Europe

United Kingdom

Economics

Politics

EU member states delayed approving a mandate to launch new negotiations with the United Kingdom on linking the two markets' emissions trading systems and advancing a separate agri-food agreement due to disagreements over eventual British financial contributions to the EU budget, Politico reported on Nov. 7. 

EU, U.K.: Bloc Delays U.K. Talks on Emissions Trading and Agri-Food Deals

Vietnam

Military & Security

Vietnam and the United Kingdom elevated ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam's highest tier of relations short of a military alliance, the Straits Times reported Oct. 31.

Vietnam, U.K.: Hanoi, London Elevate Ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

India

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Mumbai on Oct. 8, where they pledged to deepen their countries' trade and defense cooperation, Reuters reported Oct. 9.

India, U.K.: Modi and Starmer Meet in Mumbai, Vow To Deepen Trade and Defense Ties

United States

Cyber

Environment, Science & Technology

Science & Technology

The United Kingdom issued a new order to Apple to create a backdoor allowing officials to access its encrypted cloud storage, with the order limited to British users' accounts, The Financial Times reported on Oct 1.

U.K.: London Orders Apple To Allow Access to British Users' Cloud Storage

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that the United Kingdom stood "at a fork in the road" between renewal and decline during a keynote speech at the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, urging his party to unite around economic growth as the path to higher living standards, The Guardian reported on Sept. 30.

U.K.: Prime Minister Keir Starmer Calls for Party Unity at Labour Annual Conference

Canada

Israel

Palestinian Territories

Australia

Several Western countries, including Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, recognized Palestinian statehood on Sept. 21, with France and several others expected to follow suit on Sept. 22, The New York Times reported on Sept. 22.

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Western Countries Recognize Palestinian Statehood

China

Philippines

Chinese and Philippine vessels clashed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, with China's coast guard using water cannons against more than 10 Philippine ships, damaging one vessel and injuring a crew member, Nikkei Asia reported on Sept. 16.

China, Philippines, U.K.: Coast Guards Clash as London Pursues Visiting Forces Agreement

Energy

The United States and the United Kingdom will sign agreements on technology and nuclear power during U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom on Sept. 16-18, Reuters reported on Sept. 15, citing British and U.S. officials.

U.K., U.S.: London and Washington To Announce Tech, Energy Deals and Investment, Resume Steel Tariff Talks

Assessments

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Nov. 12 at 10 Downing Street in central London. Growing internal divisions within the ruling Labour party over fiscal policy and declining popularity are increasing the likelihood of a leadership challenge against Starmer following the November budget or May 2026 local elections.

Growing internal divisions within the ruling Labour party over fiscal policy and declining popularity are increasing the likelihood of a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer following the November budget or May 2026 local elections.

Painful Upcoming Budget Likely To Amplify Starmer's Leadership Woes

France

Dignitaries attend a U.N. Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestinian statehood, during the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 23, 2025, in New York City. 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Western countries' growing recognition of Palestinian statehood is largely symbolic and will likely galvanize Israel's push for West Bank annexation, risking further Israeli diplomatic isolation abroad and sporadic violence at home.

The West's Growing Support for Palestinian Statehood Will Have Limited Concrete Impacts

Chile

Qatar

Russia

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani addresses a press conference following Israeli strikes in Doha on Sept. 9, 2025. 

U.S.-China Relations

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

The Weekly Rundown: Qatar Hosts an Arab-Islamic Summit, EU Announces New Sanctions on Russia

Snapshots

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer departs 10 Downing Street on Sept. 3 in London. The Labour Party's deputy leadership contest will intensify internal party criticism of Starmer ahead of a politically painful budget in November.

The Labour Party's deputy leadership contest will intensify internal party criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer ahead of a politically painful budget in November. 

The Contest for Deputy Leader of UK Labour Will Intensify the Party's Woes

Ethiopia

Brazil

Japan

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou leaves after the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on Aug. 27, 2025.

The Weekly Rundown: France's Bayrou Faces a Confidence Vote, Ethiopia Inaugurates Its Mega-Dam

Iran

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

Germany

The Maanshan nuclear power plant is seen next to a beach in Pingtung, in southern Taiwan, on April 29, 2025.

The Weekly Rundown: Iran Meets With European Powers, Taiwan Holds a Nuclear Referendum

Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump on April 24 in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. In an interview July 10, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested he would "have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday," perhaps representing a shift in his administration's policy.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: Trump Speaks on Ukraine, Sweeping EU Budget Reform

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a press conference on July 10, 2025, in London.

The series of agreements will deepen cooperation between Europe's two nuclear powers at a time of strategic flux and institutional fragmentation across the Continent.

New U.K.-France Defense Deals Mark a Step Toward a European Nuclear Deterrent

U.S.-Iran Relations

The Weekly Rundown: Netanyahu's U.S. Visit, a Franco-British Summit

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and British Defense Secretary John Healey sit together for the AUKUS Defense Ministers Meeting at Old Royal Naval College on Sept. 26, 2024, in London, England.

Despite growing U.S. skepticism, strong imperatives to counter China's maritime presence will likely lead Washington to see a revised version of the AUKUS defense pact through.

U.S. Review of AUKUS Pillar I Puts Pact on Shaky Ground

Sub-Saharan Africa

Italy

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

Global Trade

The Weekly Rundown: G7 Leaders' Summit, More Israeli Attacks on Iran

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

<p>The United Kingdom is located in Northwestern Europe and includes the island of Great Britain, surrounding islands and part of Ireland. The country is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the Irish Sea and the English Channel. The rugged coastline &mdash; around 12,500 kilometers long &mdash; and surrounding waters, covering important oil and gas reserves, offer the nation protection; particularly from rivals in continental Europe. The United Kingdom&#39;s main geographic challenge is the integration of the British Isles. The rugged topography of the islands fostered the development of strong regional identities. Competing regions like Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland make it difficult to maintain control from the core region in the fertile lowlands around London. When British governments overcome domestic divisions, they can turn their attention outward. Control over the surrounding seas was vital for dominance of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean, and from there, the development of the British Empire. Substantial coal and iron deposits along with an intricate river and canal system were among the factors that drove the country to lead the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. The dominance of the Royal Navy gave Britain control of the oceans and global trade. The United Kingdom&#39;s detachment from continental Europe offers protection since a united European empire could challenge the country&#39;s independence. Having a voice in the European Union and strong military and economic ties with the United States help London counter this potential threat.</p>

SITUATION REPORTS

EU, U.K.: Bloc Delays U.K. Talks on Emissions Trading and Agri-Food Deals

Vietnam, U.K.: Hanoi, London Elevate Ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

India, U.K.: Modi and Starmer Meet in Mumbai, Vow To Deepen Trade and Defense Ties

U.K.: London Orders Apple To Allow Access to British Users' Cloud Storage

U.K.: Prime Minister Keir Starmer Calls for Party Unity at Labour Annual Conference

Israel, Palestinian Territories: Western Countries Recognize Palestinian Statehood

China, Philippines, U.K.: Coast Guards Clash as London Pursues Visiting Forces Agreement

U.K., U.S.: London and Washington To Announce Tech, Energy Deals and Investment, Resume Steel Tariff Talks

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