<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

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.

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

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

Ukraine

Russia

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.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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

South Sudan

Burundi

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ethiopia

Kenya

Malawi

Mozambique

Rwanda

Tanzania

Uganda

Zambia

United States

China

Japan

The Geopolitics of Trade

Global Trade

Over the next decade, Kenya and Tanzania will compete for the title of East Africa's leading trade gateway, particularly as global demand for Central Africa's critical minerals grows. 

The Geopolitics of Trade: The Race to Unlock East Africa, Part 1 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addresses the Senate in Rome on Oct. 22, 2025. 

Despite Prime Minister Meloni's success in achieving rare political and financial stability, Italy's weak economic growth and the expiry of EU recovery funds in 2026 may compel her to abandon fiscal prudence ahead of the next election cycle.

Italy Struggles To Translate Political Stability Into Economic Growth

Venezuela

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Tanks on Sept. 23 in Caracas, Venezuela. The Trump administration has reportedly decided to attack military sites in Venezuela in strikes that could occur at any moment.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Potential U.S. Strikes in Venezuela, U.S. Outreach in Central Asia

Columns

On Security

Madagascar

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Chile

Ecuador

Peru

Jordan

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Morocco

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Turkey

Indonesia

Philippines

Thailand

Bangladesh

Nepal

Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on Sept. 9, 2025, after youth protesters set fire to the building. 

Recent events in Nepal, Madagascar and elsewhere show how digitally coordinated, leaderless protests can succeed, but eventually face even larger challenges in sustaining the momentum for change.

Worldwide Gen Z Protesters May Be Disappointed With Their Success

Chancellor Friedrich Merz raises his hand in a vote at the Bundestag prior to a vote on changes to Germany's Basic Law on March 18, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. 

A landmark reform of the constitutional debt brake unlocks significant new spending, but this fiscal boost will be dampened by persistent administrative bottlenecks and a political reluctance to seriously tackle broader structural reform.

Defense Spending Will Modestly Boost the German Economy, but Challenges Remain

Snapshots

Carles Puigdemont, leader of Catalonia's pro-independence Junts party, delivers a speech in southwestern France on July 27, 2024, during a meeting held to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the party's founding. 

The end of a political pact between the ruling Socialists and Catalonia's Junts party will make it even harder for Prime Minister Sanchez to govern and pass laws, which could open the door to an early election.

Spain's Political Problems Worsen as Government Loses Catalan Support

On Geopolitics

European Council President Antonio Costa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrive for a meeting of the European Council on Oct. 23. The EU pursuit of geopolitical independence is being severely tested by Russia's direct security aggression, China's control over critical raw materials and competing economic pressures from the United States.

The EU pursuit of geopolitical independence is being severely tested by Russia's direct security aggression, China's control over critical raw materials and competing economic pressures from the United States.

Europe's Dual Challenge From China and Russia

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

The European Union's digital "Omnibus" simplification package called on the bloc to delay the implementation of Artificial Intelligence Act rules for high-risk systems from August 2026 until December 2027, streamline cybersecurity incident reporting and ease data privacy protections for training AI models, according to the European Commission on Nov. 19. 

EU: Commission Releases Proposal To Simplify and Delay Aspects of Digital Rules

The German government approved its first national space security strategy as part of the country's plan to spend about 35 billion euros (about $40 billion) on military space capabilities by 2030, the Financial Times reported on Nov. 19.

Germany: Cabinet Approves First German Space Security Strategy

On Nov. 19, the European Commission released the Military Mobility Package, which is a plan designed to more quickly and easily move military personnel, equipment and other assets across the bloc.

EU: Commission Unveils Plans To Improve Military Mobility, Reform Defense Industry

Dutch Economics Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans announced on X on Nov. 19 that he was suspending his Sept. 30 order to take temporary control of Chinese-owned semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia following consultations with Chinese officials.

Netherlands, China: Netherlands Suspends Takeover of Chinese-Owned Chipmaker Nexperia 

U.S.-China Relations

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

Rare earth yttrium oxide prices have reached $126 per kilogram, which is roughly a 1,400% increase since the beginning of 2025, when prices were about $8 per kilogram, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 17, citing Asian Metal data.

Global: Yttrium Oxide Prices Increase by 1,400% in 2025

Energy

Kazakhstan filed a lawsuit in Switzerland seeking about $15 million from several companies and individuals accused of corruption in oil field developments operated by Eni subsidiaries, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 17. 

Kazakhstan: Swiss Legal Action Seeks Leverage in Oil Arbitration Battles

Germany and France are weighing a scaled-back version of their 100 billion euro ($116 billion) flagship Future Combat Air System (FCAS) joint program, potentially dropping the next-generation fighter project to focus instead on developing a shared command-and-control "combat cloud," the Financial Times reported on Nov. 17, citing officials from both governments.

Germany, France: FCAS Joint Fighter Jet Program Wavers Amid Industrial Disputes

Taiwan

Taiwanese legislator and founder of the civil defense organization Kuma Academy, Puma Shen, spoke on Nov. 13 in Berlin at the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, to a hearing of the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid about the threats to Western democracies from China's offline and online disinformation campaigns, Focus Taiwan reported. 


Taiwan: Taiwan's Third Europe Speaking Event Imperils EU-China Trade Talks, But Drills Unlikely

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

EU: Commission Releases Proposal To Simplify and Delay Aspects of Digital Rules

Germany: Cabinet Approves First German Space Security Strategy

EU: Commission Unveils Plans To Improve Military Mobility, Reform Defense Industry

Netherlands, China: Netherlands Suspends Takeover of Chinese-Owned Chipmaker Nexperia

Global: Yttrium Oxide Prices Increase by 1,400% in 2025

Kazakhstan: Swiss Legal Action Seeks Leverage in Oil Arbitration Battles

Germany, France: FCAS Joint Fighter Jet Program Wavers Amid Industrial Disputes

Taiwan: Taiwan's Third Europe Speaking Event Imperils EU-China Trade Talks, But Drills Unlikely

Forecasts

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