<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

France

Germany

Greece

Holy See

Latvia

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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

Colombia

United States

Venezuela

Iran

Israel

Lebanon

Colombia's President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella (R) delivers a speech during a military parade commemorating Colombia's Independence Day in Medellin, Colombia, on July 20, 2026. 

Cyber

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

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: Colombia's New President Takes Office, Brussels Gains AI Act Enforcement Powers

U.S.-Iran Relations

Firefighters spray water along the edge of a forest during a wildfire in southwestern France on July 25, 2026. 

While unlikely to be electorally decisive in either country, the crisis will heighten scrutiny of both governments' crisis management and elevate climate adaptation, emergency preparedness and civil protection as key national and EU policy priorities.

The Political and Security Impact of the Wildfires in France and Spain

Supporters of the far-right Vox party wave flags and shout slogans during a protest against Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid, on June 13, 2025.

Social Issues

Strict constitutional restrictions and EU institutional oversight would significantly constrain a future right-wing government's ability to implement sweeping institutional changes.

What the Far-Right Vox Entering Government Would Mean for Spain's Security and Society

Peru

Ukraine

Russia

A couple rides past Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles displayed at Azadi Square in Tehran on July 24.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: A Likely U.S. Escalation in Iran, Zelensky Travels to Washington

Snapshots

India

A giant Indian flag is displayed from the country's embassy in London on May 7, 2025.

While the agreement will support both countries' economic diversification efforts, U.K. regulatory standards and supply chain challenges will limit some gains for India.

What To Expect as the India-U.K. Trade Deal Enters Force

A 20 euro note.

The European Union is likely to advance banking reforms in 2027 that reduce internal barriers to cross-border banking, boosting its financial competitiveness by freeing up funds tied up in savings, but will stop short of significantly greater fiscal and financial risk sharing.

Brussels Seeks To Boost the EU Banking Sector's Competitiveness

China

Myanmar

Philippines

People pass a large banner depicting U.S. President Donald Trump with a target on his head during funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leade, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on July 5 in Tehran, Iran.

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates, ASEAN and Major Power Foreign Ministers Meet

Moldova

A man checks the flags of EU countries in 2004. 

Recent negotiations saw Montenegro and Albania pushed into advanced legislative alignment while Brussels expanded accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.


The Progress, Prospects and Risks of EU Enlargement

Andy Burnham delivers a speech on June 29, 2026, in Manchester, England. 

As prime minister, Andy Burnham will likely maintain continuity on fiscal, foreign and defense policies within tight budget and market constraints, along with an incremental approach to EU relations.

Previewing Burnham's Premiership in the U.K.

Indonesia

Singapore

Thailand

ASEAN leaders hold hands for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN summit in Cebu, central Philippines on May 8, 2026. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.S.-Iran Tensions Remain High, ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meet With Myanmar

A letter signed by 22 EU leaders on Aug. 1 criticized Spain's migration policies, blaming Madrid's regularization scheme as a pull factor and calling for stronger external borders and more effective returns, after tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta on July 30, Reuters reported the same day.

Spain, EU: Spain and Schengen Under Pressure Following Ceuta Migrant Crisis

French Pacific territory New Caledonia's Congress elected a government with six members from a pact between centrist and pro-France parties and five independence supporters, Radio New Zealand reported on July 31.

New Caledonia, France: New Government Dims Independence Prospects

The European Commission will gain powers to enforce the rules for providers of general-purpose artificial intelligence models under the bloc's AI Act on Aug. 2, empowering its AI Office to demand information, conduct evaluations, order corrective measures, withdraw models from the EU market and impose fines of up to 15 million euros ($17 million) or 3% of global turnover, Politico reported on July 31.

EU: Brussels To Gain Enforcement Powers Over Most Capable AI Models

Energy

Record drought conditions and extreme heat are disrupting power generation and river transport across Europe, Reuters reported on July 30.

Europe: Record Drought Forces Nuclear Shutdowns, Strains River Transport

A suspected Russian Kh-101 cruise missile crashed in an uninhabited area of eastern Poland early July 30 during a large-scale Russian air attack on western Ukraine, causing no casualties, Reuters reported the same day.

Poland, Russia: Suspected Russian Missile Crashes in Poland

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met in Lublin, Poland, and discussed anti-missile defense cooperation, Polish investment in Ukraine, support for Ukrainians living in Poland and the bilateral historical dialogue, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia reported on July 29, citing statements by both leaders.

Ukraine, Poland: Zelensky-Tusk Meeting Will Stabilize Ties but Not Resolve Rift

A new IBRiS poll conducted for Polish news outlet Wirtualna Polska and published July 27 put public support for former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's newly formed center-right Development Plus party at 7.5%, above the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament.

Poland: New Center-Right Party Rises in the Polls, Fragmenting Right-Wing Opposition

The United States imposed tariffs on 60 trading partners of 10% and 12.5% following a Section 301 investigation into forced-labor imports, applying the lower rate reserved for countries with forced-labor bans to the European Union, Reuters reported on July 24.

EU, U.S.: New U.S. Section 301 Tariffs Keep EU Duties Within Agreed Ceiling

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

Spain, EU: Spain and Schengen Under Pressure Following Ceuta Migrant Crisis

New Caledonia, France: New Government Dims Independence Prospects

EU: Brussels To Gain Enforcement Powers Over Most Capable AI Models

Europe: Record Drought Forces Nuclear Shutdowns, Strains River Transport

Poland, Russia: Suspected Russian Missile Crashes in Poland

Ukraine, Poland: Zelensky-Tusk Meeting Will Stabilize Ties but Not Resolve Rift

Poland: New Center-Right Party Rises in the Polls, Fragmenting Right-Wing Opposition

EU, U.S.: New U.S. Section 301 Tariffs Keep EU Duties Within Agreed Ceiling

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