<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

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Czech Republic

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Finland

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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

Indonesia

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French President Emmanuel Macron holds a press briefing during his trip to Singapore on May 30, 2025. 

Economics

Energy

Global Trade

Military & Security

The deals reached with Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam expand France's role in Southeast Asia amid shifting global trade and defense dynamics, a welcome development for a region increasingly pinned between the U.S. and China.

Macron's Southeast Asia Tour Deepens French Footprint in the Region

U.S.-China Relations

United States

Turkey

China

Russia

India

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The Geopolitics of Trade

Politics

Turkey's export strategy necessitates trade partnerships with countries in many different spheres of influence, portending both risks and opportunities as Ankara attempts to maintain its neutral middle-power status.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Turkey's Export Strategy Hinges on Neutrality

Snapshots

Geert Wilders (left), leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), addresses the media after attending the weekly coalition talks in The Hague, the Netherlands, on June 3, 2025.

The far-right party's exit from the ruling coalition will likely trigger early elections, leading to a prolonged period of political uncertainty amid complex coalition-building and months of caretaker governance.

The Netherlands Descends Into Political Crisis After Government Collapses

Right-wing opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki waves to supporters in Warsaw, Poland, following the presidential runoff election on June 1, 2025.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The incoming conservative president will likely veto many of the centrist government's domestic reforms, while his euroskeptic views will sustain foreign policy incoherence, potentially undermining Poland's economic outlook and its credibility as a regional leader.

Poland Braces for More Political Gridlock Following Nawrocki's Presidential Victory

Global Elections

Mexico

South Korea

Ukraine

Ukrainian, U.S. and Russian delegates meet for peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 16, 2025. 

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

The Weekly Rundown: Ukraine-Russia Talks, Mexico's First-Ever Judicial Elections

Canada

Japan

A U.S. courthouse facade with columns in lower Manhattan, New York.

The court ruling nullifies most -- though not all -- of the Trump administration's tariffs, giving U.S. trading partners temporary breathing room in negotiations while the White House searches for alternative trade measures.

The White House's Tariff Ambitions Bend -- But Do Not Break -- Under the Weight of a Court Ruling

A digital illustration of the U.K. and EU flags.

The agreements will institutionalize defense cooperation and ease trade frictions, though lingering political constraints will limit deeper integration in the near term.

The U.K.-EU Deal Signals a Strategic Recalibration of Post-Brexit Trade and Defense Relations

South Africa

Taiwan

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on May 21 during an official trip to the United States.

The Weekly Rundown: South Africa's U.S. Reset, Three European Elections

U.S. President Donald Trump -- flanked by Vice President JD Vance (left) and Peter Mandelson, the U.K. ambassador to the United States (right) -- holds a phone call with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office of the White House on May 8, 2025. 

The agreement's narrow scope and quota system suggest the White House remains intent on restricting imports, meaning tariff relief for most other countries reaching deals will also be limited.

Trump Reaches First Post-Tariff Trade Deal With the U.K.

Supporters of the PiS party demonstrate April 12 in Warsaw, Poland. Poland will hold a presidential election May 18 and runoff June 1 if no candidate obtains more than 50% in the first round.

Social Issues

The outcome of Poland's election will determine whether Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist government will coexist with a cooperative president or continue to face institutional constraints from an ideologically opposed president.

Poland's Election: Potential Outcomes and Their Implications

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

Australia

The European Union and Australia resumed negotiations over a long-stalled free trade agreement, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tentatively planning a visit to Australia in July or August to finalize the deal, the Australian Financial Review reported on June 4.

EU, Australia: Brussels, Canberra Negotiating FTA as U.S. Tariff 'Insurance' 

The European Commission and the European Central Bank announced on June 4 that Bulgaria had met all the necessary criteria to adopt the euro on Jan. 1, 2026.

Bulgaria: European Commission and ECB Approve Accession to Eurozone

British Defense Secretary John Healey presented the strategic defense review in the House of Commons, the BBC reported on June 2.

U.K.: British Government Unveils Strategic Defense Review

French President Emmanuel Macron and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto signed 27 cooperation agreements during the former's state visit to Indonesia, deepening collaboration in defense and energy, among other areas, the Indonesia Business Post reported on May 29.

France, Indonesia: Paris, Jakarta Deepen Defense, Energy Ties

During consultations on May 28, Romanian President Nicusor Dan and representatives from the three parties in government (the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians) agreed to create a technical working group to explore ways to reduce Romania's fiscal deficit, Romania Insider reported the next day. 

Romania: Mainstream Parties Agree To Reduce Large Fiscal Deficit 

At a press conference in Berlin with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that his government would help Ukraine build long-range missiles without range restrictions, though he declined to provide specifics, Bloomberg reported on May 28.

Germany, Ukraine: Berlin Pledges New Military Support, Joint Missile Development With Kyiv

EU member states approved the Security Action for Europe, or SAFE, a 150 billion euro ($170 billion) joint loan program for the bloc's defense sector, the European Council announced on May 27.

EU: Bloc Approves Joint Loan Program for Defense Sector

Europe

SITUATION REPORTS

Italy: Meloni's Contentious Security Decree Becomes Law

EU, Australia: Brussels, Canberra Negotiating FTA as U.S. Tariff 'Insurance'

Bulgaria: European Commission and ECB Approve Accession to Eurozone

U.K.: British Government Unveils Strategic Defense Review

France, Indonesia: Paris, Jakarta Deepen Defense, Energy Ties

Romania: Mainstream Parties Agree To Reduce Large Fiscal Deficit

Germany, Ukraine: Berlin Pledges New Military Support, Joint Missile Development With Kyiv

EU: Bloc Approves Joint Loan Program for Defense Sector

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