<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

United Kingdom

Bulgaria

Portugal

Serbia

Croatia

Poland

Romania

Cyprus

Norway

Austria

Slovakia

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

Benin

Nigeria

A photo taken on Dec. 8, 2025, shows an armored vehicle at the entrance of a blocked road in Cotonou, Benin, near the headquarters of the state broadcaster Benin TV.

Military & Security

Politics

The coup attempt will increase political and security risks ahead of Benin's 2026 elections, while the swift, Nigeria-led ECOWAS intervention suggests Abuja is assuming a more assertive regional role with tacit French backing following Paris's troop drawdown.

Benin's Foiled Coup Signals Strengthening Franco-Nigerian Coordination in West Africa

Tanzania

Hong Kong SAR, China

Ukraine

Protesters help an injured demonstrator near burning barricades amid clashes in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Oct. 29, 2025. 

Environment, Science & Technology

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: Unrest in Tanzania, an EU Summit in Ukraine

U.S.-China Relations

United States

Eurasia

Russia

Russia's President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Kremlin economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, meets with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner at the Kremlin in Moscow on Dec. 2, 2025.

Economics

Energy

Fundamental disagreements between Ukraine and Russia over territorial concessions and security guarantees suggest that peace negotiations are unlikely to lead to a comprehensive breakthrough.

Despite U.S. Diplomatic Push, Ukraine Peace Still a Long Way Off

Honduras

China

India

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their bilateral meeting during the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.

Global Trade

The Weekly Rundown: Putin-Modi Meeting, Honduras General Election

People visit the 1627 Pilgrim Village at "Plimoth Plantation," where role-players portray pilgrims seven years after the arrival of the Mayflower, in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

On Thanksgiving, the United States celebrates the Plymouth Colony. However, few know that New England's colonization was a response to major geopolitical pressures -- particularly England's struggle against the Spanish both on the Continent and in the New World.

Thanksgiving and Puritan Geopolitics in the Americas

Smoke rises in the background as a Ukrainian flag flutters in the wind following a mass overnight Russian drone and missile attacks, in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Nov. 19, 2025. 

European efforts to adjust core elements of Trump's plan won't shield Ukraine from his latest threat to withdraw support, and Europe's limited leverage and internal constraints mean it is unlikely to sustain Kyiv's defense alone if talks with the White House fail.

What To Make of Europe's Counterproposal to the U.S. Ukraine Peace Plan

Angola

South Africa

Japan

South Korea

Banners bearing portraits of leaders of the G20 on Nov. 20 in Johannesburg. The South African government has focused the G20 summit's agenda on issues key to African countries.

The Weekly Rundown: A High-Stakes British Budget, South Africa Hosts the G20

Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on March 18 in the Italian Senate in Rome. Smaller fiscal deficits are unlikely to cut government debt in the medium term given Italy's modest economic growth outlook and significant social and defense spending pressures.

Smaller fiscal deficits are unlikely to cut government debt in the medium term given Italy's modest economic growth outlook and significant social and defense spending pressures.

Modest Growth and Spending Pressures Will Limit Italy's Debt Reduction Efforts

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Nov. 12 at 10 Downing Street in central London. Growing internal divisions within the ruling Labour party over fiscal policy and declining popularity are increasing the likelihood of a leadership challenge against Starmer following the November budget or May 2026 local elections.

Growing internal divisions within the ruling Labour party over fiscal policy and declining popularity are increasing the likelihood of a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer following the November budget or May 2026 local elections.

Painful Upcoming Budget Likely To Amplify Starmer's Leadership Woes

A screen is seen during the International military anti drone exercise Baltic Trust 25 (BATT25) at the Selonia (Selija) military training ground near Viesite on Aug. 27, 2025.

The European Union is pushing to develop continent-wide anti-drone capabilities, but financial, political and legal fragmentation will significantly slow progress and leave the bloc's defense vulnerable.

Despite Political Enthusiasm, EU Drone Defenses Face Obstacles to Implementation

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov resigned following weeks of nationwide mass protests accusing his government of corruption and criticizing its economic policies, Reuters reported on Dec. 11.

Bulgaria: New Snap Election Likely as Prime Minister Resigns Amid Mass Protests

France's National Assembly narrowly approved the government's social security budget, including provisions suspending recent pension reforms, with 247 votes in favor, 234 against and 93 abstentions, Le Monde reported on Dec. 9.

France: National Assembly Narrowly Approves Social Security Budget

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv and its European partners are ready to present "refined" peace proposals to Washington following high-stakes meetings in London, Brussels and Rome, Reuters reported on Dec. 9.

Ukraine, Europe: Zelensky's Diplomatic Marathon Tests Western Unity Against Trump's Christmas Deadline

Negotiators from the European Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on Dec. 9 to delay and scale back the European Union's sustainability reporting and due diligence framework, including significant reductions to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the European Council said in a press release. 

EU: EU Negotiators Reach Deal To Scale Back Sustainability Requirements

Lawmakers in France's lower house of parliament will vote on the government's social security budget bill on Dec. 9, only days after the chamber narrowly endorsed its taxation measures, Le Figaro reported the same day. 

France: Parliament To Vote on Social Security Budget Bill

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv will present a revised 20-point peace framework to U.S. officials on Dec. 9 following consultations with British, French and German leaders in London, United Kingdom, Reuters reported on Dec. 8.

Ukraine, Europe: Kyiv Prepares Counterproposal for Washington as Territorial Deadlock Persists

Australia

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "At the direction of the president, AUKUS is full-steam ahead," Bloomberg reported on Dec. 8. 

Australia, U.S.: Rubio Confirms AUKUS Pact Is Pressing Ahead

Cote d'Ivoire

Ghana

Sierra Leone

The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, announced the immediate deployment of a standby force comprising troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone to Benin following a failed Dec. 7 coup attempt against President Patrice Talon, Jeune Afrique reported on Dec. 8.

West Africa: ECOWAS To Deploy Troops to Benin Following Failed Coup Attempt

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

Bulgaria: New Snap Election Likely as Prime Minister Resigns Amid Mass Protests

France: National Assembly Narrowly Approves Social Security Budget

Ukraine, Europe: Zelensky's Diplomatic Marathon Tests Western Unity Against Trump's Christmas Deadline

EU: EU Negotiators Reach Deal To Scale Back Sustainability Requirements

France: Parliament To Vote on Social Security Budget Bill

Ukraine, Europe: Kyiv Prepares Counterproposal for Washington as Territorial Deadlock Persists

Australia, U.S.: Rubio Confirms AUKUS Pact Is Pressing Ahead

West Africa: ECOWAS To Deploy Troops to Benin Following Failed Coup Attempt

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support