Italy

Politics

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

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Economics

Israel's navy intercepted 40 of the 47 ships of the so-called Global Sumud Flotilla and prepared to deport hundreds of the activists onboard, who were attempting to bring aid to Palestinians in Gaza, Reuters reported on Oct. 2.

Israel, Gaza: Aid Flotilla Intercepted, Italian Unions Call Solidarity Strike

Germany

Romania

Russia

Energy

Military & Security

Romanian authorities are investigating a suspected case of Russian sabotage involving the deliberate contamination of Azerbaijani crude bound for OMV Petrom's Petrobrazi refinery, G4media reported Aug. 7, citing sources close to the investigation.

Europe, Romania, Russia: Russia Suspected of Sabotage Behind Contaminated Batches of Azerbaijani Crude

Italy's two-day referendum on proposed citizenship and labor law reforms failed to reach the required 50% turnout threshold, rendering the vote invalid, Corriere della Sera reported on June 9.

Italy: Opposition's Referendum on Citizenship and Labor Rights Falls Short of Required Quorum

Italy's Senate passed Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's controversial security decree, which expands police protections and restricts protests, finalizing its approval after months of EU and U.N. criticism over human rights risks, Il Sole 24 Ore reported on June 4. 

Italy: Meloni's Contentious Security Decree Becomes Law

Syria

Europe

France

During a meeting between European, U.S. and Arab diplomats, Syrian and Saudi officials called on Western governments to ease sanctions on Syria, and European diplomats agreed to discuss sanctions relief in Syria during a Jan. 27 foreign ministers meeting, Al Jazeera reported on Jan. 12.

Syria: Arab Diplomats Call on EU To Ease Sanctions on Syria

The Italian government is planning to cut about 4.6 billion euros ($5 billion) originally earmarked to help shore up the automotive sector's supply chains in their transition to electric mobility while simultaneously increasing financial support to the defense sector, Il Sole 24 Ore reported on Oct. 28, citing budget documents. 

Italy: Rome To Move Billions of Euros in Aid From Automotive to Defense

By the end of 2025, the Italian government will present a state-backed company to build advanced nuclear reactors in the country, Reuters reported on Oct. 21, citing a statement by industry minister Adolfo Urso.

Italy: New State-Backed Company To Build Nuclear Reactors

Assessments

Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on March 18 in the Italian Senate in Rome. Smaller fiscal deficits are unlikely to cut government debt in the medium term given Italy's modest economic growth outlook and significant social and defense spending pressures.

Smaller fiscal deficits are unlikely to cut government debt in the medium term given Italy's modest economic growth outlook and significant social and defense spending pressures.

Modest Growth and Spending Pressures Will Limit Italy's Debt Reduction Efforts

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addresses the Senate in Rome on Oct. 22, 2025. 

Despite Prime Minister Meloni's success in achieving rare political and financial stability, Italy's weak economic growth and the expiry of EU recovery funds in 2026 may compel her to abandon fiscal prudence ahead of the next election cycle.

Italy Struggles To Translate Political Stability Into Economic Growth

Mexico

Portugal

Spain

An anti-tourism protest in June in Barcelona, Spain. Anti-tourism sentiment is certain to grow in major tourist destinations, though it will be unevenly distributed globally, particularly as the tourism sector could face potential challenges in the future.

Social Issues

Anti-tourism sentiment is certain to grow in major tourist destinations, though it will be unevenly distributed globally, particularly as the tourism sector could face potential challenges in the future.

The Causes and Implications of the Rise in Anti-Tourism Sentiment

Sub-Saharan Africa

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks to media during the closing press conference of the G7 Summit in Fasano, Italy, on June 15, 2024. 

Italy is seeking to embed its Mattei Plan into EU policy to gain support for its immediate goals of energy security and migration control, but structural issues will likely limit Rome's long-term influence in Africa.

Italy Syncs Its Mattei Plan for Africa With EU Initiatives

Canada

United States

Iran

Japan

United Kingdom

Rescue teams work at damaged buildings in Nobonyad Square following Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025, in Tehran, Iran. 

Global Trade

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: G7 Leaders' Summit, More Israeli Attacks on Iran

Ukraine

An image shows a row of flags from the G7 members.

The June 15-17 summit will provide an opportunity for the bloc to discuss trade tensions and the war in Ukraine, but the meeting is more likely to expose transatlantic divisions over Trump's tariffs and reluctance to pressure Russia.

What To Expect From the First G7 Summit Following Trump's Return to the White House

India

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.

U.S.-Iran Relations

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

Ecuador

Cambodia

China

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

Poland

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

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

Snapshots

Netherlands

Ireland

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

Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italy's Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, discusses a new draft law on nuclear energy with the press at Palazzo Chigi on Feb. 28, 2025, in Rome, Italy. 

Reintroducing nuclear power could enhance Italy's energy security, industrial competitiveness and economic growth, but major political and technical hurdles make a nuclear comeback unlikely in the next decade.

The Challenges Facing Italy's Nuclear Comeback

A Russian warship transits the Neva River in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Cyber

Russia's risk tolerance for physical and cyber operations against Western targets appears to be increasing, raising the likelihood of more disruptive and/or violent attacks.

A More Brazen Russia Slowly Raises the Specter of a NATO Confrontation

<p>Italy is a peninsular country in southern Europe that borders France, Switzerland, Austria&nbsp;and&nbsp;Slovenia. Two independent states, Vatican City and San Marino, exist within its territory. The country is mountainous, with the Apennines stretching the length of the peninsula and the Alps acting as a natural barrier between Italy and its neighbors. It also has the two largest islands in the Mediterranean, Sicily&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sardinia. Italy&#39;s core is the Po Valley, one of the most prosperous regions in Europe and the heart of the industrial north. The southern part of the country has a more agricultural profile and has traditionally been less developed. Italy&#39;s capital, Rome, was once the heart of a sprawling empire, which stretched over much of Europe, North Africa&nbsp;and&nbsp;the Levant.</p><p>After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the late 5th century, Italy was fragmented into small kingdoms, republics&nbsp;and&nbsp;duchies. Italy&#39;s privileged position in the heart of the Mediterranean and the wealth of its economic centers made the peninsula a territory of constant invasion, from Germanic tribes in the 5th century to the French, Austrian and Spanish empires in the 18th and 19th centuries. Moreover, Italy&#39;s rugged geography led to the development of strong regional identities. As a result, the country didn&#39;t achieve political unity until the 1860s. Italy&#39;s main geographic challenge is to preserve its territorial unity and develop a relatively stable central government while dealing with strong regional interests and fractious political forces. The eurozone crisis has intensified this challenge.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

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

Israel, Gaza: Aid Flotilla Intercepted, Italian Unions Call Solidarity Strike

Europe, Romania, Russia: Russia Suspected of Sabotage Behind Contaminated Batches of Azerbaijani Crude

Italy: Opposition's Referendum on Citizenship and Labor Rights Falls Short of Required Quorum

Italy: Meloni's Contentious Security Decree Becomes Law

Syria: Arab Diplomats Call on EU To Ease Sanctions on Syria

Italy: Rome To Move Billions of Euros in Aid From Automotive to Defense

Italy: New State-Backed Company To Build Nuclear Reactors

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