<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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Greece

Holy See

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Albania

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Netherlands

Switzerland

Spain

Montenegro

Monaco

Italy

Ireland

Iceland

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

United States

Venezuela

Uzbekistan

Ukraine

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan

Russia

Kyrgyzstan

Tanks on Sept. 23 in Caracas, Venezuela. The Trump administration has reportedly decided to attack military sites in Venezuela in strikes that could occur at any moment.

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

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: Potential U.S. Strikes in Venezuela, U.S. Outreach in Central Asia

Columns

On Security

Kenya

Madagascar

Nigeria

South Africa

Chile

Ecuador

Peru

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Philippines

Thailand

Bangladesh

Nepal

Fire rages through the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on Sept. 9, 2025, after youth protesters set fire to the building. 

Recent events in Nepal, Madagascar and elsewhere show how digitally coordinated, leaderless protests can succeed, but eventually face even larger challenges in sustaining the momentum for change.

Worldwide Gen Z Protesters May Be Disappointed With Their Success

Chancellor Friedrich Merz raises his hand in a vote at the Bundestag prior to a vote on changes to Germany's Basic Law on March 18, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. 

A landmark reform of the constitutional debt brake unlocks significant new spending, but this fiscal boost will be dampened by persistent administrative bottlenecks and a political reluctance to seriously tackle broader structural reform.

Defense Spending Will Modestly Boost the German Economy, but Challenges Remain

Snapshots

Carles Puigdemont, leader of Catalonia's pro-independence Junts party, delivers a speech in southwestern France on July 27, 2024, during a meeting held to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the party's founding. 

The end of a political pact between the ruling Socialists and Catalonia's Junts party will make it even harder for Prime Minister Sanchez to govern and pass laws, which could open the door to an early election.

Spain's Political Problems Worsen as Government Loses Catalan Support

On Geopolitics

China

European Council President Antonio Costa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrive for a meeting of the European Council on Oct. 23. The EU pursuit of geopolitical independence is being severely tested by Russia's direct security aggression, China's control over critical raw materials and competing economic pressures from the United States.

The EU pursuit of geopolitical independence is being severely tested by Russia's direct security aggression, China's control over critical raw materials and competing economic pressures from the United States.

Europe's Dual Challenge From China and Russia

Cameroon

Cote d'Ivoire

Tanzania

Argentina

Japan

South Korea

Supporters of Argentine President Javier Milei's Liberty Advances (LLA) party wave flags during a campaign rally in Rosario, Argentina, on Oct. 23, 2025.

The Weekly Rundown: Argentina Holds Midterm Elections, Trump Travels to Asia

U.S.-China Relations

A massive flag of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of North Cyprus is seen on Dec. 28, 2023, in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Attempts by Turkey to coerce Northern Cyprus economically could inadvertently strengthen President Tufan Erhurman's support and his drive for federalization with the internationally recognized south.

Turkey Will Pressure New Northern Cypriot President To Abandon Federalization Talks

A photograph taken on Oct. 10, 2025, shows Dutch election posters ahead of the Netherlands' Oct. 29 elections. 

Political fragmentation points toward complex negotiations and an ideologically unstable coalition, most likely led by either centrists or the far right.

Netherlands Election: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

Global Elections

The Geopolitics of Trade

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Global Trade

The recalibration of the European Union's sustainability framework will ease near-term compliance burdens and costs for businesses but preserve long-term uncertainty.

The Geopolitics of Trade: EU Steps Back From Ambitious Environmental Policies

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Palestinians on Oct. 10 on Al-Rashid road headed toward Gaza City. U.S. President Donald Trump said he might visit the Middle East just as 20 hostages are meant to be released by Hamas after surviving two years in captivity as the White House pushes for the solidification of a frail ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: Trump Tries To Solidify the Gaza Ceasefire, a Presidential Vote in Cameroon

The European Union approved a new 1.35 billion euro ($1.42 billion) aid payment to Ukraine as part of its ongoing support package, Politico reported on Nov. 4.

Ukraine, EU: Bloc Approves New Aid but Signals Tougher Line on Ukraine's Reform and Accession Track

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said during a news conference on Nov. 2 that parliamentary elections, originally set for December 2027, will be held earlier, with the exact date to be determined by the relevant authorities, Serbia's N1 news channel reported.

Serbia: Despite Vucic's Pledge, Early Elections Remain Unlikely

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a taped interview airing Nov. 2 that the United States "will not let anybody have" Nvidia's most advanced Blackwell architecture chips "other than the United States," Reuters reported.

U.S.: Trump Says No Other Countries Can Have Nvidia's Top Chips

A Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said on Nov. 1 that China would "consider" authorizing the export of chips from Dutch-headquartered semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia's China unit to individual companies, the Financial Times reported.

U.S., China, Netherlands: Nexperia China Chip Shipments To Resume, But Uncertainty Remains

Lawmakers in Italy's Senate granted final approval to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's proposed justice reform that would create separate career paths for judges and prosecutors, with 112 votes in favor, 59 against and only nine abstentions, Italian news agency ANSA reported Oct. 30.

Italy: Senate Approves Meloni's Flagship Justice Reform, Setting Stage for Politically Risky Referendum

The European Union is discussing an "in kind" tariff requiring Chinese exporters to supply critical raw materials to EU strategic stockpiles if the two do not reach a diplomatic solution to Chinese export controls on certain critical raw materials, Bloomberg reported on Oct. 31. 

EU, China: Bloc Considers Retaliatory Options as Critical Raw Material Talks With China Fail

Vietnam

Vietnam and the United Kingdom elevated ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam's highest tier of relations short of a military alliance, the Straits Times reported Oct. 31.

Vietnam, U.K.: Hanoi, London Elevate Ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Geert Wilders' far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) and Rob Jetten's centrist-liberal Democrats 66 (D66) are each projected to win 26 of the 150 seats in the lower house of the Dutch parliament after capturing about 17% of the national vote in the Oct. 29 snap elections, Dutch news agency ANP reported on Oct. 30.

Netherlands: Election Tie Leaves Door Open to Both Centrist or Right-Wing Coalitions

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

Ukraine, EU: Bloc Approves New Aid but Signals Tougher Line on Ukraine's Reform and Accession Track

Serbia: Despite Vucic's Pledge, Early Elections Remain Unlikely

U.S.: Trump Says No Other Countries Can Have Nvidia's Top Chips

U.S., China, Netherlands: Nexperia China Chip Shipments To Resume, But Uncertainty Remains

Italy: Senate Approves Meloni's Flagship Justice Reform, Setting Stage for Politically Risky Referendum

EU, China: Bloc Considers Retaliatory Options as Critical Raw Material Talks With China Fail

Vietnam, U.K.: Hanoi, London Elevate Ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Netherlands: Election Tie Leaves Door Open to Both Centrist or Right-Wing Coalitions

Forecasts

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