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Russia

A satellite image shows Europe at night.

Economics

Military & Security

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

The move shows the White House remains committed to its security and economic engagements in the region, with an eye on countering China and Russia. 

The U.S. Ramps Up Financial Support to Central and Eastern Europe

Security

EU: Regional Blocs

The New Silk Road

Divided EU Foreign Policies

2020 Second-Quarter Forecast

Europe is a continent riven by pockets of distinct cultures whose differences are all too often irreconcilable.

<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>

2020 Annual Forecast

2019 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

Assessments

France

Germany

The Russian 9M729 intermediate-range cruise missile was developed in secret had been deployed in small numbers even before the IMF Treaty became defunct.

Echoes of the Cold War

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

Moscow would couple any new deployments of its intermediate-range missiles with rhetoric blaming the United States for the treaty's collapse and subsequent weapons buildups.

Russia Approaches a Post-INF Arms Race in Europe With Caution

2019 Third-Quarter Forecast

Global Perspectives

Partner Perspectives

A post marks the beginning of Polish territory on its border with Lithuania.

The U.S. and its NATO allies are looking for new ways to deter Russian aggression against the Baltic states. But policymakers and defense planners have yet to agree on Moscow's intentions in the region.

Threading the Needle Through the Suwalki Gap

2019 Second-Quarter Forecast

2019 Annual Forecast

Columns

On Geopolitics

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (center) and representatives of the Three Seas Initiative take part in a summit on Sept. 18 in Romania.

In many ways, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have never had it so good economically and politically. But brewing problems to the east and west have given them cause for disquiet. 

The Baltic Nations Look Abroad and See Problems

2018 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

Venezuela

A worker passes a bitcoin mining operation in Quebec in March 2018. Following the boom and (partial) bust of private cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin over the last six months, several central banks are seriously considering introducing their own national digital currencies.

Environment, Science & Technology

The 4th Industrial Revolution

Central banks the world over are taking a long, hard look at the exploding cryptocurrency market with an eye to rolling out new types of digital money that would have far-reaching ramifications.

Why Central Banks Could Mint Their Own Digital Currency

Banking

Politics

The foreign ministries of Estonia and Latvia announced that they were terminating their participation in the 16+1 cooperation framework between China and central and eastern Europe that launched in 2012, Bloomberg reported Aug. 11.

China, Estonia, Latvia: Shrinking 16+1 Framework Weakens China's Europe Ties

Denmark

Belgium

United Kingdom

Portugal

Netherlands

Spain

Italy

European Disintegration

The defense ministers of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Denmark and Estonia will meet in Paris in June to sign a letter of intent to support French President Emmanuel Macron's European Intervention Initiative, aimed at preparing European armed forces to take collective action in the face of emergencies, Politico reported May 2. 

France: President Pushes for Smaller EU Group on Security and Defense Cooperation

Bosnia and Herzegovina

North Macedonia

Serbia

Albania

Montenegro

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

The Fate of the Eurozone

French President Emmanuel Macron received German Chancellor Angela Merkel's support to reform the European Union after Brexit, at an EU summit dinner in Estonia on Sept. 29, Reuters reported.

Estonia: France Secures Germany's Backing To Reform EU After Brexit

EU heads of state and government will gather for an informal dinner in Tallinn, Estonia on Sept. 28 ahead of a summit scheduled for the next day on the taxation of digital companies registered in Europe, Politico reported.

Estonia: EU Leaders Met To Discuss Europe's Next Step 

EU finance ministers are holding an informal meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, on Sept. 15-16 to discuss taxation policy regarding multinational digital platforms, New Europe reported Sept. 15. 

Estonia: EU Leaders Discuss Tax Policy For Online Companies  

Georgia

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence ended a two-day visit to Estonia on July 31 during which he affirmed the U.S. commitment to NATO and expressed interest in deploying Patriot surface-to-air missiles in the region, Radio Free Europe reported.

Estonia: U.S. Vice President Supports Patriot Missiles In Baltic States

The Ukraine Conflict

NATO

Economics and Finance

Military

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet with the foreign ministers of the Baltic states March 28 in Washington to discuss regional threats and strengthening NATO, The Lithuania Tribune reported March 21.

U.S.: Secretary Of State To Discuss Strengthening NATO In Baltic Meeting

Afghanistan

Algeria

Antigua and Barbuda

Luxembourg

South Sudan

A view of the Register in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Angola

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Bahrain

Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

Barbados

Benin

Egypt

Maldives

Malta

Ukraine

Belize

Botswana

Brunei Darussalam

India

Iran

Tajikistan

Bhutan

Bolivia

Burkina Faso

Cambodia

Iraq

The President palace in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

The administrative center of the Gakh region of Azerbaijan, located at the foot of the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, on the river Kurhumchai.

Brazil

Burundi

Finland

Israel

Nepal

Cameroon

Canada

Jordan

Pakistan

Mir Castle in the Minsk region of Belarus.

Cabo Verde

Chile

Federated States of Micronesia

Kuwait

Liechtenstein

Sri Lanka

Central African Republic

Colombia

Fiji

Lebanon

Chad

Costa Rica

Indonesia

Libya

Comoros

Cuba

Japan

A horse grazes in front of Kara-Kul lake in the Chon-Ak-Suu valley, 300 kilometers southeast of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

Morocco

Cote d'Ivoire

Dominica

Kiribati

Moldova

Oman

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dominican Republic

Laos

Palestinian Territories

Djibouti

Ecuador

Holy See (Vatican City)

Malaysia

Qatar

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Greece

Marshall Islands

Saudi Arabia

Eritrea

Grenada

Mongolia

Estonia lies in Eastern Europe and it shares a border with Russia to the east and Latvia to the south. Baltic waters separate Estonia from Finland and Sweden, which lie to the north and west, respectively. Estonia has a population of roughly 1.3 million, most of whom live in the country's capital city of Tallinn. After a long history of domination by foreign powers, Estonia's main geopolitical challenge is to remain independent.     Estonia's foreign policy is focused primarily on deterring Russian aggression by maintaining close political, economic and military ties with the European Union, NATO and the United States. Estonia is one of the few NATO members that meets the alliance's requirements for defense spending and, in recent years, has become a leader in cybersecurity issues. Still, most of the natural gas Estonians consume comes from Russia, and about a quarter of the country's population speaks Russian.     Estonia's strategic position at the crossroads of multiple trade markets and its access to the Baltic Sea have made it attractive for invaders. A small, flat country, Estonia is surrounded by powerful neighbors and easy to invade. Because of this, modern day Estonia spent centuries under foreign rule from Denmark, Sweden and Russia. Estonia became independent in 1918 but was absorbed by the Soviet Union during World War II. After it regained independence in 1991, Estonia became a member of the European Union and NATO in 2004, and it joined the eurozone in 2010.     Estonia's economy is deeply integrated with those of its northern neighbors, Sweden and Finland. In recent decades, Estonia has developed an open, dynamic economy with a large information technology center. However, the country also faces challenges from a declining population, because emigration rates are high and birthrates are below the replacement level. 

Female

Male

Sweden

Cyprus

Ireland

A production line at factory Dec. 12, 2022, in Bierne, France.

Targeted EU Protectionism and Partial Cooperation With the U.S.

High EU Protectionism and High Cooperation With the U.S.

High EU Protectionism and No Cooperation With the U.S.

Fragmented EU Protectionism and Haphazard Coordination With the U.S.

Reduced EU Protectionism and Moderate Cooperation With the U.S.

How Will EU Industrial Policy Evolve Through Mid-2024?

Science & Technology

The increasing unwillingness of eastern members to heed the EU's demands threatens to deepen the divide between the bloc's west and east.

Quarrels between the European Union's new member states and their more established neighbors are disrupting the search for harmony on the Continent.

In the EU, East and West Are Falling Out of Tune

SITUATION REPORTS

China, Estonia, Latvia: Shrinking 16+1 Framework Weakens China's Europe Ties

France: President Pushes for Smaller EU Group on Security and Defense Cooperation

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

Estonia: France Secures Germany's Backing To Reform EU After Brexit

Estonia: EU Leaders Met To Discuss Europe's Next Step

Estonia: EU Leaders Discuss Tax Policy For Online Companies

Estonia: U.S. Vice President Supports Patriot Missiles In Baltic States

U.S.: Secretary Of State To Discuss Strengthening NATO In Baltic Meeting

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