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Europe

Sweden

Romania

Austria

The Romanian and EU flags are seen at the European Commission's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium in February 2017.

Economics

Politics

Pushback from other EU members is impeding Bucharest's bid to join the passport-free zone, which would have both economic and political consequences for the country.

The Risks of Romania's Protracted Accession to the EU's Schengen Area

United States

Turkey

Finland

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) on Oct. 1, 2022, addresses parliament in Ankara, Turkey. A breakthrough in NATO accession negotiations between Turkey and Sweden and Finland is unlikely before Turkey's national elections later in 2023.

Military & Security

A breakthrough in NATO accession negotiations between Turkey and Sweden and Finland is unlikely before Turkey's national elections.

As Elections Near, Turkey Will Still Block Sweden and Finland's NATO Aspirations

Assessments

Brazil

China

Ukraine

Belarus

Russia

Most Western insurers for marine traffic will stop providing coverage for war-related risks in Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian waters effective Jan. 1, 2023. The drop in coverage will result in some tankers refraining from sailing in Russian waters, even in Russia's Far East, or in tankers operating without insurance.

Energy

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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

The Weekly Rundown: Insurers Drop Marine War Coverage in Russia, Sweden Takes Over the EU Presidency

Iran

Denmark

Norway

A Norweigan coast guard ship patrols the waters surrounding an  offshore gas platform in the Troll gas field off the west coast of Norway.

Cyber

With its natural gas exports to Europe now nearing zero, Moscow may start targeting the continent's maritime oil and gas industry via cyberattacks and physical strikes. 

The Nord Stream Leaks Set a Precedent for Russian Attacks on Europe's Energy Infrastructure

(L to R) Sweden's foreign minister, prime minister and defense minister hold a press conference in Stockholm on the gas leak found on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in the Baltic Sea on Sept. 27, 2022. 

The apparent pipeline attack signals Russia's willingness to sever Europe's gas supplies this winter, which would have lasting economic consequences even if European leaders are able to mitigate the short-term impact.

Nord Stream 1 Gas Leaks Spell Gloom, but Not Doom, for Europe’s Energy Woes

While Sweden's incoming government will occasionally clash with the European Union, the country's journey toward NATO accession will remain unchanged.

The Impact of Sweden's Next Government on NATO Accession and the EU

Media

Videos

Why is Turkey blocking Finland's and Sweden's accession to NATO?

Essential Geopolitics: Why Turkey Is Blocking NATO From Bringing in Sweden and Finland

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 18, 2022, at the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara. 

Delaying Finnish and Swedish membership to wrest concessions from the Nordic nations could jeopardize arms deals and aid packages for Turkey from NATO members.

Turkey's Risky Strategy of Blocking Finland's and Sweden's NATO Membership

Podcasts

Essential Geopolitics: How Turkey Is Keeping NATO on Its Toes

NATO headquarters on Feb. 11, 2020, in Brussels, Belgium. 

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

While Moscow will respond with disruptive measures, direct conflict between Russia and Sweden or Finland is unlikely at this time.

How Russia Would Respond to Finnish and Swedish NATO Membership

The Ukraine Conflict

Columns

On Geopolitics

Canada

Iceland

Polar bears in Essen Bay off the coast of Zemlya Georga -- an island in the Franz Josef Land archipelago -- on August 22, 2021.

China in Transition

The suspension of Arctic Council activities following Russia's re-invasion of Ukraine presents an opening for China to challenge Arctic governance.

China's Opportunity to Break Into Arctic Governance

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (center), Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto (left) and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde (right) give a press conference after their meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Jan. 24, 2022. 

Stockholm and Helsinki will avoid making such a major policy decision for now. But if public support for joining NATO outlasts the current war, future governments may reconsider. 


In Sweden and Finland, Russia's Ukraine Invasion Builds the Case for NATO Membership

Security

Turkey's National Assembly ratified Finland's ascension to NATO on March 30 in the final political hurdle for Helsinki joining the alliance, Reuters reported the next day.

Turkey, Finland: Ankara Approves Helsinki's NATO Membership

Hungary

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the leader of Hungary's ruling Fidesz party, Mate Kocsis, said they would both back a vote for Finland's accession to NATO, Politico reported on March 17.

Finland, Sweden: Turkey, Hungary to Ratify Finland's NATO Bid, but Delay Sweden's Bid

Sweden's chief negotiator for the country's NATO accession process, Oscar Stenstrom, said talks with the Turkish government about the ratification of Sweden's and Finland's requests to join the alliance have resumed following a meeting at NATO's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Reuters reported on March 9.

Sweden, Turkey: Ankara and Stockholm Agree to Continue NATO Ratification Talks

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg publicly admitted that Finland may join the military alliance before Sweden, the Financial Times reported Feb. 14.

Finland, Sweden: Finland Reportedly Agrees to Join NATO Before Sweden

Sweden's government proposed a new law banning activities that support designated terrorist organizations, Bloomberg reported Feb. 2.

Sweden, Turkey: New Swedish Anti-Terrorism Law May Strengthen NATO Bid

Egypt

Netherlands

Egypt's top Sunni institution, Al-Azhar, called on Muslims to boycott Swedish and Dutch products after Danish anti-Islam activist Rasmus Paludan burned copies of the Koran holy book on Jan. 21 in Stockholm, Sweden, and Dutch far-right leader Edwin Wagensveld ripped pages out of a Koran a day later, AP reported Jan. 25.

Egypt: Sunni Institution Calls for Boycott of Swedish and Dutch Products Over Koran Desecrations

Sweden's Supreme Court blocked the extradition of Turkish journalist Bulent Kenes, whom Turkey accuses of taking part in the 2016 coup against its government, The Guardian reported Dec. 19.

Sweden: Supreme Court Blocks Extradition of Journalist to Turkey

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Sweden and Finland must do more to advance their bids to join NATO before he meets with each country's foreign minister, Bloomberg reported Nov. 29.

Turkey, Sweden, Finland: Ankara Says Nordic Countries Must Do More to Advance NATO Bid

Afghanistan

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Antigua and Barbuda

Luxembourg

South Sudan

A view of the Register in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Angola

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Bahrain

Lithuania

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

Maldives

Malta

Belize

Botswana

Brunei Darussalam

India

North Macedonia

Tajikistan

Bhutan

Bolivia

Burkina Faso

Cambodia

Germany

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.

Burundi

Israel

Nepal

Cameroon

Georgia

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

Latvia

Lebanon

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Chad

Costa Rica

Indonesia

Libya

Comoros

Cuba

Czech Republic

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.

SITUATION REPORTS

Turkey, Finland: Ankara Approves Helsinki's NATO Membership

Finland, Sweden: Turkey, Hungary to Ratify Finland's NATO Bid, but Delay Sweden's Bid

Sweden, Turkey: Ankara and Stockholm Agree to Continue NATO Ratification Talks

Finland, Sweden: Finland Reportedly Agrees to Join NATO Before Sweden

Sweden, Turkey: New Swedish Anti-Terrorism Law May Strengthen NATO Bid

Egypt: Sunni Institution Calls for Boycott of Swedish and Dutch Products Over Koran Desecrations

Sweden: Supreme Court Blocks Extradition of Journalist to Turkey

Turkey, Sweden, Finland: Ankara Says Nordic Countries Must Do More to Advance NATO Bid

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