<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

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Bulgaria

Portugal

Serbia

Croatia

Poland

Romania

Cyprus

Norway

Austria

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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

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou speaks during a press conference in Paris on Aug. 25, 2025. 

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

In the likely case that the Prime Minister Bayrou loses the Sept. 8 vote, Macron will either have to appoint another weak government or call early legislative elections, prolonging political instability and heightening financial risks.

New Political Crisis Grips France as Bayrou Gambles on Confidence Vote

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez addresses lawmakers during a plenary session at the Spanish parliament in Madrid on July 9, 2025. 

The prime minister's Socialist-led government will likely survive in the short term, but ongoing policy paralysis, corruption scandals and public discontent could trigger early elections, potentially bringing the far right to power.

Sanchez's Mounting Political Challenges Spell Trouble for Spain

United States

Iran

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

The Maanshan nuclear power plant is seen next to a beach in Pingtung, in southern Taiwan, on April 29, 2025.

Energy

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

The Weekly Rundown: Iran Meets With European Powers, Taiwan Holds a Nuclear Referendum

Eurasia

Ukraine

Russia

Trump and Zelensky at the White House West Wing in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2025.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Even as President Trump floats the possibility of a trilateral summit with Putin and Zelensky, a breakthrough in negotiations is unlikely given the Kremlin's noncommittal response to the Aug. 18 White House talks. 

Despite Flurry of U.S. Diplomacy, a Ukraine Peace Deal Will Remain Elusive

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Canada

Paraguay

Uruguay

Venezuela

Lebanon

United Arab Emirates

Indonesia

Japan

Singapore

Vietnam

The Geopolitics of Trade

Global Trade

Mercosur is increasingly opening its markets in pursuit of free trade agreements with partners around the world, particularly as U.S. protectionism shifts global trade dynamics.

The Geopolitics of Trade: What Changing Trade Dynamics Mean for Mercosur

Supporters of Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik watch him speak in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, on Feb. 26, 2025. 

Republika Srpska's separatist leader will likely defy a ruling to step down, causing institutional paralysis and Western backlash, but early elections or a unilateral declaration of independence are also possible.

The Potential Outcomes of Bosnia's Emerging Political Crisis

Employees work at a production line as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attend the groundbreaking ceremony for a new munitions factory of German defense contractor Rheinmetall on Feb. 12, 2024, in Unterluess, Germany.

The Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loan facility will enable joint investment in critical capabilities -- such as missile defense, drones and military mobility -- while promoting joint procurement and cross-border collaboration.

How the EU's SAFE Loans Package Will Reshape Europe's Defense Industry

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Afghanistan

Pakistan

The flag of Afghanistan sits on the Afghan embassy in Moscow on July 4, 2025. 

As Afghanistan's neighbors deepen ties with the Taliban and Western states remain cautious, a widening diplomatic divide threatens to complicate efforts to address the country's worsening crises and regional security risks.

The Growing International Divide Over Taliban Ties Will Risk Regional Stability

Cambodia

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Oval Office of the White House on July 22, 2025. 

The Weekly Rundown: Last-Minute U.S. Trade Talks, a New Polish President

Columns

On Geopolitics

Belarus

A view in Rostock, Germany, of the first exit of warships for the NATO exercise BALTOPS in the Baltic Sea on June 5, 2025. 

In response to Russian aggression, NATO is seeking to establish strategic control over the Baltic Sea via rearmament and more assertive posturing, creating an environment where the risk of miscalculation grows exponentially.

Baltic on the Brink: The New Flashpoint in Europe's Confrontation With Russia

While visiting Berlin, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a joint declaration to cooperate on critical minerals, including by co-funding new projects, The Globe and Mail reported on Aug. 26.

Canada, Germany: Governments Pledge More Cooperation as Ottawa Promises New Port Infrastructure

Environment, Science & Technology

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to place export controls and higher tariffs on countries implementing digital services taxes and other restrictions on U.S. technology companies in an Aug. 25 post on Truth Social.

U.S.: Trump Threatens Tariffs, Export Controls in Retaliation for Digital Services Taxes

Denmark will host EU defense ministers on Aug. 28-29 and EU foreign affairs ministers on Aug. 29-30 in Copenhagen, according to the Danish government, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.

Denmark, Ukraine: Copenhagen To Host Four Days of Ukraine-Related Meetings

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet with officials from France, Germany and the United Kingdom, known collectively as the E3, during the week of Aug. 24-30 to discuss nuclear negotiations and sanctions, Reuters reported on Aug. 22. 

Iran: Tehran To Discuss Nuclear, Sanctions Issues With Germany, France, U.K.

The governments of Hungary and Slovakia sent a letter to the European Commission saying that Ukraine's recent attacks against the Druzhba oil pipeline "severely threaten the energy security" of both countries and are "totally unacceptable," Reuters reported on Aug. 22.

Hungary, Slovakia: Ukraine’s Attacks on Druzhba Oil Pipeline Labeled 'Totally Unacceptable'

Under the final U.S.-EU framework trade agreement, the United States will lower its 27.5% tariffs on European automobiles to 15% once the European Union introduces legislation to lower industrial tariffs and provide preferential market access for some U.S. agricultural goods, according to a joint statement on the matter released on Aug. 21. 

U.S., EU: Joint Statement on Trade Deal Framework Details Auto, Pharmaceutical, Chip Tariffs

China

The United Kingdom's Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds will visit China in the second week of September, marking the first meeting of the U.K.-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission since its suspension in 2019, Politico reported on Aug. 19.

U.K., China: U.K. Business and Trade Secretary Reynolds To Visit Beijing in September

Cyber

The United Kingdom walked back a demand for Apple to provide law enforcement with a backdoor that could circumvent encryption for any users' data stored in the company's cloud services, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated in a social media post on X on Aug. 18.

U.K., U.S.: London Abandons Order for Apple To Create Backdoor in Encryption Services 

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

Canada, Germany: Governments Pledge More Cooperation as Ottawa Promises New Port Infrastructure

U.S.: Trump Threatens Tariffs, Export Controls in Retaliation for Digital Services Taxes

Denmark, Ukraine: Copenhagen To Host Four Days of Ukraine-Related Meetings

Iran: Tehran To Discuss Nuclear, Sanctions Issues With Germany, France, U.K.

Hungary, Slovakia: Ukraine’s Attacks on Druzhba Oil Pipeline Labeled 'Totally Unacceptable'

U.S., EU: Joint Statement on Trade Deal Framework Details Auto, Pharmaceutical, Chip Tariffs

U.K., China: U.K. Business and Trade Secretary Reynolds To Visit Beijing in September

U.K., U.S.: London Abandons Order for Apple To Create Backdoor in Encryption Services

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