, Munich, Cologne and Frankfurt. Germany&rsquo;s location in the heart of the North European Plain has led to constant conflicts with its neighbors like France and Russia. After World War II, Germany was divided between East Germany, in the Soviet orbit, and West Germany, integrated to the European Economic Community and NATO. The country achieved reunification in 1990. Germany&rsquo;s main geographic challenge is preserving its territorial unity and maintaining a political balance between regions within the country. It also seeks to maintain a political alliance with France and a balance of power in Europe to preserve peace and keep markets open for trade. Berlin&#39;s efforts to keep the European Union closely integrated amid the current economic crisis are in line with this strategy.</p>

EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

The Fate of the Eurozone

European Disintegration

SITUATION REPORTS

Germany: Parliament Rejects Center-Right Migration Bill Amid Controversial Far-Right Backing and Political Backlash

Germany: Likely Next German Chancellor Merz Opens to Support From Far-Right Party

France, Germany: Lame Ducks Macron and Scholz Pledge Unity in Dealing With Trump's U.S.

Syria: Arab Diplomats Call on EU To Ease Sanctions on Syria

Germany: Bundestag Ousts Scholz in No-Confidence Vote, Paving Way for February Elections

Israel: ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant

Europe: Two Baltic Subsea Cables Ruptured in Suspected Sabotage

Germany: Scholz Agrees to Earlier Confidence Vote and Snap Elections

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