Germany

Economics

Politics

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

United States

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

German authorities arrested eight men in Lower Saxony state, Poland and Austria accused of being members of a far-right terrorist group called the "Saxonian Separatists" and of plotting to seize parts of the country's east and carry out ethnic cleansing, Der Spiegel reported on Nov. 5.

Germany: Authorities Arrest Members of Far-Right Group Plotting Violent Coup in Eastern Germany

Canada

Western security officials suspect two incendiary devices found in July at DHL facilities in the United Kingdom and Germany were tests for a Russian-backed operation to send similar devices aboard planes bound for the United States and Canada, The Wall Street Journal reported on Nov. 4.

U.S., Canada: Russia Accused of Testing Incendiary Devices To Send Aboard Planes Destined for North America

India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz engaged in extensive talks to strengthen strategic relations between India and Germany, Reuters reported on Oct. 25.

India, Germany: Governments Strengthen Economic and Defense Ties

During a three-day visit to India starting on Oct. 24, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, accompanied by several high-ranking ministers, will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, DW reported on Oct. 24.

India, Germany: Scholz To Visit India, Hold Talks With Modi

Assessments

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

South Korea

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. 

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

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

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Paraguay

Uruguay

Europe

France

(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

Media

Podcasts

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

Energy

Global Elections

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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

Columns

On Geopolitics

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

Mozambique

Iran

Tunisia

Ukraine

A man in Maputo walks past a wall covered with electoral posters in support of Daniel Chapo, the ruling party candidate in Mozambique’s presidential election, on Oct. 4, 2024. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: Biden Visits Germany as Mozambique, Tunisia and Brazil Hold Elections

Lebanon

Palestinian Territories

Japan

Sri Lanka

The site of an Israeli strike on Sept. 19 in the southern Lebanese border village of Mahmoudiyeh. Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah will continue to intensify in the next week.

Social Issues

The Weekly Rundown: Escalating Israel-Hezbollah Conflict, the Sri Lankan Presidential Election

Italy

A Russian warship transits the Neva River in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Russia's risk tolerance for physical and cyber operations against Western targets appears to be increasing, raising the likelihood of more disruptive and/or violent attacks.

A More Brazen Russia Slowly Raises the Specter of a NATO Confrontation

Sub-Saharan Africa

Mongolia

Supporters attend a campaign event for the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) in Erfurt, eastern Germany, on Aug. 29, 2024, ahead of upcoming regional elections.

The Weekly Rundown: An Africa-China Summit, State Elections in Eastern Germany

Turkey

Cambodia

Uzbekistan

Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Afghanistan

The Geopolitics of Water

The escalating impacts of climate change and water scarcity will inflame tensions between Central Asian countries, raising the risk of violent state conflict in the coming decades. 

The Geopolitics of Water: The Looming Threat of Central Asian 'Water Wars'

<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: 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

Germany: Authorities Arrest Members of Far-Right Group Plotting Violent Coup in Eastern Germany

U.S., Canada: Russia Accused of Testing Incendiary Devices To Send Aboard Planes Destined for North America

India, Germany: Governments Strengthen Economic and Defense Ties

India, Germany: Scholz To Visit India, Hold Talks With Modi

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