<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

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

North Macedonia

San Marino

Sweden

United Kingdom

Bulgaria

Portugal

Serbia

Croatia

Poland

Romania

Cyprus

Norway

Austria

Slovakia

Albania

Slovenia

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

Chile

Colombia

United States

Iran

Israel

Lebanon

China

Plumes of smoke rise following reported explosions in Tehran on March 2, 2026, after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top military leaders, prompting a new wave of Iranian retaliatory missile attacks across the region. 

Economics

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: War in the Middle East, U.S.-China Trade Talks

U.S.-Iran Relations

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) on Feb. 25 at the quay of the North Port in Malmo, Sweden. A prolonged conflict in the Middle East would increase Europe's exposure to security risks, including potential attacks on European-linked assets, renewed migration pressures and an elevated terrorism threat, particularly if European capitals assume a more active military or diplomatic role against the Iranian regime.

A protracted regional war threatens to expose the Continent to risks ranging from cyberattacks against critical infrastructure to a renewed influx of asylum seekers.

Prolonged Conflict in Iran Would Elevate Security, Migration Threats Against Europe

A woman holds a photo of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iranians protest against attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States on Feb. 28, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. 

Energy

Global Trade

Depending on the duration of maritime disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the escalating conflict is set to subject European economies to significant energy market volatility.

European Economic Growth Likely To Suffer From Impact of U.S. and Israel-Iran War

Canada

Australia

Japan

India

The Tehran skyline on Dec. 30, 2025. On March 2, U.S. and Iranian negotiators will meet in Vienna, Austria, to begin technical talks on a nuclear deal.

The Weekly Rundown: The Conflict in the Middle East, Merz meets Trump 

Snapshots

A digital illustration shows energy and power icons set with the EU flag. 

By embedding 'Made in Europe' requirements into public procurement, the upcoming Industrial Accelerator Act represents a fundamental shift in EU economic policy.

The EU's 'Made in Europe' Plan Will Fuel Internal Divisions, Transatlantic Tensions

Icelandic flags are seen on a street in Reykjavik.

The prospect of a summer referendum on EU accession reflects a strategic pivot driven by heightened anxieties over transatlantic security.


In Iceland, Security Concerns, Domestic Politics Catalyze Renewed Debate Over EU Membership

European Union and Australian flags together.

European and Australian negotiators aim to strengthen supply chain resilience and hedge against growing global trade volatility.


The Strategic Logic Behind Revived Australia-EU Free Trade Talks 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press Feb. 2 in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump will deliver the annual State of the Union address to Congress on Feb. 24.

The Weekly Rundown: Trump Threatens Iran, Pledges To Reimpose Tariffs on Different Grounds

U.S.-China Relations

Mexico

South Korea

Vietnam

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House on Feb. 20, 2026, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Trump's use of emergency powers to implement international trade tariffs.

The Trump administration will use other trade authorities to replace many of the IEEPA tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court, meaning U.S. trading partners will remain incentivized to engage on trade matters.

What the Supreme Court Tariff Ruling Means for Trump and U.S. Trading Partners

Columns

On Geopolitics

A digital illustration shows a nuclear launch map of Europe. 

Amid doubts about the U.S. security guarantee, Europe is considering using Franco-British nuclear arms to bolster its strategic autonomy within NATO, though this plan faces significant political and technical challenges.

The European Nuclear Umbrella: A Search for Strategic Autonomy

Syria

Turkey

The Turkish intelligence agency MIT asked the British spy agency MI6 in February to help protect Syrian provisional President Ahmad al-Sharaa amid Islamic State efforts to kill him, Reuters reported March 6.

Syria: Turkey Requests MI6 Protection From U.K. for al-Sharaa

Ukraine

Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin called a drone attack on the Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker Arctic Metagaz in the Mediterranean a "terrorist attack," Russian state media RIA Novosti reported on March 4.

Russia, Ukraine: Putin Calls LNG Tanker Strike Terrorism, Floats Gas Cutoff to Europe

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to halt trade with Spain and instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to "cut off all dealings" with the country amid tensions over Madrid's refusal to allow U.S. forces to use jointly operated bases for strikes on Iran, Reuters reported on March 3.

Spain, U.S.: Trump Threatens Trade Cutoff After Madrid Blocks Use of U.S. Bases for Iran Strikes

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on March 2 that France will expand its nuclear arsenal and consider deploying nuclear-capable aircraft to allied European countries under a new "forward deterrence" doctrine, while retaining sole authority over their use, Reuters reported.

France: Macron Proposes Expanding Country's Nuclear Arsenal in Coordination With European Allies

Environment, Science & Technology

The European Commission is set to adopt the Industrial Accelerator Act on March 4, following weeks of internal debate and last-minute revisions, Politico reported March 3.

EU: Brussels To Present Industrial Accelerator Act With Revisions Expected To Blunt "Made in Europe" Rules

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Paraguay

Uruguay

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the European Union will provisionally apply its trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc before full ratification, Euractiv reported on Feb. 27.

EU, Mercosur: Brussels Moves To Provisionally Apply Mercosur Trade Deal Before Full Ratification

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

The United Kingdom hosted the inaugural Central Asia-U.K. (CA5+UK) foreign ministers' meeting in London, the British Foreign Office said on Feb. 26.

Central Asia, U.K.: London Launches Critical Minerals Push Across the Region

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's governing coalition reached an agreement to reform the country's electoral law, introducing a proportional system with a majority bonus of 70 seats in the lower house and 35 in the upper house for coalitions surpassing 40% of the vote, Italian press agency ANSA reported Feb. 26. 

Italy: Ruling Coalition Agrees on Electoral Reform Introducing Proportional System With Majority Bonus

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

Syria: Turkey Requests MI6 Protection From U.K. for al-Sharaa

Russia, Ukraine: Putin Calls LNG Tanker Strike Terrorism, Floats Gas Cutoff to Europe

Spain, U.S.: Trump Threatens Trade Cutoff After Madrid Blocks Use of U.S. Bases for Iran Strikes

France: Macron Proposes Expanding Country's Nuclear Arsenal in Coordination With European Allies

EU: Brussels To Present Industrial Accelerator Act With Revisions Expected To Blunt "Made in Europe" Rules

EU, Mercosur: Brussels Moves To Provisionally Apply Mercosur Trade Deal Before Full Ratification

Central Asia, U.K.: London Launches Critical Minerals Push Across the Region

Italy: Ruling Coalition Agrees on Electoral Reform Introducing Proportional System With Majority Bonus

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support