<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

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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

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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.

Military & Security

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

U.S.-Iran Relations

China

A digital illustration of the Chinese and EU flags.

Economics

Global Trade

Transatlantic trade tensions have created a window for tactical EU-China engagement, but structural constraints and unresolved disputes limit prospects for meaningful realignment.

Budding EU-China Rapprochement Amid U.S. Tariffs Will Have Its Limits

U.S.-China Relations

Snapshots

Russia

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (2 L) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) attend a meeting with European and Ukrainian officials on April 17 at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Ukraine will be forced to choose between compromising on its supposed red lines to de-escalate its war with Russia, or risk losing U.S. support and its battlefield position. 

Growing U.S. Pressure for a Peace Deal Puts Ukraine in a Difficult Position

Workers at a quarry Feb. 26, 2025 in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine.

Cyber

The Weekly Rundown: Von der Leyen Meets Starmer, a U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal

Ecuador

Cambodia

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. 

Environment, Science & Technology

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

Israel

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

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

Mexico

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs as U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick holds a chart during an event in the Rose Garden entitled ''Make America Wealthy Again'' at the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 2, 2025. 

Trump's sweeping new tariffs will slow both U.S. and global economic growth, with lower-income Americans and emerging markets like Vietnam being hit hardest.

The U.S. Launches the Largest Trade War in Modern History

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

Somalia

Egypt

Palestinian Territories

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

Philippe Lazzarini (C), the commissioner general for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, attends a humanitarian conference for Gaza in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 2, 2024, amid the continuing Israel-Hamas war.

Egypt's economic limitations will continue to restrain its assertiveness in foreign policy, constraining its ability to project power in the region.

Egypt's Economic Priorities Sideline Assertive Foreign Policy

Germany formally requested the activation of the European Union's "national escape clause" to exempt defense spending from deficit calculations and avoid triggering excessive deficit procedures under the bloc’s fiscal rules, Reuters reported on April 28, citing a letter from outgoing Finance Minister Jorg Kukies to the European Commission.

Germany, EU: Berlin Invokes Escape Clause in EU Fiscal Rules To Increase Defense Spending

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is pressuring the European Union to jettison an artificial intelligence code of practice rulebook intended to create higher transparency and risk-mitigation standards for AI developers, Bloomberg reported on April 25. 

EU, U.S.: White House Pressures Europe To Abandon AI Code of Conduct

The United Kingdom is considering dropping plans to deploy thousands of troops to Ukraine as part of a pan-European mission to provide Kyiv with post-conflict security guarantees, citing excessive risks and inadequate forces, The Times reported on April 25, citing British diplomatic and military sources.

Europe, Ukraine, Russia: London Weighs Watering Down Ukraine Reassurance Force Plans

Belgium

China is preparing to lift sanctions on European Parliament lawmakers in an effort to revive its stalled Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) with the European Union, the Financial Times reported April 23, citing a spokesperson for European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

EU, China: Beijing Ready to Lift Sanctions on European Lawmakers to Revive EU Investment Agreement 

In a brief April 23 post on X, France's presidential office denied speculation of a potential new dissolution of the National Assembly and early elections in the coming months. 

France: Presidential Office Denies Rumors of Possible New Snap Elections

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that European countries have communicated to the United States their key non-negotiable positions regarding any prospective peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, ahead of renewed talks scheduled for April 23 in London, Reuters reported April 22. 

Europe, Ukraine, U.S.: Europe Sets Red Lines on Ukraine Peace Deal

The European Union is considering restricting exports of certain strategic goods to the United States in retaliation for U.S. tariffs if U.S.-EU trade negotiations fail, Bloomberg reported on April 17.

EU: Brussels Considers Using Export Restrictions To Retaliate Against U.S. Tariffs

Estonia's parliament approved legislation expanding the Estonian Defense Forces' authority to use force against foreign civilian vessels that threaten submarine cables, and the new legislation also seeks to clarify the chain of command and accountability for such actions, Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported on April 17. 

Estonia: Navy Gains Authority To Attack Merchant Vessels Threatening Maritime Infrastructure

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

Germany, EU: Berlin Invokes Escape Clause in EU Fiscal Rules To Increase Defense Spending

EU, U.S.: White House Pressures Europe To Abandon AI Code of Conduct

Europe, Ukraine, Russia: London Weighs Watering Down Ukraine Reassurance Force Plans

EU, China: Beijing Ready to Lift Sanctions on European Lawmakers to Revive EU Investment Agreement

France: Presidential Office Denies Rumors of Possible New Snap Elections

Europe, Ukraine, U.S.: Europe Sets Red Lines on Ukraine Peace Deal

EU: Brussels Considers Using Export Restrictions To Retaliate Against U.S. Tariffs

Estonia: Navy Gains Authority To Attack Merchant Vessels Threatening Maritime Infrastructure

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