<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

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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

Iran

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Russia

The European Parliament building in 2019 in Strasbourg, France. Parliament is set to hold a plenary vote March 26 on implementing the 2025 EU‑U.S. trade framework agreement.

Energy

Military & Security

Politics

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: A Vote on the EU‑U.S. Trade Framework, the Iran Conflict Continues

U.S.-Iran Relations

Greenland

Danish Defense Minister and top candidate of Denmark's Venstre party, Troels Lund Poulsen (left), and Danish Prime Minister and top candidate of the Social Democrat Party, Mette Frederiksen (right), attend a debate in Copenhagen on March 15, 2026.

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

The upcoming parliamentary elections could result in three distinct coalitions that would offer varying continuity in domestic economic policy and Copenhagen's approach to U.S. pressure over Greenland.

Denmark's General Elections: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Global Elections

Commercial vessels are pictured offshore in Dubai on March 11, 2026. 

A U.S.-led naval mission to protect ships from Iranian attacks would likely begin only after the war's intensity decreases, and even then, it would take weeks to organize and yield only a limited return of maritime traffic through the strait.

The Obstacles Facing the U.S. Plan for Strait of Hormuz Naval Escorts

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

The Geopolitics of Demographics

Social Issues

Demographics may not be destiny, but it does play a major role in questions of national power.

The Geopolitics of Demographics: An Introduction

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil talks to the media before the start of an Eurogroup ministers meeting at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on March 9, 2026. 

While the EU is making some progress on a capital markets union, a fully unified market remains unlikely anytime soon due to fragmented national laws and disagreements over centralized regulatory control.

A European Capital Markets Union: Incremental Progress and Enduring Obstacles

Chile

Colombia

Lebanon

China

Plumes of smoke rise following reported explosions in Tehran on March 2, 2026, after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top military leaders, prompting a new wave of Iranian retaliatory missile attacks across the region. 

The Weekly Rundown: War in the Middle East, U.S.-China Trade Talks

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) on Feb. 25 at the quay of the North Port in Malmo, Sweden. A prolonged conflict in the Middle East would increase Europe's exposure to security risks, including potential attacks on European-linked assets, renewed migration pressures and an elevated terrorism threat, particularly if European capitals assume a more active military or diplomatic role against the Iranian regime.

A protracted regional war threatens to expose the Continent to risks ranging from cyberattacks against critical infrastructure to a renewed influx of asylum seekers.

Prolonged Conflict in Iran Would Elevate Security, Migration Threats Against Europe

A woman holds a photo of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iranians protest against attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States on Feb. 28, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. 

Global Trade

Depending on the duration of maritime disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the escalating conflict is set to subject European economies to significant energy market volatility.

European Economic Growth Likely To Suffer From Impact of U.S. and Israel-Iran War

Canada

Australia

Japan

India

The Tehran skyline on Dec. 30, 2025. On March 2, U.S. and Iranian negotiators will meet in Vienna, Austria, to begin technical talks on a nuclear deal.

The Weekly Rundown: The Conflict in the Middle East, Merz meets Trump 

Snapshots

A digital illustration shows energy and power icons set with the EU flag. 

By embedding 'Made in Europe' requirements into public procurement, the upcoming Industrial Accelerator Act represents a fundamental shift in EU economic policy.

The EU's 'Made in Europe' Plan Will Fuel Internal Divisions, Transatlantic Tensions

France's far-right National Rally expanded its local footprint in the second round of municipal elections on March 22, increasing its number of mayoralties across the country, though it failed to secure control of several targeted major cities, losing in Marseille, Toulon, and Nimes, Le Monde reported March 23.

France: Municipal Elections Show National Rally Gains, But Setbacks in Major Cities

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union secured just over 30% of the vote in the Rhineland-Palatinate state election, projecting a win that ends the co-ruling Social Democrats' 35-year governance of the state, Reuters reported on March 23. 

Germany: Merz's CDU Win in Rhineland-Palatinate Heightens Pressure on SPD and Federal Coalition

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to consider "every available" measure to cushion the United Kingdom from the impact of the Middle East conflict ahead of an emergency Cabinet meeting he convened for March 23 to address the economic consequences of the escalating war in Iran and energy market disruptions stemming from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported the same day.

U.K.: Starmer Calls Emergency Meeting Amid Economic and Energy Disruptions Linked to Iran Conflict

Benin

Burkina Faso

Cote d'Ivoire

Mali

Niger

The chiefs of staff of the French, Ivorian and Beninese militaries discussed jihadist activity in northern Benin and Cote d'Ivoire and strengthening trilateral counterterrorism cooperation on March 19, Radio France Internationale reported on March 20.

West Africa: France, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire To Deepen Counterterrorism Coordination

At a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, Hungary refused to lift its veto on a 90 billion euro ($104 billion) EU loan package intended to support Ukraine's government finances and war effort, despite strong pressure from other leaders, Euronews reported on March 19.

Hungary, EU: Hungary Vetoes EU Loan Package for Ukraine

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on March 19-20 for a summit dominated by the fallout from the Iran conflict, particularly emergency options to curb surging energy prices, Politico reported on March 19, citing draft EU documents. 

EU: EU Leaders Debate Emergency Energy Measures as Iran Conflict Drives Prices Higher

The European Parliament's trade committee is set to vote on March 19 on legislation implementing key elements of the 2025 EU-U.S. trade framework agreement after lead negotiators agreed to move ahead with the process, Politico reported on March 17.

EU, U.S.: European Parliament Negotiators Move EU-U.S. Trade Deal Toward Full Vote

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit Australia on March 23-25 to meet Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with both sides indicating the long-negotiated Australia-EU free trade agreement is in its "final stretch" and likely to be finalized during the visit, the Australian Financial Review reported on March 18.

Australia, EU: Trade Deal Likely Imminent as Strategic Pressures Override Agricultural Deadlock

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

France: Municipal Elections Show National Rally Gains, But Setbacks in Major Cities

Germany: Merz's CDU Win in Rhineland-Palatinate Heightens Pressure on SPD and Federal Coalition

U.K.: Starmer Calls Emergency Meeting Amid Economic and Energy Disruptions Linked to Iran Conflict

West Africa: France, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire To Deepen Counterterrorism Coordination

Hungary, EU: Hungary Vetoes EU Loan Package for Ukraine

EU: EU Leaders Debate Emergency Energy Measures as Iran Conflict Drives Prices Higher

EU, U.S.: European Parliament Negotiators Move EU-U.S. Trade Deal Toward Full Vote

Australia, EU: Trade Deal Likely Imminent as Strategic Pressures Override Agricultural Deadlock

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