Europe
List of Europe articles
Countering Europe’s Backlash to the Green Transition
A sustainable future is still possible—even amidst a radically altered political climate.
How Putin’s War Is Transforming Ukraine’s Neighbors
Moscow has tightened its grip in Eastern and Central Europe.
In ‘Caledonian Road,’ the U.K. Is Living on Thin Ice
A sweeping state-of-the-nation novel fails to convince the reader.
Western Companies Are Now Paying for Russia Sanctions
U.S. and European companies still have billions of dollars in assets in Russia—and Moscow is starting to retaliate.
NATO Is Helping Ukraine to Fight—but Not to Win
The Washington summit was heavy on promises but light on plans.
Can NATO Really Cut Off China?
It’s unlikely that the alliance can fully prevent Chinese companies from fueling Russia’s war machine.
The New Dutch Government Is a Total Mess
An unwieldy alliance highlights far-right scandals.
How Orban Became Putin’s Pawn
Among all of Russia’s useful idiots, few have sought to make themselves more useful than the Hungarian prime minister.
The Competition for France’s Olympic Legacy
As the Games get underway, President Emmanuel Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo are vying for first place on the political podium.
The New Meaning of France’s Anti-Fascism
This week’s elections show the country is doing more than simply replaying battles from its past.
What Should Britain’s Role in the World Be Now?
New Labour, newest Labour, and the party’s quest for an ethical foreign policy.
The Modi-Putin Summit Wasn’t All Bad News for Washington
Why the “Russia factor” is a manageable challenge for the U.S.-India partnership.
How to Sell NATO to Gen Z
Here are some relationship tips for the 75-year-old alliance.
NATO’s Arms Race Against Russia Heats Up
Alliance leaders look to shake awake long dormant defense industrial bases.
The Return of the Military Draft
The wars in Ukraine and Gaza show that technology cannot replace soldiers—on the contrary.
Russia Is a Strategic Spoiler in the Indo-Pacific
As Beijing and Washington vie for supremacy, Moscow still has formidable influence.
NATO Wants Everyone to Help Deter Russia
Every country needs a plan to keep calm and carry on in the event of a Russian attack.
How to Make the U.S.-Ukraine Security Pact Stick
The White House and Congress need to start talking.
What to Watch for at NATO’s 75th Birthday Bash
Allies are bickering about whether to give Ukraine a path into NATO and worried about Biden’s fitness for office.
Britain’s New Foreign Secretary Hates Trump and Loves America
David Lammy is determined to stay on message—but he has always had strong opinions.
Ukraine’s Opportunity at the NATO Summit
To secure victory, the alliance must now capitalize on progress made by the G-7.
What Does a Labour Win Mean for U.K. Defense Policy?
An experienced politician has taken over the defense file—and the party has shed much of its old ideological baggage.
Does NATO Have a Future?
As the alliance’s leaders gather in Washington, the prospect of a second Trump administration looms large.
Keir Starmer Should Rethink Britain’s China Policy
Festering issues—from Beijing’s support for Moscow to domestic interference—fill the Labour government’s inbox.
How Ukraine’s Drone Industry Took Flight
A state campaign rolled back red tape and regulation inherited from its Soviet past.
This NATO Summit Is a Big Win for Biden
The alliance’s resurgence since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a signature achievement.
America Is in Denial About NATO’s Future
An alliance that includes Ukraine will require a vastly larger military and economic commitment.
The Fight Over China’s Electric Cars Is Upside-Down
Why Europe’s car companies are against—and environmentalists are for—making Chinese EVs more expensive.
Europe Has a New Role as U.S. Strategy Shifts to China
The U.S.-European relationship will have several practical benefits for Washington’s rivalry with Beijing.
Ukraine Lays Its Tracks to Europe
By expanding its railways, Kyiv hopes to tie its fate to the rest of the continent.
How China Could Retaliate Against the EU’s Looming EV Tariffs
China wants to contain growing trade threats without further alienating Europe.
Keir Starmer Is Tony Blair, Minus the Optimism
Britain’s new government is copying the “New Labour” playbook, but the country’s atmosphere has changed in the meantime.
Biden’s Debate Performance Has Some U.S. Allies Worried
The U.S. president’s lackluster performance was a wake-up call about the prospects of a second Trump term.
What Europe Wants From the NATO Summit
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski: “I hope we show unity.”
What a U.K. Labour Win Means for the Global Left
Keir Starmer’s victory will transform Britain’s image—and could reinvigorate social democrats across the globe.
Will Europe’s Front-Line States Have Enough Soldiers to Fight?
Dire demographics and easy emigration pose a serious challenge if Russia attacks.
Hong Kong’s Democratic Diaspora Is Embracing British Elections
A recently arrived voting bloc could decide seats in London.
Economic Issues Drove France’s Far-Right Win
The Rassemblement National found first-round success, but what is its economic platform?
NATO Is Turning 75, but How Much Is There to Celebrate?
Managing the alliance is more difficult now that the United States has new allies and adversaries.
Europe Alone
Nine thinkers on the continent��s future without America’s embrace.
What to Know as France Goes to the Polls
FP’s essential stories on the French election.
The World Still Needs Habermas
The German philosopher is starting to outlive his liberal legacy.
An Atrevida Is Best Avoided
The Portuguese word that exposes the country’s lingering double standards on gender.
What Will Elections in France, Iran, and the U.K. Mean for U.S. Foreign Policy?
As more countries prepare to go to the polls, Julian Assange is freed and Vladimir Putin cozies up to Kim Jong Un.
The Dreyfus Affair and the Origins of the Tour de France
The grueling cycling competition has a rich political history.
The West Misunderstands Its Own Far Right
The right-wing parties poised to take power aren’t populist. They’re something much worse.
Why Are French Jews Supporting the Far Right?
Prominent Jewish figures are publicly entertaining what was once considered unthinkable: voting for Marine Le Pen’s National Rally.
Key Foreign-Policy Moments From the Trump-Biden Debate
The two candidates clashed over Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas war, immigration, and America’s global image.
What Would a Far-Right Victory Mean for French Foreign Policy?
Cohabitation would test France’s approach toward Ukraine, Israel, NATO, and the EU.
Trump’s Return Would Transform Europe
Without Washington’s embrace, the continent could revert to an anarchic and illiberal past.
NATO’s Trump-Proofing Efforts Are Floundering
Ahead of the U.S. election, the alliance is trying—and failing—to safeguard assistance for Ukraine.
A New Era of Financial Warfare Has Begun
The West’s latest actions against Russia carry risks for the global system and could provoke China.
The U.S. Right Is Copying Hungary’s Attack on Adoption
So-called pro-family laws are attempts at annihilating LGBTQ+ people.
NATO Wants to Boost Its Undersea Defenses
Officials fear Russia could cut the undersea cable network that undergirds much of the global economy.
Loneliness Is a National Security Crisis
Internet scams target vulnerable people with powerful access.
NATO’s New Leader Was Planning This the Whole Time
Mark Rutte, a workaholic obsessed with routine, is about to take over the West’s military alliance.
Germany Has 1 Year to Replace Olaf Scholz
The chancellor is hugely unpopular—and a popular minister is waiting in the wings.
It’s Time to Learn How to Blow Things Up Again
A shortage of explosives experts is threatening Europe’s security.
Ukraine Needs a ‘Wet Gap Crossing’ to NATO
It’s time to use the U.S. military’s playbook for building a wartime bridge to Ukraine.
If Europe Is Lost, Why Not Party?
Vienna’s balls may be more inclusive than ever, but nostalgia hits different with the far right on the ascent.
Germany’s Far-Right Surge Isn’t New
The country’s failure to confront deadly extremists in the early 2000s should be a warning.
How the West Embraced Cambodia’s New Prime Minister
Hun Manet may appear more friendly and even-keeled than his father, but political repression continues apace.
Why Is Russia’s Economy Still Growing?
Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine have had limited impact.
Is Europe’s Turn to the Right Here to Stay?
Right-wing populists did well in the EU Parliament elections. Now France’s president is testing the public’s appetite for being governed by them.
Biden and the G-7 Seek to Reassure Ukraine
A new security agreement and $50 billion funding deal signal that the West remains united in Kyiv’s defense—but how long will it last?
Russia Ramps Up Sabotage Operations in Europe
Western officials struggle to respond to a new wave of “hybrid warfare.”
Macron Is Destroying His Democracy to Save It
Why France’s president has decided to embrace electoral chaos.
What Was Macron Thinking?
France’s president is forcing voters to decide if they really want the National Rally in power—and betting that governing could dent the far-right’s popularity before 2027.
Trump’s Case Is the Exception, Not the Rule
White-collar crimes are prosecuted at much lower rates than many other crimes in the United States.
Putin Cuts Ukraine’s Power
With constant assaults on the electricity grid, Moscow is adding an explosive twist to an old playbook.
G-7 Leaders Meet to Ramp Up New Pressure on Russia
Leaders look to lock in commitments ahead of tumultuous election cycles.
The British Countryside’s Forgotten History of Slavery
Britons tend to downplay the empire’s slave-trading history. But its links to Virginia tobacco are all over the landscape.
The Influencer Chef Dividing Syria’s Diaspora
Chef Omar has popularized Damascene cuisine online and in his Istanbul restaurant. But is he linked to the Assad regime?
Britain’s Revival Must Start With the BBC
The country’s next government needs to reverse its decline, beginning with its central source of information.
The Economics of the Normandy Invasion
How industrial power and innovation helped turn the war.
NATO Looks to Create New Special Envoy Post in Ukraine
The plan comes as Western leaders debate Ukraine’s ambitions to join NATO.
The Party That Could Shake Up German Politics
A new so-called left-conservative party seeks a foothold in the European Parliament elections.
Americans Don’t Want a Wartime President
If Biden can avoid the temptation to be a warrior defending allies abroad, he might have a better chance at winning his battles at home.
Politics Is Especially Violent in Germany
All of Europe is struggling with political violence—but Germany most of all.
What the West Can Learn From Singapore
Data shows that in key areas, Singapore is better at governing than the U.S. and Britain.
Europe Needs Forts Again
Building barriers against Russian aggression now can save lives later.
Why This EU Election Could Be a Referendum on Europe’s Future
Centrists seem increasingly willing to partner with the far right.
Are Putin’s Nuclear Threats Working?
A new book examines the past and present of Russian thinking on deterrence.
Who Pays for Climate Action?
Small island states are pointing the way on finding innovative funding.
Now Is Not the Time to Negotiate With Putin
If Ukraine enters peace talks, it must do so from a position of strength.
Europe’s Green Moment Is Over
After years of riding high, EU elections are about to send the continent’s green parties back to earth.
Is Britain All That Special?
British politics may be bad, but they’re not unusual.
Is Biden Blowing It in Gaza and Ukraine?
Washington seems to keep moving the goalposts—but it isn’t bringing stability in either conflict, or electoral benefits at home.
Why Diego Garcia Matters
A dispute over a tiny island in the Indian Ocean presents complications for U.S. goals in the Indo-Pacific.
Putin’s Baltic Provocations Are Raising Western Hackles
From redrawn maritime borders to suspected sabotage, Moscow is trying to exert power in a long-coveted region.
Putin Is Obsessed With Russian Liberals
Attacks on the movement show how insecure Russia’s dictator feels.
The Invisible Warriors of Ukraine’s Refugee Crisis
Women's NGOs are leading the charge—but not getting the funding they need.
Why Political Assassinations Often Succeed
The attempted killing of the Slovak prime minister is part of a recent wave.
Democracies Aren’t the Peacemakers Anymore
How Washington can reclaim its diplomatic primacy in an authoritarian age.
When Knowledge Stops at the Water’s Edge
Fears about foreign contacts and security clearances are making America’s future diplomats and policymakers less worldly and more insular.
How Germany Lost the Middle East
Berlin’s unequivocal support for Israel has eroded its soft-power footprint in the region.
The Advocate
Ukraine and the Europeans are vexed about how to deal with Trump. Gordon Sondland has a playbook.
The U.S. Still Has a Lend-Leash Act for Ukraine
Washington is finding ways to get Kyiv more money—but keeps it hamstrung from actually fighting the war.
Why a Small Pacific Island Territory Is Upending Nickel Prices
Violent riots in New Caledonia are having an outsized global impact on critical mineral supply chains.
Europe Is Ready to Play Hardball With Georgia
The EU is willing to put Georgia's candidate status at stake in response to its “foreign agents” law.