Europe
List of Europe articles
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.
How Foreign Policy Shapes Music Around the World
From the United States to Ukraine, music has influenced—and been influenced by—international politics.
Putting the Cold War on the Couch
A new psychological analysis of Soviet leaders fundamentally alters 20th-century global history.
How the Beyoncé Bump Affected Sweden
In some markets, the megastar creates her own economic climate system.
Biden’s Catch-22 in Ukraine
Washington’s backing for Kyiv and avoidance of risk are increasingly at odds.
Giorgia Meloni Is Europe’s New Kingmaker
Italy’s far-right prime minister has quickly gone from fringe player to EU power broker.
‘We Are Allied, but We Are Not Aligned’
Josep Borrell, Europe’s outgoing foreign-policy chief, on the U.S., China, Ukraine, and Gaza.
Genocide Allegations Are Not a Political Football
Why Turkey’s application to join South Africa’s ICJ case trivializes the charges against Israel.
Russia Advances on Kharkiv as Ukraine Struggles to Fight Back
Moscow is exploiting Biden’s restrictive rules on U.S. weapons use to make gains, Ukrainian officials say.
The Changing Nuclear Mind Game
Russia’s nuclear threats to reach conventional goals in Ukraine mark a new era of brinkmanship.
Gazprom’s Declining Fortunes Spell Trouble for Moscow
The gas giant’s record loss should worry the Kremlin on several fronts.
The Kazakh Murder Trial That Captivated Russia
Putin’s political project rests on normalizing violence—including domestic abuse.
Europeans Need to Trump-Proof China Policy
The United States is an unpredictable ally—but Beijing isn’t a better option.
The United States Has a Keen Demographic Edge
Competitors of the United States face plunging birthrates and social gloom.
Who Is Russia’s New Defense Minister?
Putin’s appointment of economist Andrei Belousov suggests Moscow is digging in for the long haul.
Europe’s Youth Are Fueling the Far Right
The continent’s radicals are increasingly attractive far beyond their traditional pool of voters.
The Resilience of Ukraine’s War Widows
Perhaps tens of thousands of Ukrainian women have lost their partners in the conflict with Russia. They look to rebuild amid precarity and uncertainty.
How an Obscure General Became the Star of Italy’s Far Right
Bestselling author Roberto Vannacci is eclipsing Giorgia Meloni, but entering politics could blunt his popularity.
Pedro Sánchez’s Catch-22
How an amnesty deal for Catalan separatists became a political—and personal—headache for the Spanish prime minister.
Georgia’s Protests Are Different This Time
A new foreign agents law could be the death knell of a once-promising young democracy.
What Does America Want in Ukraine?
Washington’s current approach is a strategic cop-out—and risks making another forever war.
Germany Is Now Spying on Its Own Top Spy
Hans-Georg Maassen has a troubling relationship with the far-right—just like the agency he used to head.
Biden’s Escalation Fears Have Dangerous Consequences
Pressuring allies not to retaliate against attacks raises the risk of spiraling conflicts.
U.K. Begins Rwanda Deportations
After Parliament overruled the Supreme Court and declared Rwanda safe, Sunak’s government is rounding up asylum-seekers.
North Macedonia’s Political Future Is on the Line
The right-wing nationalist opposition is making a comeback as voters punish the Social Democrats for scandals and broken EU accession promises.
Putin Begins Fifth Term With Nuclear Drills
The Russian leader was sworn in amid spiraling tensions with the West.
How Georgia Sided With Its Enemy
Georgians are angry at the government’s pro-Russian turn.
China Wants to ‘Divide and Conquer’ Europe
Why Xi Jinping is visiting France, Serbia, and Hungary this week.
A New Age of Empires
What makes a modern empire, from Russia to cyberspace.
The Opioid High of Empire
Two new books turn a spotlight on how the colonial past lives on in unacknowledged ways.
Is ‘the Media’ Really Under Attack?
We need a new framework to understand how today’s autocrats control public opinion.
Can Xi Win Back Europe?
The Chinese leader’s visit follows weeks of escalating tensions between China and the continent.
How Kyiv Plans to Use American Aid
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba joins FP Live for a wide-ranging discussion.
Turmoil in Georgia Could Draw in Russia
The likely passage of a Kremlin-style law has Georgians fighting for their democracy.
The Very Real Limits of the Russia-China ‘No Limits’ Partnership
Intense military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing is a problem for the West. Their bilateral trade is not.
What Do Russians Really Think About Putin’s War?
Polling has gotten harder as autocracy has tightened.
Turkey’s Democracy Is Down but Not Out
An invigorated opposition is ready for a constitutional fight.
How Globalization Rose and Fell With Nord Stream
The pipeline bringing Russian gas to Europe was once seen as a triumph for borderless business—but Putin’s invasion of Ukraine put an end to that fantasy.
Democracy Has Run Out of Future
The underlying reason for the West’s democratic crisis may be a lost sense of open-ended time.
Europe Could Soon Be Hooked on Fentanyl
The continent invented the drug but has been spared its worst ravages—until now.
U.S. Allies Relieved After Senate Passes Long-Delayed Aid Bill
But the fact it took so long to pass has some worried about future support.
Ukraine Is Still Outgunned by Russia
Even with the approval of new U.S. aid, most of the artillery Ukraine needs won’t get to the front until next year.
Congressional Push for Oil Sanctions Puts Biden in a Bind
New measures to punish Iran, Venezuela, and Russia could raise crude prices and hurt Biden in an election year.