Highlights
Featured
East meets middle: China’s blossoming relationship with Saudi Arabia and the UAE
- Camille Lons
- Policy Brief
China is strengthening its ties to the Gulf in areas well beyond the energy sector. The EU clearly has stakes in the region, but it should not try to directly counter China’s influence. It should instead build its own Gulf partnerships
Brass tacks: Why Russia’s military fails to reform
- Kirill Shamiev
- Policy Brief
The Kremlin has long attempted to reform Russia’s military, but a dysfunctional system of civilian control has led to repeated failures, including in its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. These problems will likely continue after the war unless a new Russian leadership emerges to address these persistent systemic problems
Global Saudi: How Europeans can work with an evolving kingdom
- Cinzia Bianco
- Policy Brief
Saudi Arabia has become a middle power with outsize influence on global issues. To protect their interests, Europeans need a new approach to working with Riyadh which recognises the kingdom’s priorities
From mines to markets: How Africa and Europe can become green industry partners of choice
- Theophilus Acheampong
- Policy Brief
African and European decision-makers can achieve mutual benefit on critical raw materials – but the EU should be clearer about which parts of the value chain it wishes to invest in
Recent events
Beyond geopolitical competition: cooperating to enable Africa’s energy access and green industries
- The Westin Paris - Vendôme Hotel, 3 Rue de Castiglione, 75001 Paris
- ECFR Paris
Rome Foreign Policy Club, Terza Edizione – Road to November 2024: prospettive e scenari globali delle elezioni americane
- Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, Roma
- ECFR Rome
Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
The sweet spot: Between de-risking from China and Europe’s green future
- Podcast
- Mark Leonard's World in 30 minutes
Mark Leonard welcomes Robbie Diamond and Janka Oertel to discuss de-risking and the future of Europe’s green industries
ECFR on air
Under the Overcoat: Russian foreign policy: from a U-Turn over the Atlantic to the zigzags of history
- Podcast
- ECFR on air
- Under the Overcoat
This podcast explores deeper trends beneath the surface of Russia’s daily politics. In this episode, we delve deeper into Russia’s foreign policy, taking a long-term perspective.
Views from the Council
Handle with care: The risks of punishing Slovakia’s new government
- Tomáš Valášek
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 3 minute read
After Slovakia elected a populist president and a pro-Russian prime minister in a span of six months, the EU may be tempted to punish Bratislava. But this would risk making matters worse
A new cold war? World war three? How do we navigate this age of confusion?
- Timothy Garton Ash
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 4 minute read
In history, as in romance, beginnings matter – so what we do now will be crucial in shaping the future
In the Media - Council
Economically, China uses Hungary as a strategic gateway to exploit EU market opportunities, while politically, it effectively applies a divide-and-conquer strategy
Tibor Dessewfffy analyses the partnership between Xi and Orbán
In his op-ed, Tibor Dessewffy explains what the Xi-Orbán partnership means for the EU
Featured projects
Charting The Long War
For seven decades, European integration has been driven by the quest for peace. The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point.
Re:Order
Re:Order project explores emerging visions of the global order, as well as the interplay between economic might and geopolitical influence.
Multilateral Matchmaker
- Carla Hobbs, Rafael Loss, Jana Puglierin, Pawel Zerka
Public opinion polling
Through polling in EU member states, ECFR’s analysis seeks to unlock shifting coalitions in Europe that favour a more internationally engaged union
A crisis of one’s own: The politics of trauma in Europe’s election year
- Ivan Krastev, Mark Leonard
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Latest
In the same boat: Why Taiwan is strengthening ties with central and eastern Europe
- Alicja Bachulska
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
Based on the idea that Russia’s and China’s increasingly aggressive foreign policies are interrelated, Taipei is strengthening ties with central and eastern Europe
Into the Wilderness: What a far-right Netherlands would mean for Europe
- Eva Sanders
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
As Geert Wilders announces a provisional coalition deal for a far-right government, Europeans should brace themselves for a new era of Dutch politics
Putin’s military makeover: What to expect from Russia’s new defence minister
- Kirill Shamiev
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
Putin’s appointment of Andrei Belousov as defence minister signals the Kremlin’s push to rapidly modernise the Russian military – and further reshuffles may be on the horizon
Handle with care: The risks of punishing Slovakia’s new government
- Tomáš Valášek
- Commentary
- View from the Council
- 3 minute read
After Slovakia elected a populist president and a pro-Russian prime minister in a span of six months, the EU may be tempted to punish Bratislava. But this would risk making matters worse
Ahead of the curve: Why the EU and US risk falling behind China in Latin America
- Ángel Melguizo, Margaret Myers
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
As Beijing’s investment approach to Latin America focuses on industries of strategic importance, the EU and US will need to contend with growing Chinese competition
The EU’s sanctions odyssey: Understanding the proposed restrictions on Russian LNG and helium
- Agathe Demarais
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
Disagreement over expanding the EU’s energy-related restrictions makes a ban on Russian LNG imports unlikely. At the same time, potential measures on helium suggest Europeans are keen to avoid becoming dependent on the growing Russian industry
Our experts are available for media requests. Our work involves many issues relating to Europe and foreign policy, and our programmes focus on Africa, Asia, the Middle East & North Africa, and Wider Europe.
The main goal of both Putin and Xi is to fight what they perceive as their existential enemy, which is the United States and the US-led international order
Alicja Bachulska analyses the China-Russian alliance against the US-led international order
Hamas has always tried to act between the violent and the diplomatic route, to move from one to the other, depending on what he felt served his interests
There is a growing awareness throughout Europe that ‘business as usual’ is no longer possible, that development cooperation can no longer be considered in isolation
Maddalena Procopio analyses the political reasons behind the Global Gateway initiative
It is truly astonishing that a relatively small Central European country can devote resources, time and attention to the relationship between the Czech Republic and the Latin American republics
Charles Powell explains why Latin America matters in the framework of the Ibero-American Week in Prague
More on Africa
Tricks of the trade: Strengthening EU-African cooperation on trade in services
- Iza Lejarraga
- Policy Brief
Services play an increasingly important role in international trade. Improving EU-African trade in services would have wide-ranging benefits for both sides
Out of focus: Making progress on climate financing for Africa
- Ameer Chughtai
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
The final nail: Niger’s break with the US
- Will Brown
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
More on Asia
The battle for the Indian Ocean: How the EU and India can strengthen maritime security
- Frédéric Grare, Manisha Reuter
- Policy Brief
China is becoming increasingly assertive in the Indian Ocean. The EU and India should work together to support the smaller states of the region
Rebooting EU-India relations: How to unlock post-election potential
- James Crabtree, Manisha Reuter
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
Risk and reward: Why the EU should develop the Middle Corridor trade route
- Alberto Rizzi
- Commentary
- 5 minute read
More on European Power
The infinite connection: How to make the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor happen
- Alberto Rizzi
- Policy Brief
The India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor is alive, if not yet kicking. Europeans should use the hiatus in the corridor’s development to agree on the next steps, with a focus on reconciling the various goals of all its participants
The Macron moment
- Mark Leonard
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
A cautionary tale: Why the UK’s Rwanda bill is doomed for political failure
- Mireia Faro Sarrats, Tarek Megerisi
- Commentary
- 4 minute read
More on Middle East and North Africa
Proxy battles: Iraq, Iran, and the turmoil in the Middle East
- Hamzeh Hadad
- Policy Brief
The cycle of escalation in the Middle East since 7 October means Iraq has once again found itself a staging ground for Iranian-US conflict. But the relationship between Iraq and Iran is complex and multifaceted – and Europeans can help Iraq build its autonomy
Direct destabilisation: Iran’s attack on Israel
- Julien Barnes-Dacey
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
Aid with reform: How the EU-Egypt deal can succeed
- Anthony Dworkin
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
More on United States
The art of vassalisation: How Russia’s war on Ukraine has transformed transatlantic relations
- Jana Puglierin, Jeremy Shapiro
- Policy Brief
Europeans’ response to Russia’s war on Ukraine confirms their profound dependence on the US – an unwise position given the security challenge in Europe and coming geopolitical competition with China
Letter from Washington: All-knowing America and US intelligence diplomacy
- Jeremy Shapiro
- Commentary
- Views from the Capitals
- 4 minute read
Europe must prepare for a Trump presidency
- Mark Leonard
- Commentary
- 3 minute read
More on Wider Europe
Life in exile: A new approach to Russian democrats in Europe
- Ksenia Luchenko, Kirill Shamiev
- Policy Brief
European governments need a more coordinated response to Russian democrats in exile – to give them certainty for the future and help guard against Kremlin subversion
Lukashenka’s long shadow: Understanding Belarus’s new political architecture
- Pavel Slunkin
- Policy Alert
- 2 minute read
The power of a promise: Understanding Ukraine’s bilateral security agreements
- Leo Litra
- Commentary
- 3 minute read