defense
Europe Prepares for the Worst
The SAFE programme provides up to €150 billion in loans for joint defence purchases, with over €90 billion already secured.
Author
Ahmet Balakan
writer · EUReflect
Contributing writer at EUReflect.
63 stories · page 1 of 3
politics
Europe’s Growing South American Role
The EU-Mercosur trade deal, now provisionally in force, gives South American nations a third major economic partner beyond China and the US.
politics
EU Backs Strategic Companies
New rules allow larger equity investments and add defence-related activities to the EIC's remit, signalling a shift toward project-based support.
politics
EU Recalibrates Its US Strategy
Brussels keeps €93bn in retaliatory tariffs suspended but ready, as it seeks to balance trade ties with strategic autonomy.
politics
Italy’s Foreign Policy Turns Right
Meloni's government has moderated its Euroscepticism, seeking to influence EU policy from within, notably on migration, rather than confronting Brussels.
economy
EU Builds New Economic Bridges
Brussels is signing deals from Latin America to Southeast Asia, with the Mercosur pact now in force and negotiations with India, Australia and Mexico concluded.
economy
Germany Seeks a New Growth Model
After two years of near-stagnation, Germany's GDP grew 0.2% in Q2 2026, but the recovery is fragile as the country grapples with high energy costs and competition from China.
politics
Europe’s New Dividing Lines
Defence spending across the EU is set to hit €454bn in 2026, with 23 member states already meeting the 2% GDP threshold, but priorities diverge sharply.
politics
EU Tightens Migration Control
Irregular border crossings into the EU fell by 37% in the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to preliminary Frontex data.
economy
Small Ports, Big Economic Impact
Ports are now central to EU economic security, with Malta and Slovenia exemplifying how strategic location can drive national competitiveness.
politics
Regional Powers Rethink Libya
Ankara's new 'One Libya' policy includes direct talks with Haftar's camp, while Cairo reopens channels with Tripoli, signaling a shift from proxy rivalry to pragmatic engagement.
politics
Putin’s Long Rule Faces a New Test
Yabloko's exclusion from the ballot highlights how the war has narrowed legal opposition, leaving only Kremlin-approved parties in the vote.
politics
Wars Reshape Global Trade
Global merchandise trade grew 3.2% in early 2026, but Middle East shipping disruptions and Black Sea grain shocks are expected to hit harder in coming data.
politics
China and U.S. Compete to Reinvent Agriculture
China's new plan targets 725 million tonnes of grain by 2030, while U.S. exports hit $171 billion in 2025.
politics
Zero Waste Becomes a Global Policy
The UN's Advisory Board on Zero Waste has selected 20 cities to pilot waste prevention and circular production systems, aiming to replicate successful models globally.
politics
Climate Powers Choose Different Paths
The EU's binding 90% cut by 2040 contrasts with China's industrial strategy and US deregulation, creating a fragmented global approach.
politics
Pakistan Invests in Nuclear Fuel Security
The Rs60 million allocation for uranium exploration in Bannu Basin and Kohat Plateau is part of a broader strategy to tap into an estimated $7 trillion mineral wealth, though large-scale extraction will need foreign investment.
politics
China Builds Power Beyond Its Borders
Beijing's strategy blends trade, infrastructure, and diplomacy, with Xi Jinping set to attend the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan and visit Egypt for the first time in a decade.
politics
Who Could Lead a Future Turkic Union?
Türkiye has the largest population, most diversified economy, and NATO's second-largest military, but may need partners to lead a future union.
politics
NATO’s Ankara Agenda Moves Into Action
NATO leaders pledged €70 billion in military aid for Ukraine in 2026, with European allies and Canada now funding the majority of security assistance.
economy
World Cup Boosts U.S. Local Economies
Bank of America data shows card spending in host cities rose 5% year-on-year, with visitor spending up over 17%.
politics
Migration Crises Are Shifting Across the Globe
Ceuta's crisis highlights shifting pressure points, with thousands stranded in the Spanish enclave after mass crossings.
economy
Global Companies Are Shaping Economic Policy
A record 229 investment-policy measures were adopted by governments in 2025, with incentives increasingly focused on strategic sectors like semiconductors and AI.
technology
Japan’s Tech Comeback Goes Global
Tokyo's strategy includes a goal of deploying 10 million AI-equipped robots, linking AI development with its robotics industry.
politics
Russia’s Ground War Is Changing
Moscow has created at least 10 new divisions since December 2022, but many are understrength, highlighting the strain on personnel and equipment.
politics
France Rewrites Its Post-Colonial Strategy
France is pivoting from its former Francophone colonies to new partners like Kenya, seeking to shed colonial baggage and compete with China and Türkiye.
politics
Taliban Rule Tests International Law
Russia is the only state to formally recognize the Taliban, while others engage without full legal recognition, creating a unique legal limbo.
economy
Hormuz Corridor Offers a Diplomatic Opening
The proposed corridor would be jointly managed by Iran and Oman, with technical talks to follow on traffic management and mine clearance.
economy
Washington Targets Iran's Economic Lifelines
The first wave targets nearly 60 individuals, companies, and vessels linked to oil revenues, military procurement, and sanctions evasion.
politics
Germany Rethinks Its Syria Policy
In the first half of 2026, Germany revoked protection status for 23.2% of reviewed Syrian cases, up from 3.7% in 2025.
