Chad

France

Politics

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

China

Europe

Serbia

Hungary

Economics

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

Canada

United States

Japan

Germany

United Kingdom

Italy

India

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

The Group of Seven's energy ministers agreed to phase out the use of coal in power generation "during the first half of (the) 2030s," according to a communique released on April 30.

Global: G7 Agrees To Phase Out Coal-Fired Power Generation by 2035

Military & Security

French President Emmanuel Macron presented his vision for a more assertive, autonomous and competitive European Union to be realized through a series of radical reforms to the bloc's defense, monetary and state aid policies during a speech at Sorbonne University in Paris, Reuters reported on April 25.

France: Macron Presents Radical Reform Proposals in Speech Over Future of the EU

Russia

Cyber

France is requesting that the European Union develop a new sanctions regime against Russia to mitigate disinformation campaigns and election interference, Bloomberg reported on April 24. 

France: Paris Asks EU for New Sanctions Regime Targeting Russian Disinformation

A large-scale cyberattack has disrupted shared computer servers in at least five municipalities on the west coast of France near the river Loire since April 9, affecting email and phone telecommunications, The Record reported on April 11.

France: Cyberattack Disrupts Servers in Five Municipalities

Iran

Israel

Syria

Israel is preparing for an Iranian attack on southern or northern Israel over April 12-13, although an Iranian leader reportedly said Tehran had not made a final decision, The Wall Street Journal reported late on April 11, citing people familiar with the matter. 

Iran, Israel: Iranian Attack on Israel Expected on April 12-13

Turkey

The Turkish Ministry of Trade announced that it would halt exports to Israel in 54 categories, including iron and steel products, jet fuel, construction equipment, bricks, chemicals, and pesticides until Israel agreed to a cease-fire in Gaza and allowed more humanitarian aid into Gaza, Al Jazeera reported on April 9.

Turkey, Israel: Turkey Restricts Exports to Israel Over Gaza War

Assessments

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.

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

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

Snapshots

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

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

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Argentina

Bolivia

Peru

Palestinian Territories

Spain

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

France's Prime Minister Gabriel Attal (C) speaks during the opening session of "Questions to the Prime Minister" at the French National Assembly in Paris, on April 3, 2024.

To right the sinking ship of France's public finances, Paris must implement unpopular economic measures that could lead to government collapse.

France's Budget Troubles Bode Ill for Macron Ahead of EU Elections

Australia

Chinese car manufacturer BYD's stacked electric vehicles wait to be loaded onto a ship at the international container terminal of Taicang Port at Suzhou Port in China's eastern Jiangsu province on Sept. 11, 2023.

U.S.-China Relations

As Chinese electric vehicles threaten to flood Western markets, Washington and Brussels prepare restrictions to protect domestic manufacturers and secure sensitive data. 

Chinese Electric Vehicles Prepare to Hit the Great Wall of Western Tariffs

Senegal

Brazil

Haiti

Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 11, 2024, in Beijing.

The Weekly Rundown: Senegalese Presidential Elections, Xi Meets With U.S. CEOs

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games logo is superimposed on a photo of the Arc de Triomphe and fireworks in Paris, France.

Risks of extremist attacks and cybercrime in Paris will increase amid the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Paris' Threat Outlook Amid the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, Part 2

Olympic rings in front of the Hotel de Ville in Paris, France, on May 22, 2023.

Social Issues

Risks of opportunistic crime and protest activity in Paris will increase amid the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Paris' Threat Outlook Amid the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, Part 1

Romania

Netherlands

A woman waves a French flag in support of protesting farmers as a tractor drives by in Agen, southwerstern France, on Jan. 25, 2024.

Farmers across Europe are protesting environmental regulations, foreign competition and falling government support, which will likely impede Brussels' ability to enact climate reforms and negotiate new trade deals.

Growing Farmer Protests Add to the EU's Political Woes

Angola

Cabo Verde

Cote d'Ivoire

Nigeria

Yemen

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) meets with French President Emmanuel Macron on Dec. 1, 2023, in Dubai.

The Weekly Rundown: Blinken Visits Africa, Macron Visits India

Ukraine

A view of the Russian Central Bank headquarters is seen in downtown Moscow on May 26, 2022.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

To unlock more money for Kyiv, the U.S. and Europe may confiscate Russian government assets stashed in Western nations, which would escalate the greater economic tit-for-tat between Moscow and the West.

Ukraine's Western Allies Mull Seizing Frozen Russian Assets

Columns

On Geopolitics

Burkina Faso

Mali

Niger

South Africa

Mexico

Hong Kong SAR, China

South Korea

Taiwan

Poland

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Bangladesh

Pakistan

In this scorecard, we take a critical look at our successes and slip-ups in forecasting geopolitical events over the past year.

Grading Our 2023 Annual Forecast

<p>France is a country in Western Europe bound in the south by the Alps, Pyrenees Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. To the west and north is the Atlantic Ocean, and on its eastern border lies the river Rhine and the low mountains of the Ardennes, Vosges and Jura. Mountains, rivers and seas help protect France at all points but one: the North European Plain. As a result, France&#39;s main geographic challenge is safeguarding its eastern border on the path of this historic invasion route. The lack of internal geographic barriers contributed to France&#39;s social cohesion, which in turn led France to become one of the world&#39;s first modern nation-states. The Beauce region represents France&#39;s core. Its navigable rivers, warm climate, sufficient rainfall and fertile soils have made France one of the world&#39;s leading agricultural powers. At the extreme northern border of the Beauce region, where the rivers Marne and Seine meet, lies Paris &mdash; France&#39;s economic and political center. Paris&#39; strategic location on these rivers gives it administrative control of trading routes from the Beauce region to the rest of France and Europe In modern times, the most existential threats to France have come from its powerful eastern neighbor, Germany. Between 1871 and 1945, France and Germany fought three major wars &mdash; all on the North European Plain. After World War II, France attempted to contain Germany largely through the creation of the European Union. The economic and political crisis plaguing Europe has put France&#39;s containment strategy into question.</p>

EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

The Fate of the Eurozone

European Disintegration

SITUATION REPORTS

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

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

Global: G7 Agrees To Phase Out Coal-Fired Power Generation by 2035

France: Macron Presents Radical Reform Proposals in Speech Over Future of the EU

France: Paris Asks EU for New Sanctions Regime Targeting Russian Disinformation

France: Cyberattack Disrupts Servers in Five Municipalities

Iran, Israel: Iranian Attack on Israel Expected on April 12-13

Turkey, Israel: Turkey Restricts Exports to Israel Over Gaza War

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