<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

Greenland

U.S. special envoy to Greenland, Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (center right), and Greenlandic mason and Trump supporter Jorgen Boassen (center left) are pictured in Nuuk, Greenland, on May 20, 2026, on the sidelines of the Future Greenland business fair. 

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

Ongoing talks with Greenland and Denmark will likely yield a deal that meets most U.S. objectives without requiring formal annexation, though a broader transatlantic crisis remains possible if negotiations collapse.

Can the U.S. Reach a Compromise on Greenland That Averts a Transatlantic Crisis?

Israel

Palestinian Territories

The EU and Israeli flags in March 2024 in central Berlin's Rotes Rathaus. Although the European Union has sanctioned extremist Israeli settlers, deep-seated internal divisions and a reliance on Israeli defense systems will likely prevent the bloc from imposing comprehensive trade restrictions.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Although the European Union has sanctioned extremist Israeli settlers, deep-seated internal divisions and a reliance on Israeli defense systems will likely prevent the bloc from imposing comprehensive trade restrictions.

Targeted EU Sanctions on Israeli Settlers Unlikely To Broaden Into Wider Restrictions 

Egypt

Iran

Jordan

Lebanon

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Syria

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Yemen

Right-wing activists gather with Israeli flags outside the Damascus Gate of the walled Old City of Jerusalem on May 26, 2025, during a flag march for Jerusalem Day, commemorating the Israeli army's 1967 capture of the city's eastern sector during the Arab-Israeli war.

Israel's quest for middle-power status will be defined by its ability to unify its Jerusalem core, which has remained divided throughout the modern state's history.

The Modern Geopolitics of Israel

Ukraine

Russia

EU and Ukrainian flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters on Feb. 23, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

While a European mediator may unblock frozen peace talks, a durable peace settlement remains unlikely until both Russia and Ukraine conclude that continued war is more costly than compromise.

The Limited Promise of EU Mediation in Ukraine Peace Talks

Snapshots

U.K. Health Secretary Wes Streeting arrives at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, on March 19, 2026, as students receive the Meningitis B vaccine.

While a leadership transition would prolong market volatility, any new prime minister would likely maintain policy continuity and fiscal discipline, differing only on the specific execution of budget restraint and EU rapprochement.

Starmer's Days Appear Numbered After U.K. Health Secretary Quits

Kenya

China

Boats on April 28, 2026 on Qeshm Island, Iran, in the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions between the United States and Iran will remain elevated, especially around the strait, following the May 7 U.S.-Iran exchange of attacks and Iranian attacks against the United Arab Emirates.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Elevated Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, France Convenes an Africa Summit

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

Algeria

A worker stands on the uploading dock of Cavaou LNG terminal in Fos-sur-Mer, France, on June 22, 2023, while the tanker boat "Lalla Fatma N'Soumer" arrives full of LNG ready to be delivered. 

Energy

Amid energy supply disruptions in the Middle East, Algeria's ability to capitalize on increased global prices and demand for energy exports will be constrained by limited spare capacity and bureaucratic obstacles.

Structural Constraints Will Limit Algeria's Ability To Capitalize on Tighter Energy Markets

While a Ukraine loan scheme will offer opportunities for British companies, it will not reintegrate the United Kingdom into EU defense structures.

A Small Step for EU-British Defense Cooperation

Australia

Japan

India

An oil products tanker at Muscat Anchorage on March 21, 2026 at Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.K. Elections, Iran War Resumption Risk

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer departs 10 Downing Street on April 29 in London. While a leadership challenge against the British prime minister is possible, policy continuity is likely no matter who governs.

While a leadership challenge against the British prime minister is possible, policy continuity is likely no matter who governs. Meanwhile, strong pro-independence gains are possible in Scotland and Wales, but not near-term independence.

Labour's Starmer Faces Bleak Local U.K. Electoral Prospects

Mexico

Mexico and the European Union will sign a Modernised Global Agreement and Interim Trade Agreement on May 22 at the eighth EU-Mexico Summit in Mexico City, La Jornada reported.

Europe, Mexico: EU-Mexico Deals To Facilitate Investments, but Significant Trade Diversification Unlikely  

U.S. President Donald Trump pledged an additional 5,000 troops to Poland in a Truth Social post on May 21. 

Poland, U.S.: Trump Pledges To Deploy 5,000 Troops to Poland 

Bahrain

Kuwait

Oman

The Gulf Cooperation Council and the United Kingdom signed a free-trade agreement (FTA) that, according to some estimates, could add $5 billion per year to the U.K. economy over the long term, the Financial Times reported May 20.

Global: GCC and the U.K. Sign Free Trade Agreement

Negotiators from EU member states, the European Commission and the European Parliament are expected to finalize a compromise deal on legislation to implement the July 2025 EU-U.S. trade agreement on May 19, Politico reported on May 18.

EU, U.S.: Interinstitutional Negotiations Near Compromise on Legislation Implementing U.S. Trade Deal

The European Commission is drafting rules requiring companies in sectors such as chemicals and industrial machinery to diversify supply chains by capping single-supplier purchases at roughly 30%-40% and sourcing the rest from at least three suppliers across different countries, the Financial Times reported on May 18, citing EU officials.

EU, China: Brussels Drafts Rules To Force Supply Chain Diversification Away From China

Polish government officials said Warsaw has received U.S. assurances that Washington does not plan to systematically cut its presence in Poland in response to reports revealing the sudden cancellation of a planned rotational deployment of roughly 4,000 U.S.-based troops, Politico reported on May 15.

Poland, U.S.: Warsaw Downplays U.S. Cancellation of 4,000-Troop Deployment, Citing Wider Reassurances

Sub-Saharan Africa

Ethiopia

French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto concluded the Africa Forward Summit, during which Macron unveiled $23 billion in new private sector investment pledges from French and African companies in Africa and called for reforms to the international financial architecture, alongside around 30 African heads of state and governments, Jeune Afrique reported on May 12.

France, Africa: Macron Concludes Africa-France Summit in Kenya, Travels to Ethiopia for Meeting With Abiy

Environment, Science & Technology

The European Commission entered talks to bring the European Union into Pax Silica, a U.S.-led initiative aimed at building a trusted network for semiconductors, AI infrastructure, critical minerals and data centers to reduce reliance on China, Bloomberg reported May 12.

EU, U.S.: Brussels Enters Talks to Join U.S.-Led Pax Silica Alliance

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

Europe, Mexico: EU-Mexico Deals To Facilitate Investments, but Significant Trade Diversification Unlikely

Poland, U.S.: Trump Pledges To Deploy 5,000 Troops to Poland

Global: GCC and the U.K. Sign Free Trade Agreement

EU, U.S.: Interinstitutional Negotiations Near Compromise on Legislation Implementing U.S. Trade Deal

EU, China: Brussels Drafts Rules To Force Supply Chain Diversification Away From China

Poland, U.S.: Warsaw Downplays U.S. Cancellation of 4,000-Troop Deployment, Citing Wider Reassurances

France, Africa: Macron Concludes Africa-France Summit in Kenya, Travels to Ethiopia for Meeting With Abiy

EU, U.S.: Brussels Enters Talks to Join U.S.-Led Pax Silica Alliance

Forecasts

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