Syria

Europe

Germany

France

Italy

Economics

Energy

Politics

During a meeting between European, U.S. and Arab diplomats, Syrian and Saudi officials called on Western governments to ease sanctions on Syria, and European diplomats agreed to discuss sanctions relief in Syria during a Jan. 27 foreign ministers meeting, Al Jazeera reported on Jan. 12.

Syria: Arab Diplomats Call on EU To Ease Sanctions on Syria

Military & Security

The Italian government is planning to cut about 4.6 billion euros ($5 billion) originally earmarked to help shore up the automotive sector's supply chains in their transition to electric mobility while simultaneously increasing financial support to the defense sector, Il Sole 24 Ore reported on Oct. 28, citing budget documents. 

Italy: Rome To Move Billions of Euros in Aid From Automotive to Defense

By the end of 2025, the Italian government will present a state-backed company to build advanced nuclear reactors in the country, Reuters reported on Oct. 21, citing a statement by industry minister Adolfo Urso.

Italy: New State-Backed Company To Build Nuclear Reactors

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the European Green Deal's "ideological approach" and pledged to push to correct its most "self-destructive" policies, like a ban on the sale of new combustion engine vehicles in the European Union after 2035, according to a transcript of her speech the Italian government published on Sept. 18. 

Italy, EU: Italy's Meloni Pledges To Push for EU 2035 Combustion Engine Vehicle Ban Reversal

Lithuania

Finland

Latvia

Estonia

Romania

Spain

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her team of Commissioners, a press release by the Commission shows Sept. 17. 

EU: Von der Leyen Unveils New European Commission

The Italian government aims to reduce its fiscal deficit to below 3% of gross domestic product by 2026 to comply with new EU rules on fiscal consolidation, Bloomberg reported on Sept. 5, citing sources close to the planning.

Italy: Rome Announces Ambitious Goal to Reduce Fiscal Deficit Below 3% by 2026

Italy's opposition parties collected the necessary 500,000 signatures to call for a referendum to repeal a recently approved law granting Italian regions more powers and fiscal autonomy, Corriere della Sera reported on Aug. 21.

Italy: Opposition Pushes for Referendum on New Law Granting Regions More Autonomy

Canada

Australia

Greece

Sweden

United Kingdom

Belgium

Poland

Norway

Austria

Switzerland

Afghanistan

The Afghan Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would not honor documents, including passports and visas, issued by diplomats linked to the former Western-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan at several missions in Europe and other Western countries, AP reported on July 30. 

Afghanistan: Taliban Disavows Some Afghan Diplomatic Missions in Europe and Other Western Countries

Assessments

United States

Iran

Ukraine

India

Pakistan

Indian soldiers stand guard atop their vehicle in Srinagar, India, on April 23, 2025, following a deadly militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.

U.S.-Iran Relations

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

The Weekly Rundown: Escalating Pakistan-India Tensions, Canadian Elections and Pope Francis' Funeral

Ecuador

Cambodia

China

Malaysia

Vietnam

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, China, on March 11, 2025. 

The Weekly Rundown: Xi Tours Southeast Asia, Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Begin

Columns

On Geopolitics

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

Snapshots

Netherlands

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. 

Global Trade

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

Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italy's Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, discusses a new draft law on nuclear energy with the press at Palazzo Chigi on Feb. 28, 2025, in Rome, Italy. 

Reintroducing nuclear power could enhance Italy's energy security, industrial competitiveness and economic growth, but major political and technical hurdles make a nuclear comeback unlikely in the next decade.

The Challenges Facing Italy's Nuclear Comeback

Russia

A Russian warship transits the Neva River in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Cyber

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Russia's risk tolerance for physical and cyber operations against Western targets appears to be increasing, raising the likelihood of more disruptive and/or violent attacks.

A More Brazen Russia Slowly Raises the Specter of a NATO Confrontation

Mexico

Algeria

The Mexican Senate building in December 2019 in Mexico City. The Mexican Senate will begin considering a controversial judicial reform Sept. 8 that it plans to vote on by Sept. 11.

The Weekly Rundown: Judicial Reform in Mexico, An EU Competitiveness Report

Denmark

Slovenia

Hungarian police officers check cars at the Nickelsdorf-Hegyeshalom border crossing on the Austrian-Hungarian border on March 18, 2020. 

Increasing levels of migration, terrorism activity and Russian aggression in Europe are driving Schengen countries to tighten their border controls, heralding a more spotty functioning of the passport-free travel zone.

Growing Border Controls Threaten Europe's Schengen Area

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Voters on June 6 in The Hague, the first day of the election for the European Parliament. In a vote that will shape the political direction and strategic priorities of the bloc for the next five years, elections for the European Parliament run from June 6-9.

Global Elections

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: BRICS Foreign Ministers Meet, European Parliamentary Elections

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks during a meeting at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Italy, on May 13, 2024. 

Meloni's party is expected to perform strongly in the upcoming European Parliament elections, which would grant the Italian prime minister more sway over EU policymaking in the years ahead.

Under Meloni, Italy's Influence in the EU Is Set To Grow

A view of the Russian Central Bank headquarters is seen in downtown Moscow on May 26, 2022.

To unlock more money for Kyiv, the U.S. and Europe may confiscate Russian government assets stashed in Western nations, which would escalate the greater economic tit-for-tat between Moscow and the West.

Ukraine's Western Allies Mull Seizing Frozen Russian Assets

Burkina Faso

Mali

Niger

South Africa

Argentina

Turkey

Hong Kong SAR, China

Japan

South Korea

Taiwan

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Bangladesh

In this scorecard, we take a critical look at our successes and slip-ups in forecasting geopolitical events over the past year.

Grading Our 2023 Annual Forecast

<p>Italy is a peninsular country in southern Europe that borders France, Switzerland, Austria&nbsp;and&nbsp;Slovenia. Two independent states, Vatican City and San Marino, exist within its territory. The country is mountainous, with the Apennines stretching the length of the peninsula and the Alps acting as a natural barrier between Italy and its neighbors. It also has the two largest islands in the Mediterranean, Sicily&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sardinia. Italy&#39;s core is the Po Valley, one of the most prosperous regions in Europe and the heart of the industrial north. The southern part of the country has a more agricultural profile and has traditionally been less developed. Italy&#39;s capital, Rome, was once the heart of a sprawling empire, which stretched over much of Europe, North Africa&nbsp;and&nbsp;the Levant.</p><p>After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the late 5th century, Italy was fragmented into small kingdoms, republics&nbsp;and&nbsp;duchies. Italy&#39;s privileged position in the heart of the Mediterranean and the wealth of its economic centers made the peninsula a territory of constant invasion, from Germanic tribes in the 5th century to the French, Austrian and Spanish empires in the 18th and 19th centuries. Moreover, Italy&#39;s rugged geography led to the development of strong regional identities. As a result, the country didn&#39;t achieve political unity until the 1860s. Italy&#39;s main geographic challenge is to preserve its territorial unity and develop a relatively stable central government while dealing with strong regional interests and fractious political forces. The eurozone crisis has intensified this challenge.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

Syria: Arab Diplomats Call on EU To Ease Sanctions on Syria

Italy: Rome To Move Billions of Euros in Aid From Automotive to Defense

Italy: New State-Backed Company To Build Nuclear Reactors

Italy, EU: Italy's Meloni Pledges To Push for EU 2035 Combustion Engine Vehicle Ban Reversal

EU: Von der Leyen Unveils New European Commission

Italy: Rome Announces Ambitious Goal to Reduce Fiscal Deficit Below 3% by 2026

Italy: Opposition Pushes for Referendum on New Law Granting Regions More Autonomy

Afghanistan: Taliban Disavows Some Afghan Diplomatic Missions in Europe and Other Western Countries

Forecasts

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