<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

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Luxembourg

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Bulgaria

Portugal

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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

Brazil

Chile

United States

China

Russia

Politics

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 Goes to China, New U.S. Tariffs on China

U.S.-China Relations

Snapshots

Ballots are counted during local elections in Thornaby, England, on May 3, 2024. 

The outcome of the votes in England and Wales confirms the ruling Conservative Party will likely perform poorly in the general election, but also that the opposition Labour Party will face competition from smaller parties.

What To Make of the Local U.K. Election Results

Chad

Panama

Panamanian presidential candidate Jose Raul Mulino on May 1, 2024, in Panama City. Panamanians will vote May 5 to select their next president and all 71 members of the National Assembly.

The Weekly Rundown: Panama Holds General Elections, Xi Visits Europe

Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen between the Chinese and French national flags in Beijing on Jan. 9, 2018. 

Economics

During the rare visit, the Chinese president will seek to ease EU trade tensions and secure Beijing's economic presence and influence in Central and Eastern Europe.

What To Expect During Xi's Trip to Europe

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) reservoirs are seen at the Yamal LNG plant in the port of Sabetta, located on the Yamal Peninsula in northwest Siberia, Russia.

Energy

The restrictions would further complicate Russia's efforts to increase LNG production, while having only a limited impact on the EU's natural gas supplies.

The Implications of the EU's Proposed Sanctions on Russian LNG

Columns

On Geopolitics

Australia

Fiji

Indonesia

Japan

New Zealand

North Korea

Philippines

Singapore

South Korea

Vietnam

India

A 3D rendering of Southeast Asia from space at night with city lights showing Southeast Asian cities in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

Environment, Science & Technology

Military & Security

In the Asia-Pacific, countries are increasingly pursuing complex networks of political, economic and defense ties as part of a burgeoning "multi-alignment" strategy that seeks to avoid U.S.-China strategic competition.

Examining 'Multi-Alignment' in the Asia-Pacific

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Argentina

Bolivia

Peru

Palestinian Territories

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife, Begona Gomez, arrive Oct. 5, 2023, at the Carlos V Palace at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Sanchez is expected to make an announcement about his political future on April 29 following his surprise decision April 25 to suspend public appearances after a court in Madrid announced an investigation into his wife for alleged influence-peddling and corruption.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: South American Foreign Ministers Visit China, the Spanish Premier Announces His Political Future

June 9 European Parliament elections will likely see right-wing and far-right parties make significant gains in several EU countries at the expense of center-left and green parties.

2024 Elections: The European Union

Ecuador

Iran

Israel

A banner depicts IRGC missile models aimed at Israel on April 16 in the Iranian capital of Tehran. The ongoing confrontation may be entering a de-escalation phase after the April 19 Israeli counterstrike to Iran's April 13 salvo against Israel.

The Weekly Rundown: Israel-Iran Conflict, Ecuador's Constitutional Referendum

Colombia

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) April 12 in Dausa, India.

The Weekly Rundown: Indian Elections, Scholz Goes to China

China and Hungary have upgraded their relationship to an "all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era," Chinese President Xi Jinping announced during a joint conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, Bloomberg reported May 9. 

China, Hungary: Xi and Orban Announce New Investment in Hungary, Enhance Bilateral Relations

Belgium

Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union's lending arm, announced changes to its lending criteria to allow for more direct investment into the defense sector, Euractiv reported May 9.

EU, Ukraine: EIB to Expand Financing on Defense, EU to Use Profits From Russian Funds for Ukraine

The European Union Mission to Chad expressed concern at the exclusion of 2,900 civil society election observers from the first round of Chad's May 6 presidential election, Le Monde reported May 7.

Chad: EU Decries Exclusion of Election Observers From Presidential Election As Counting Is Underway

A coalition of four Dutch right-wing parties will soon announce the formation of a new government, Bloomberg reported on May 6.

Netherlands: Four Right-Wing Parties To Form Coalition Government Soon

Algeria

Morocco

United Arab Emirates

Algeria said it would stop delivering natural gas to Spain's Naturgy if the utility company sells shares to another company, Reuters reported on May 6.

Algeria: Algiers Threatens To Stop Gas Deliveries to Spain's Naturgy if Its Shares Are Sold

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union will deploy all necessary tools to protect EU companies from China's manufacturing overcapacity and lack of reciprocity in market access, Bloomberg reported on May 6.

EU, China: Brussels Raises Pressure on Beijing After Meeting With Xi

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the commission will close a rule of law procedure against Poland because there is "no longer a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law" in the country, Euronews reported on May 6.

Poland: European Commission To End Rule of Law Procedure Against Warsaw

South Africa

South Africa's Competition Commission said Australian mining company BHP's takeover of British mining company Anglo American's South African operations would require a mandatory merger notification, the Financial Times reported on May 3. 

South Africa: Competition Commission To Manage BHP Takeover of Anglo American

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

China, Hungary: Xi and Orban Announce New Investment in Hungary, Enhance Bilateral Relations

EU, Ukraine: EIB to Expand Financing on Defense, EU to Use Profits From Russian Funds for Ukraine

Chad: EU Decries Exclusion of Election Observers From Presidential Election As Counting Is Underway

Netherlands: Four Right-Wing Parties To Form Coalition Government Soon

Algeria: Algiers Threatens To Stop Gas Deliveries to Spain's Naturgy if Its Shares Are Sold

EU, China: Brussels Raises Pressure on Beijing After Meeting With Xi

Poland: European Commission To End Rule of Law Procedure Against Warsaw

South Africa: Competition Commission To Manage BHP Takeover of Anglo American

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