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The art of the swarm: Systemic rivalry with China on European terms
The EU can exploit its system to say no to China—now, and long into the future
The bear with the bomb: Russian nuclear coercion and the future of European deterrence
Russia is expanding its nuclear-capable, long-range weapon systems to press Europe and fracture NATO. Europeans need to plug the gaps in their nuclear capabilities and create a strategic deterrent that can function without US support
Sliding doors: One Trump crisis, two possible futures for Europe
The next Trump crisis will come. European governments facing American pressure will need to weigh the costs and benefits of their responses. Here are two scenarios to show what resistance costs, and why those costs are lower than they appear
Home alone: Europeans are ready to defend themselves
A major ECFR poll finds the European public, in a time of rupture, thinking differently and questioning old assumptions. It reveals new political space available to their leaders (for now) and challenges them to use it
Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
How progress ends
Mark Leonard speaks to Carl Benedikt Frey about the global productivity slowdown, the limits of AI and why the greatest economic risk may be the end of progress itself
ECFR on air
Moldova: The EU frontrunner outrunning Russia
Jessica Hendrick is joined by Dumitru Alaiba and Maia Machavariani to explore why Moldova is one of Europe’s most closely watched test cases—and what the country’s latest developments reveal about its political direction
Views from the Council
If the UK wants to rejoin the European Union, it first needs to understand it
A full return will require a marathon of democratic persuasion, on the continent as much as in Britain. For one side holds most of the cards
Hungarian thaw, Slovak freeze: How the post-Orban era could chill relations on the Danube
The alliance between Viktor Orban and Robert Fico long kept Slovak-Hungarian tensions buried. But with Peter Magyar’s rise in Hungary and economic trouble at home, Fico may turn to anti-Hungarian nationalism in his re-election campaign
In the Media - Council
Jonathan Nelson and Alejandro Romero on Europe’s unpreparedness for cognitive warfare and the three moves needed to respond to Russia and China
Carl Bildt on Trump administration, tariffs, military strategies, wars in Ukraine and Middle East
Featured and flagship projects
The Data Collection
Explore our open-access data platform for unparalleled access to ECFR’s public opinion polls—empowering research and insight on today’s key foreign policy issues.
Featured
Re:Engage
This project helps the EU in refining its foreign policy, re-engaging neighbours post-Russia's invasion of Ukraine to bolster regional resilience and advance enlargement policies.
Featured
Re:Order
Re:Order project explores emerging visions of the global order, as well as the interplay between economic might and geopolitical influence.
Featured
Latest
If the UK wants to rejoin the European Union, it first needs to understand it
A full return will require a marathon of democratic persuasion, on the continent as much as in Britain. For one side holds most of the cards
Twin track: How to move Ukraine’s EU accession along
The lifting of the Hungarian veto opens up new opportunities for Ukraine’s and Moldova’s EU accession
Europeans don’t need consensus to challenge Israel and its settlements
Israel is accelerating its settler project and deepening conflict, frustrating many EU member states. The bloc should use its trade and financial tools to impose costs and secure a future for Palestinians
After Ukraine: The peace dividend Africa does not want
The end of the Ukraine war would flood the global market with surplus weapons, fighters and drone expertise—much of which may end up making African conflicts deadlier. Governments in Africa and Europe should prepare now
Musk’s war on European democracy: How to open up X and fight back
The EU should apply two remedies to address political interference via X
Mitigate, deter, escalate: Europe’s options against US economic coercion
The US under Trump will seek new ways to coerce Europe economically. Here is how Europeans can resist the pressure and emerge stronger for it
The Policy Brief If Bardella wins: Scenarios for a far-right presidency in France mentioned in the newsletter “Appunti”
Arturo Varvelli on the new ECFR survey “Home alone: Europeans are ready to defend themselves”
Europeans’ trust in the US is at record low
ECFR polls: fewer Poles perceive the US as an ally
Agathe Demarais, Tobias Gehrke, and José Ignacio Torreblanca on how Trump’s US could use economic, energy, and technological leverage to put pressure on Europe
More on Africa
The ammonia age: How Europe and Africa can steer global shipping to net zero
The IMO’s Net-Zero Framework is critical for EU competitiveness and the clearest path to decarbonise shipping. African backing may prove decisive as American and Gulf pressure stalls progress
More on Asia
Borrowed mouths and laundered messages: China’s influence playbook in Europe
Chinese foreign manipulation and interference are rising in Europe. Five techniques feature in Beijing’s playbook, communicating messages about China’s place in the world and support for Russian positions.
More on European Power
If Bardella wins: Scenarios for a far-right presidency in France
Jordan Bardella is the frontrunner in the French presidential election next year. His win would transform France’s place in Europe. This scenario shows how
More on European Security
Making defence European again
The Russian threat is not going away any time soon. To defend themselves without America’s help, Europeans need to pursue a new, distinctly European model of defence and deterrence
More on Middle East and North Africa
Iran nuclear monitor: Month by month
America and Israel have bombed Iran since 2025 to block Tehran’s path to nuclear weapons. ECFR’s interactive dashboard, updated monthly, assesses current evidence about Iran’s nuclear activities to determine which of six possible scenarios is most likely
More on United States
One battle after another: Factional struggles and the making of Trump’s foreign policy
Trump’s foreign and security policy is the product of factional competition in the White House and a president fixated on short-term wins. Here’s how Europeans should come to terms with this new reality