Netherlands

Politics

The Dutch government unveiled its first budget since taking office in May 2024, introducing gradual cuts to development aid by about two-thirds through 2027 to reduce pressure on a growing deficit amid tax cuts and rising spending on defense, Reuters reported Sept. 17.

Netherlands: Right Wing Coalition Government Unveils First Budget, Prepares Tighter Migration Policies

Luxembourg

Germany

Denmark

France

Belgium

Military & Security

Berlin announced that the country will extend border controls with France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark for at least another six months to ''further restrict irregular immigration'', reported the Financial Times on Sept. 9.

Germany: Berlin Extends Temporary Immigration Controls to All Land Borders

China

Economics

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

The Dutch government plans to curb semiconductor manufacturing equipment producer ASML's ability to provide repair and maintenance services for its semiconductor equipment in China, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 29.

Netherlands, China: Dutch Government To Impose Further Restrictions on ASML's Exports to China

United States

Japan

U.S.-China Relations

The U.S. Biden administration will unveil a new rule in August expanding U.S. powers to block foreign countries from exporting some semiconductor manufacturing equipment to Chinese chipmakers, though the rule may exempt certain U.S. allies, including Japan and the Netherlands, Reuters reported on July 31.

U.S.: Washington To Issue New Semiconductor Sector Restrictions in August

The United States told Japan and the Netherlands that it is considering tightening export restrictions on semiconductor manufacturing equipment produced abroad that uses U.S. technology via a foreign direct product rule, or FDPR, if Tokyo and The Hague do not tighten restrictions on Tokyo Electron and ASML Holding, respectively, Bloomberg reported on July 16.

U.S.: Washington Threatens To Broaden Export Controls if Japan, the Netherlands Do Not

Ukraine

Russia

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The U.S., Dutch and Danish governments said the first F-16 fighter jets would be delivered to Ukraine and fly later this summer, The Wall Street Journal reported on July 10.

Ukraine: First F-16 Fighter Jets Will Fly Later This Summer

Israel

Kuwait

Lebanon

Switzerland

A number of countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Kuwait and Switzerland, urged their citizens to leave Lebanon amid the risk of a broader escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, The National UAE reported on June 27.

Lebanon: Countries Urge Citizens to Leave Lebanon, U.S. Prepares Evacuation Plan

Spain

Italy

European Union leaders failed to agree on top appointments for the bloc during their first informal meeting in Brussels since the June 6-9 European Parliament elections, delaying a decision until the European Council summit on June 27-28, Reuters reported June 17. 

EU: Von der Leyen Likely to be Confirmed as European Commission President Despite Delayed Decision

Snapshots

The United States and the West are likely to continue tightening export controls on China's semiconductor and other high-tech industries to close loopholes exploited by Chinese companies.

Tightened Western Tech Export Controls on China Signal More to Come

The four leaders of the parties that form the new Dutch government,  Geert Wilders, Dilan Yesilgoz, Caroline van der Plas and Pieter Omtzigt, (L-R) on May 16 in The Hague.

Global Elections

While some elements of the new Dutch ruling coalition's agreement, such as a tightening of migration policies and environmental measures, will likely cause friction with the European Union and the Dutch business community, the far right's need to collaborate with mainstream coalition partners has somewhat moderated the new government's agenda.

Building a New Government Moderates the Dutch Far Right

Assessments

Europe

Romania

A woman waves a French flag in support of protesting farmers as a tractor drives by in Agen, southwerstern France, on Jan. 25, 2024.

Farmers across Europe are protesting environmental regulations, foreign competition and falling government support, which will likely impede Brussels' ability to enact climate reforms and negotiate new trade deals.

Growing Farmer Protests Add to the EU's Political Woes

Palestinian Territories

Finland

As 2024 approaches, we look back at the previous year and consider the top five events as measured by geopolitical impact.

Cyber

Israel-Hamas Conflict

2023: A Geopolitical Review

Lithuania

Malta

Latvia

Czech Republic

Greece

Estonia

Sweden

United Kingdom

Bulgaria

Portugal

Poland

Croatia

Cyprus

Austria

Slovakia

Slovenia

Ireland

Hungary

Members of the European Parliament take part in voting on the Artificial Intelligence Act during a plenary session at the European Parliament.

The EU's recently negotiated Artificial Intelligence Act will bolster the European Union's dominance as a regulatory heavyweight in emerging technologies, yet anticipated enforcement challenges and stringent stipulations with the Act risk impeding AI innovation within the bloc.

EU Lawmakers Clinch Agreement on Artificial Intelligence Act 

Columns

On Geopolitics

Demonstrators hold Spanish flags during a protest called by the country’s far-right Vox party in Madrid, Spain, on Nov. 12, 2023. 

Far-right parties are expected to perform strongly in sub-national, national and EU elections next year, portending significant shifts in governance and policies.

In Europe, Far-Right Parties Are Again on the Rise

Geert Wilders (C), leader of the far-right Party for Freedom, sits next to Frans Timmermans (R), leader of the Green Left-Labor Party alliance, and Henri Bontenbal (L), leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal party, during a meeting in the Dutch parliament on Nov. 24, 2023, in The Hague, Netherlands. The party leaders are discussing the formation of a coalition government following Wilders' victory in the Nov. 22 general election.

Social Issues

The Netherlands' far-right Party for Freedom will moderate its platform as it struggles to attract coalition partners and win a parliamentary majority.

Despite a Far-Right Victory, Constraints Will Moderate the Netherlands' Next Government 

Posters for different political parties are displayed near the Dutch parliament building on November 19, 2023, ahead of the country's general election.

The Nov. 22 vote will result in long coalition talks that will likely eventually yield a moderate, fiscally conservative government that's less environmentally ambitious than its predecessor.

Previewing the Netherlands' General Election

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Argentina

Taiwan

The presidential candidate for the Union por la Patria party, Sergio Massa (R), speaks next to the presidential candidate for the La Libertad Avanza party, Javier Milei, on Nov. 12, 2023, during a presidential debate in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Argentina will hold the second round of its presidential election Nov. 19.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Argentina's Presidential Runoff, the Registration Deadline for the Taiwanese Presidential Race

An EU sign is seen at a Romanian border crossing.

Bulgaria and Romania have set out to join the EU's passport-free zone by the year's end, but Austrian and Dutch skepticism will likely keep delaying their membership and the associated economic benefits.

The Challenges Facing Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen Bids

Rail cars loaded with steel sit at the ThyssenKrupp Schwelgern steel plant on May 30, 2018 in Duisburg, Germany. 

The European Union and the United States will increase efforts to deconflict their trade and climate policies ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential and EU parliamentary elections, but lingering disagreements will not allow for a complete respite of Trump-era tariffs on EU steel and aluminum.

EU-U.S. Steel and Aluminum Negotiations Make Limited Headway

On Security

Ecuador

Mexico

Venezuela

Syria

North Korea

Seized marijuana bricks are incinerated in Guadalajara, Mexico.

While narco-states exist on a spectrum of severity, they can all have dramatic geopolitical, operational and tactical impacts that raise a wide variety of risks.

What Is a Narco-State, and Why Does It Matter?

The Netherlands

SITUATION REPORTS

Netherlands: Right Wing Coalition Government Unveils First Budget, Prepares Tighter Migration Policies

Germany: Berlin Extends Temporary Immigration Controls to All Land Borders

Netherlands, China: Dutch Government To Impose Further Restrictions on ASML's Exports to China

U.S.: Washington To Issue New Semiconductor Sector Restrictions in August

U.S.: Washington Threatens To Broaden Export Controls if Japan, the Netherlands Do Not

Ukraine: First F-16 Fighter Jets Will Fly Later This Summer

Lebanon: Countries Urge Citizens to Leave Lebanon, U.S. Prepares Evacuation Plan

EU: Von der Leyen Likely to be Confirmed as European Commission President Despite Delayed Decision

Forecasts

ANALYSES

SECTIONS

Explore

Subscribe

Help & Support