<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>

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

Europe

Belize

Andorra

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

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Italy

Ireland

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Hungary

Kosovo

Beyond Quantitative Easing

The Ukraine Conflict

The Politics of Pipelines

EU: Regional Blocs

Divided EU Foreign Policies

Brexit

The Fate of the Eurozone

Banking

Crossing Borders

Globalization

European Disintegration

Echoes of the Cold War

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

Assessments

Ethiopia

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Israel

Japan

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou leaves after the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on Aug. 27, 2025.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Politics

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

The Weekly Rundown: France's Bayrou Faces a Confidence Vote, Ethiopia Inaugurates Its Mega-Dam

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou arrives ahead of meetings with party leaders as part of political consultations at the Hotel de Matignon in Paris, on Sept. 4, 2025, ahead of the French National Assembly's vote of confidence.

Economics

Decisive action to significantly reduce fiscal deficits will remain elusive before and likely after France's next presidential election, given political fragmentation and polarization that will prevent a stable legislative majority.

French Debt Soars As Parliament Unlikely To Reach Fiscal Consolidation

Media

Russia

Podcasts

Military & Security

Why is the Baltic such a critical and complex region?

Essential Geopolitics: Remilitarization in the Baltic

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Eurasia

South Asia

The Geopolitics of Trade

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Global Trade

Geopolitical, security and environmental risks threaten to disrupt trade through crucial waterways, including the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the Suez Canal, the Danish and Turkish straits, and the Panama Canal.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Threats to Maritime Chokepoints Endanger Global Trade, Part 2

Diverse security risks threaten maritime chokepoints around the world, presenting unique challenges to international trade.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Threats to Maritime Chokepoints Endanger Global Trade, Part 1

The building housing Norway's parliament is seen on May 17, 2025, in Oslo.

The Sept. 8 vote could result in another left-wing coalition focused on welfare and climate, a right-wing coalition focused on tax cuts and oil production, or perhaps even an unprecedented grand coalition between the country's two largest parties.

Norway's Legislative Elections: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Global Elections

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou speaks during a press conference in Paris on Aug. 25, 2025. 

In the likely case that the Prime Minister Bayrou loses the Sept. 8 vote, Macron will either have to appoint another weak government or call early legislative elections, prolonging political instability and heightening financial risks.

New Political Crisis Grips France as Bayrou Gambles on Confidence Vote

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez addresses lawmakers during a plenary session at the Spanish parliament in Madrid on July 9, 2025. 

The prime minister's Socialist-led government will likely survive in the short term, but ongoing policy paralysis, corruption scandals and public discontent could trigger early elections, potentially bringing the far right to power.

Sanchez's Mounting Political Challenges Spell Trouble for Spain

United States

Iran

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

The Maanshan nuclear power plant is seen next to a beach in Pingtung, in southern Taiwan, on April 29, 2025.

The Weekly Rundown: Iran Meets With European Powers, Taiwan Holds a Nuclear Referendum

Ukraine

Trump and Zelensky at the White House West Wing in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2025.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Even as President Trump floats the possibility of a trilateral summit with Putin and Zelensky, a breakthrough in negotiations is unlikely given the Kremlin's noncommittal response to the Aug. 18 White House talks. 

Despite Flurry of U.S. Diplomacy, a Ukraine Peace Deal Will Remain Elusive

China

China's Ministry of Commerce on Sept. 5 announced it was placing preliminary anti-dumping duties of 15.6-62.4% on pork imports suitable for human consumption from the European Union, effective Sept. 10, Bloomberg has reported.

China, EU: Beijing Places 16-62% Anti-Dumping Duties on European Pork

The European Commission on Sept. 5 issued a 2.95 billion euro ($3.5 billion) fine for Google over its advertising technology.

Europe, U.S.: European Commission Fines Google Over Ad-Tech 

On Sept. 4, Romania's right-wing Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) filed four separate no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan's government for Sept. 7, Balkan Insight reported.

Romania: Government to face four no-confidence motions 

French Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure confirmed on Sept. 4 that his party would vote to bring down Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's minority government in the upcoming confidence vote over his proposed austerity budget for 2026.

France: Socialist Party Will Vote To Topple Bayrou in Confidence Vote

Canada

Australia

Some 30 leaders and senior officials from Europe, Japan, Australia and Canada met in Paris to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, Reuters reported on Sept. 4.

Europe, Ukraine, Russia: Ukraine's Western Backers Discuss Security Guarantees for Kyiv

Cyber

The European Union's second-highest court rejected a court challenge on Sept. 3 and, in turn, upheld a data transfer agreement between the bloc and the United States, Reuters reported the same day.

U.S., EU: EU Court Rejects Court Challenge, Upholds Data Transfer Pact With U.S.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is in London for his first bilateral meeting with his British counterpart Keir Starmer, The Guardian reported on Sept. 3.

U.K., Spain: Sanchez and Starmer to Sign Strategic Agreement in London

The European Commission formally submitted the European Union-Mercosur free trade agreement for approval by member states, including safeguard measures aimed at easing opposition from critics such as France and Poland, Reuters reported on Sept. 3.

EU, Mercosur: EU Submits Mercosur Trade Deal for Approval

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

China, EU: Beijing Places 16-62% Anti-Dumping Duties on European Pork

Europe, U.S.: European Commission Fines Google Over Ad-Tech

Romania: Government to face four no-confidence motions

France: Socialist Party Will Vote To Topple Bayrou in Confidence Vote

Europe, Ukraine, Russia: Ukraine's Western Backers Discuss Security Guarantees for Kyiv

U.S., EU: EU Court Rejects Court Challenge, Upholds Data Transfer Pact With U.S.

U.K., Spain: Sanchez and Starmer to Sign Strategic Agreement in London

EU, Mercosur: EU Submits Mercosur Trade Deal for Approval

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