Global aid after Trump’s exit: How Europe can lead reform and head off Russia and China
President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the US from international organisations presents an opportunity to Europe to lead on global aid reform
Policy alerts
Peace with teeth: What Britain and France’s troop commitment means for Ukraine
Britain and France have committed to deploying their armies on the ground in Ukraine. This is one step towards providing the robust security guarantees the country needs to deter future Russian aggression
Invest in electric: Why Germany’s combustion engine win risks EU industrial loss
German opposition to the EU’s target to ban combustion engines by 2035 risks locking in emissions and ceding the EV market to China. The bloc needs to convince its member states that investment in electric is worthwhile
When the army comes knocking: Benin’s failed coup and West African instability
A failed coup in Benin is the latest in an increasingly volatile West Africa. To encourage stability, Europeans should support the region’s governments while doubling down on countering disinformation—but do so discretely
On Sofia’s streets: How protests are highlighting an Orbanist turn in Bulgaria
Bulgarians have turned out in their thousands to protest against the government. The EU needs to address the country’s democratic backsliding and avoid it becoming part of Viktor Orban’s camp
Europeans can’t let Trump define what it means to be European
The US National Security Strategy 2025 is little more than a guide to Trump’s culture war with Europe. EU member states and institutions, and its political parties and populations, need to resist America’s pernicious influence
Understanding the EU’s new economic security playbook
The EU’s new economic security communication is a step in the right direction. If Europe wants to be a geoeconomic actor instead of a mere geoeconomic battleground, it must evolve from being a risk manager and become a power broker
Shield the fields: How Europe can support Ukraine through a dark winter
Volodymyr Zelensky has struck a deal to strengthen Ukraine’s winter energy reserves. Europe should now help Kyiv diversify its imports and guard its domestic gas fields with a robust air defence
When the chips are down: Nexperia, Europe and the US-China trade and tech war
The case of Nexperia is another reminder Europeans need to speed up the assembly of their own trade and tech tools
Enemy number one: What Putin’s foreign policy speech says about Europe
At this year’s Valdai club, Vladimir Putin gave his most anti-EU speech yet, citing his determination to see new anti-establishment politicians to come to power and improve Europe’s relations with Moscow