North Macedonia

Bulgaria

Albania

Politics

A summit of EU and Balkan leaders failed to reach a consensus over North Macedonia and Albania's EU membership bids after a June 22 no-confidence vote ousted Bulgaria's Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, AP reported June 23.

Bulgaria: Government Loses No-Confidence Vote, Stalling EU Enlargement to Western Balkans

Eurasia

Belarus

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Russia

Agriculture

COVID-19

Supply Chains

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EAEU) has banned certain food exports from the trade union from April 10 until June 30 to prevent shortages during the COVID-19 crisis, Kommersant reported March 31.

Eurasia: Eurasian Economic Union Bans Food Exports Amid COVID-19 Concerns

Greece

Italy

Azerbaijan

Turkey

Energy

The Politics of Pipelines

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

Construction on the Trans-Anatolian natural gas pipeline (TANAP) -- the last segment of the Southern Gas Corridor -- was completed July 1, with deliveries of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe ready to begin, Azernews reported. 

Azerbaijan, Turkey: Trans-Anatolian Pipeline Ready To Begin Operations

France

Germany

Serbia

Romania

Slovakia

Armenia

Ukraine

Georgia

Moldova

Israel

Egypt

Kiev is hosting the 50th General Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) on Nov. 28-30, Interfax-Ukraine reported. 

Ukraine: Kiev Hosts Parliamentary Assembly Of Black Sea Economic Cooperation

China

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Czech Republic

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

Croatia

Poland

Slovenia

Montenegro

Hungary

EU: Regional Blocs

The Fate of the Eurozone

China in Transition

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov announced that Sofia will host the 2018 16+1 summit of Central and Eastern European countries and China, Euractiv reported Nov. 28.

Hungary: Bulgaria Announces It Will Host 2018 '16+1' Trade Summit

United States

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Albania on Feb. 14 to encourage its leaders to complete anti-corruption measures, Reuters reported.

Albania: U.S. Secretary Of State Visits To Promote Anti-Corruption

Sub-Saharan Africa

South Sudan

Angola

Benin

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cameroon

Cabo Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Cote d'Ivoire

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Djibouti

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea Bissau

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Niger

Nigeria

Republic of the Congo

Rwanda

Sao Tome and Principe

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Africa

Sudan

Eswatini

Tanzania

Togo

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Americas

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Barbados

Belize

Bolivia

Brazil

Canada

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Cuba

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

Grenada

Guatemala

Guyana

Haiti

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Suriname

Bahamas

Trinidad and Tobago

Uruguay

Venezuela

Greenland

Jamaica

Asia-Pacific

Australia

Brunei Darussalam

Cambodia

Timor-Leste

Federated States of Micronesia

Fiji

Indonesia

Japan

Kiribati

Laos

Malaysia

Marshall Islands

Eurozone

After two weeks of negotiations, representatives of nearly 200 countries have approved the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the extent of climate change in the coming decades, The Telegraph reported Dec. 12.

France: Delegates Approve Paris Climate Change Deal

Economics and Finance

Liechtenstein

Norway

Iceland

Russia’s customs service said Aug. 12 that there is no alternative to destroying all sanctioned goods brought into the country, Tass reported. 

 Russia: No Alternative To Destroying Sanctioned Goods, Customs Service Says

Assessments

Europe

A man checks the flags of EU countries in 2004. 

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Recent negotiations saw Montenegro and Albania pushed into advanced legislative alignment while Brussels expanded accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.


The Progress, Prospects and Risks of EU Enlargement

Kosovo

Protestors hold national flags as they gather outside Albania's prime minister's office to oppose the construction of luxury resorts, in Tirana on June 25.

Social Issues

Driven by grievances like corruption and declining public trust, protests in the Western Balkans have evolved into deep challenges to ruling elites.


The Implications of Serbia and Albania's Massive Protest Waves

Iraq

Jordan

Lebanon

Palestinian Territories

Syria

Yemen

South Asia

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

India

The lobby of the headquarters for the U.S. Agency for International Development is seen on Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C. 

Military & Security

Cuts to U.S.-funded humanitarian and development programs could worsen global health outcomes, destabilize security environments, accelerate democratic backsliding, and create opportunities for rival powers to expand their influence.

The Global Implications of Trump's Foreign Aid Cuts

Columns

On Security

Demonstrators in Belgrade, Serbia, hold up Serbian flags and a photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 24, 2022, during a rally in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

In the second part of this series, we explore China and Russia's interests in the Balkans and what their activities may mean for the region's long-term stability.

The Risk of Another Balkans War, Part 2: Russian and Chinese Influence

NATO soldiers patrol a roadblock set up by ethnic Serbs near Zubin Potok, a town in northern Kosovo, on Aug. 1, 2022. 

Despite ethnically-tinged tensions between Kosovo and Serbia that most recently made the news, there appear to be numerous restraints on a potential return to widespread regional conflict. 

The Risk of Another Balkans War, Part 1: Placing Recent Flashpoints in Context

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti (right) and his Albanian counterpart, Edi Rama, hold a joint press conference in Pristina on Sept. 27, 2021. 

While the formation of a “Greater Albania” is unlikely, Kosovo will continue hinting at the idea during its disputes with Serbia, which could renew unrest in the region.

The Threat of Albania-Kosovo Unification Risks Destabilizing the Balkans

SITUATION REPORTS

Bulgaria: Government Loses No-Confidence Vote, Stalling EU Enlargement to Western Balkans

Eurasia: Eurasian Economic Union Bans Food Exports Amid COVID-19 Concerns

Azerbaijan, Turkey: Trans-Anatolian Pipeline Ready To Begin Operations

Ukraine: Kiev Hosts Parliamentary Assembly Of Black Sea Economic Cooperation

Hungary: Bulgaria Announces It Will Host 2018 '16+1' Trade Summit

Albania: U.S. Secretary Of State Visits To Promote Anti-Corruption

France: Delegates Approve Paris Climate Change Deal

Russia: No Alternative To Destroying Sanctioned Goods, Customs Service Says

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support