Germany

Romania

Italy

Russia

Economics

Energy

Military & Security

Romanian authorities are investigating a suspected case of Russian sabotage involving the deliberate contamination of Azerbaijani crude bound for OMV Petrom's Petrobrazi refinery, G4media reported Aug. 7, citing sources close to the investigation.

Europe, Romania, Russia: Russia Suspected of Sabotage Behind Contaminated Batches of Azerbaijani Crude

Israel

Palestinian Territories

The Israeli security cabinet approved a plan to take control over Gaza City on Aug. 8, but the full cabinet will still need to approve the plan, Reuters reported the same day.

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Gaza City Takeover Plan

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

A German auction for offshore wind sites ended without any awards on Aug. 1, Germany's Federal Network Agency announced Aug. 6.

Germany: Offshore Wind Auction Fails To Attract Bidders for the First Time as Industry Confronts Slowdown

Belgium

Slovenia

Netherlands

Spain

Hungary

Politics

The European Commission proposed suspending Israel's participation in the Horizon Research fund due to human rights concerns associated with Israel's ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip, Reuters reported on July 28.

EU, Israel: EU Proposes Suspending Israeli Participation in Research Fund

The German government is set to approve its 2026 draft budget on July 30, outlining 520.5 billion euros ($607 billion) in spending and record borrowing of 174.3 billion euros ($203 billion) -- up from 50.5 billion euros in 2024 -- alongside a medium-term financial framework extending through 2029, Reuters reported on July 28. 

Germany: Berlin to Propose Increased Investment, Borrowing and Defense Spending in 2026 Budget Plan

United States

Iran

France

United Kingdom

Diplomats from Iran, France, Germany and the United Kingdom met in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 25 and agreed to continue talks at a later, unspecified date, but they did not reach a breakthrough on the nuclear issue or sanctions, Bloomberg reported the same day.

Iran, EU: Meeting on Iran's Nuclear Program Yields No Breakthroughs, No Collapse

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will host French President Emmanuel Macron in Berlin on July 23 to discuss responses to upcoming U.S. tariffs, continued support for Ukraine and the future of their joint next-generation fighter jet program, Reuters reported the same day.

Germany, France: Merz To Host Macron in Berlin Amid Persistent Bilateral Disagreements

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a landmark bilateral agreement in London designed to deepen cooperation on defense, trade and migration, according to a joint press release on July 17.

U.K., Germany: London and Berlin Sign Bilateral Defense and Security Pact

Assessments

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Afghanistan

Pakistan

The flag of Afghanistan sits on the Afghan embassy in Moscow on July 4, 2025. 

As Afghanistan's neighbors deepen ties with the Taliban and Western states remain cautious, a widening diplomatic divide threatens to complicate efforts to address the country's worsening crises and regional security risks.

The Growing International Divide Over Taliban Ties Will Risk Regional Stability

Columns

On Geopolitics

Europe

Lithuania

Finland

Latvia

Denmark

Estonia

Sweden

Poland

Norway

Ukraine

Belarus

A view in Rostock, Germany, of the first exit of warships for the NATO exercise BALTOPS in the Baltic Sea on June 5, 2025. 

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

In response to Russian aggression, NATO is seeking to establish strategic control over the Baltic Sea via rearmament and more assertive posturing, creating an environment where the risk of miscalculation grows exponentially.

Baltic on the Brink: The New Flashpoint in Europe's Confrontation With Russia

Australia

China

U.S. President Donald Trump on April 24 in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. In an interview July 10, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he would "have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday," perhaps representing a shift in his administration's policy.

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

The Weekly Rundown: Trump Speaks on Ukraine, Sweeping EU Budget Reform

Snapshots

A newly installed sign pointing to Schengen transfer flights is pictured next to EU and Romanian flags on March 31, 2024. 

Poland's move to reimpose border checks to curb irregular migration from Germany and Lithuania highlights a greater trend that risks entrenching uncertainty for businesses and travelers in the EU's passport-free area.

New Polish Border Controls Bring Europe's Schengen Area Back Into Question

Sub-Saharan Africa

Canada

Japan

Rescue teams work at damaged buildings in Nobonyad Square following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025, in Tehran, Iran. 

Global Trade

The Weekly Rundown: G7 Leaders' Summit, More Israeli Attacks on Iran

An image shows a row of flags from the G7 members.

The June 15-17 summit will provide an opportunity for the bloc to discuss trade tensions and the war in Ukraine, but the meeting is more likely to expose transatlantic divisions over Trump's tariffs and reluctance to pressure Russia.

What To Expect From the First G7 Summit Following Trump's Return to the White House

NATO military forces during static display after the Steadfast Dart 2025 military exercises at the Smardan Training Area in Smardan, Romania, on Feb. 19, 2025. 

Europe is increasingly focused on achieving greater strategic autonomy in defense, but internal divisions and material constraints will plague this quest, even as the United States' role on the Continent continues to shrink, meaning NATO will likely remain the cornerstone of Europe’s security architecture. 

The Future of Transatlantic Security Cooperation, Part 2: The View From Europe

South Africa

A list of countries facing reciprocal tariffs on display April 2 at the White House.

U.S.-China Relations

U.S.-Iran Relations

The Weekly Rundown: The Escalating Global Trade War, South Africa's Coalition Government on the Brink

Ireland

U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order after delivering remarks on reciprocal tariffs during an April 2 event in the Rose Garden in Washington. The U.S.–EU trade dispute is on track to escalate as Brussels prepares retaliation against Washington's sweeping 20% tariff on EU goods, increasing the risk of a protracted tit-for-tat trade war that would disrupt supply chains, slow growth on both sides of the Atlantic and strain broader cooperation. 

The developments could see a protracted tit-for-tat trade war that disrupts supply chains, slows growth on both sides of the Atlantic and strains broader cooperation.

Brussels Prepares to Respond to the Latest Trump Tariffs

Turkey

South Korea

People wave flags and chant slogans during a protest in front of the municipality headquarters in support of arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.S. To Announce Tariffs, Protests in Turkey Rage On

Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addresses the Bundestag on March 18, 2025, before a vote on changes to the country's constitutional debt limits.

The historic reform will allow for increased investment and higher defense spending, which will help raise medium-term economic growth in both Germany and the euro area. 

The Economic Impact of Germany's Debt Brake Reform

Ethiopia

Reichstag in Berlin with flags.

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Russia Contacts on a Ukraine Ceasefire, a Vote on Reforming Germany’s Debt Brake

<p>Germany is a country located in Central Europe, bordered by Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark. The country has mountainous terrain in the south, dominated by the Alps, with a plateau and forests in the center and the north. The Rhine, the Danube and the Elbe rivers, combined with Germany&#39;s central location in Europe and its access to the North Sea, allowed the country to become a leading exporter and one of the most prosperous economies in Europe. Between the late 10th and early 19th centuries, the territories of today&#39;s Germany were the heart of the Holy Roman Empire, a collection of small kingdoms, principalities, duchies and city-states. This led to the development of multiple seats of political and economic power that achieved unity in 1871. While Berlin is Germany&#39;s capital and most populous city, the country also has several economic and political centers, including Hamburg, Munich, Cologne and Frankfurt. Germany&rsquo;s location in the heart of the North European Plain has led to constant conflicts with its neighbors like France and Russia. After World War II, Germany was divided between East Germany, in the Soviet orbit, and West Germany, integrated to the European Economic Community and NATO. The country achieved reunification in 1990. Germany&rsquo;s main geographic challenge is preserving its territorial unity and maintaining a political balance between regions within the country. It also seeks to maintain a political alliance with France and a balance of power in Europe to preserve peace and keep markets open for trade. Berlin&#39;s efforts to keep the European Union closely integrated amid the current economic crisis are in line with this strategy.</p>

EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

The Fate of the Eurozone

European Disintegration

SITUATION REPORTS

Europe, Romania, Russia: Russia Suspected of Sabotage Behind Contaminated Batches of Azerbaijani Crude

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Gaza City Takeover Plan

Germany: Offshore Wind Auction Fails To Attract Bidders for the First Time as Industry Confronts Slowdown

EU, Israel: EU Proposes Suspending Israeli Participation in Research Fund

Germany: Berlin to Propose Increased Investment, Borrowing and Defense Spending in 2026 Budget Plan

Iran, EU: Meeting on Iran's Nuclear Program Yields No Breakthroughs, No Collapse

Germany, France: Merz To Host Macron in Berlin Amid Persistent Bilateral Disagreements

U.K., Germany: London and Berlin Sign Bilateral Defense and Security Pact

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