<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

United States

Philippines

The NATO headquarters is seen in Brussels, Belgium.

Environment, Science & Technology

Military & Security

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: Turkey Hosts NATO Summit, Iran Buries Slain Supreme Leader

U.S.-Iran Relations

Turkey

Ukraine

Billboards are seen ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, on June 26, 2026.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Recent U.S. military drawdowns in Germany and threatened reductions in Italy and Spain underscore the stakes of the summit on July 7-8.

Transatlantic Tensions Set To Dominate NATO Summit in Ankara

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

Cyber

Economics

Energy

Social Issues

A fragile truce in the Middle East, persistent energy-driven inflation, shifting U.S. trade policy and escalating regional pressures from Europe to Africa will collectively shape geopolitical risk in the third quarter.

2026 Third-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Canada

Mexico

Iran

Japan

India

Cargo ships June 19 off the coast of the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal in Sharjah emirate, along the Gulf of Oman.

The Weekly Rundown: Japan's Takaichi Goes to India, an Unsteady U.S.-Iran Ceasefire

Snapshots

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer poses with his wife Victoria at the door to 10 Downing Street after making a statement on his future outside 10 Downing Street on the morning of June 22, 2026, in London. 

While a swift leadership transition by mid-July could restore near-term political stability, investors will focus on whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer's successor will be able to successfully balance party unity with fiscal discipline.


Burnham Premiership Could Stabilize U.K. Politics, But Markets Remain Cautious

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting with leaders of the G7 Engagement Groups ahead of the upcoming G7 summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris on June 10, 2026. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Talks Continue, France Hosts G7 Summit

China

A digital illustration of Europe.

The EU's push to reduce its reliance on foreign technology suppliers risks angering both China and the U.S., while execution will be hindered by domestic industrial constraints and internal political divisions.

Key Takeaways From the EU's Tech Sovereignty Package

Citizens vote by raising their hands during the Landsgemeinde, a traditional public, non-secret ballot conducted by majority rule, in Appenzell, eastern Switzerland, on April 26.

Global Trade

If approved, the cap on the permanent resident population would compel Swiss companies to accelerate capital investment and automation initiatives to offset reduced EU migration.


Swiss Population Referendum Threatens Growth and EU Relations

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk attend a signing ceremony of a UK-Poland defence and security treaty at the Battle of Britain Bunker on May 27 in London, England.

Concerned about the reliability of the United States' security commitments, European nations are increasingly relying on bilateral defense agreements to secure their strategic interests and deter Russian aggression.


U.K. and Poland Hedge Against Transatlantic Uncertainty With Bilateral Treaty

A National Police van is parked in front of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party headquarters during the Civil Guard's police search on May 27, 2026, in Madrid, Spain. 

Widening inquiries into public procurement and influence peddling will continue to weaken the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Scandals Linked to Spanish PM Sanchez Point to Continued Political Paralysis 

Andy Burnham, the front-runner to succeed Keir Starmer as the Labour Party's leader and the United Kingdom's prime minister, committed to retaining the state pension triple lock during a July 3 "ask me anything" session on Reddit, keeping a key pledge under Labour's 2024 manifesto commitment.

U.K.: Likely Incoming Prime Minister Burnham Pledges To Keep Pension Triple Lock

On July 2, Germany's federal government unveiled a broad economic reform package centered on approximately 10 billion euros in annual income tax relief for low- and middle-income households, Die Welt reported.

Germany: Government Announces Broad Economic Reform Package

A delegation of high-level EU officials, including foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, visited Ankara, Turkey, on June 30 to discuss economic and security cooperation with senior Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

EU, Turkey: Brussels Sends High-Level Delegation to Ankara for Wide-Ranging Talks

Authorities in Monaco announced they are treating a June 29 explosion that seriously injured three people as "attempted murder" and not considering it a terrorist attack, The Guardian reported June 30.

Monaco: Attempted Assassination Targets Ukrainian-Born Tycoon

Outgoing U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on June 30 revealed an additional 15 billion pound (approximately $19.8 billion) investment over four years to bring defense spending to 80 billion pounds by 2029 in a much-delayed and highly anticipated Defence Investment Plan (DIP), The Guardian reported.

U.K.: Starmer Presents Defense Investment Plan to Boost Spending Over Four Years

Former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham proposed a major shift toward regional governance to counter the concentration of power in London during his first major policy speech since launching his bid to succeed Keir Starmer as Labour Party leader and U.K. prime minister, the Guardian reported June 29.

U.K.: Burnham Proposes Massive Rebalancing of Power 

The European Commission is preparing plans to extend economic benefits to EU candidate countries before they formally join the bloc as part of a "gradual integration" strategy aimed at speeding enlargement without lowering entry standards, Politico reported on June 26.

EU: Commission Drafts Plan To Grant Candidates Economic Benefits Before Accession

At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk, Poland, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the transfer of the first 3.2 billion euro ($3.6 billion) tranche under the European Union's 90 billion euro Ukraine Support Loan and said the bloc would begin disbursing funds from a 6 billion euro drone-production package in the coming days, Interfax-Ukraine reported on June 25.

Ukraine, EU: EU Loan Anchors Gdansk Recovery Conference Amid Poland-Ukraine Row

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

U.K.: Likely Incoming Prime Minister Burnham Pledges To Keep Pension Triple Lock

Germany: Government Announces Broad Economic Reform Package

EU, Turkey: Brussels Sends High-Level Delegation to Ankara for Wide-Ranging Talks

Monaco: Attempted Assassination Targets Ukrainian-Born Tycoon

U.K.: Starmer Presents Defense Investment Plan to Boost Spending Over Four Years

U.K.: Burnham Proposes Massive Rebalancing of Power

EU: Commission Drafts Plan To Grant Candidates Economic Benefits Before Accession

Ukraine, EU: EU Loan Anchors Gdansk Recovery Conference Amid Poland-Ukraine Row

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support