After Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s surprise appearance at the European Parliament, allies and skeptics alike may wonder what exactly ‘associate membership’ entails and what privileges Canadians can access over other candidate countries who have waited on the sidelines for two decades. Non-members contemplate the impacts of this bold proposition on their long, bilateral partnerships with the European Union.
Read MoreWhether the agreement represents a genuine resolution or a pause in a longer dispute may depend on details yet to be worked out. As written, the deal lets both sides claim victory: Trump can claim a permanent, expanded security footprint while Frederiksen and Nielsen walk away with a Kingdom left intact.
Read MoreIsrael’s expansion into the West Bank has rung alarm bells in Western Europe as the existence of a two-state solution faces a growing existential threat. EU countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, France, and soon-to-be Belgium have all joined the UK in its stance against Israeli expansion. What is left to ask is whether this message will penetrate Israeli leadership, force Israel to stop or, on the flip side, expedite the process, or push the geographically distant countries like the U.S. towards or away from the opinion of its European allies.
Read MoreOn September 18, President Donald Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Among other measures, the law allows the United States to impose tariffs on major importers of Russian oil and gas, thus putting renewed pressure on India amid concerns over energy affordability. Although Washington presents the measure as a way to limit Moscow’s trade profits amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, for India, the law became a trade-off between economic well-being and preserving its relationship with the United States.
Read MoreWhat was officially confirmed in mid-May as a new Ebola outbreak has spread to 452 confirmed cases and 82 confirmed deaths in the Congo. The CDC estimates that the spread could reach 20,000 cases or more within the next three months, depending on the efforts made. With numerous challenges plaguing efforts to contain the virus, the DRC needs significant international action to prevent regional devastation.
Read MoreAs Pope Leo enters the second year of his papacy, the battle lines are clearly drawn: between the desire for domination he observes in modern statecraft and the way of Jesus Christ he seeks to promote, the American pope finds himself at the center of a struggle for the very soul of the faith in his home country.
Read MoreItaly’s struggles are nothing new. Their recent loss marks their third-straight World Cup qualification failure despite a history as one of the most successful national teams in World Cup history. The turmoil has set off a string of administrative changes, including the resignation of Italy soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina and the removal of coach Gennaro Gattuso.
Read MoreNew Zealand and the Cook Islands have signed a defense and security declaration, ending over a year of open tensions. But the strategic partnership deal with China that started the crisis remains intact, and New Zealand knows it.
Read MoreUkraine has denied involvement in an incident where explosives were found near a pipeline in Serbia, and experts have asserted that the incident was rather an attempt by Russia to influence Hungary’s election. Given that incumbent Viktor Orbán’s party is falling behind in polls, there have been accusations that this was a “false flag” operation by Orbán and Russia to drum up support.
Read MoreMass protests have erupted across Prague in recent weeks, as tens of thousands of citizens rally against Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and his coalition government, citing fears of democratic backsliding as governmental policies begin to shift from a traditional progressive to a more far-right stance. With protests being organized by the Million Moments for Democracy NGO, many state that these have been the largest protests since the Velvet Revolution of 1989.
Read MoreThe renewed attention surrounding the former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has once again drawn international attention to the lingering global consequences of his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
Read MoreThe Supreme Court recently struck down Trump's use of emergency powers to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that the tariffs exceeded the authority given to the president by Congress under the 1977 law, which allows the executive branch to regulate commerce during national emergencies created by foreign threats.
Read MoreFollowing Japan’s lower house elections on February 8, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) now holds a two-thirds majority. This marks the most power any political party in Japan has had since post-war times. Led by the recently elected Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, the LDP stands as the political majority within the Japanese government. Campaigning on conservative ideals, Takaichi’s goals for Japan could have many implications for its citizens and relations abroad.
Read More84% of the crude oil that passes through the Strait of Hormuz is destined for markets in China, India, and South Korea, among other Asian countries. China also buys more than 90% of Iran's oil exports, and around 53% of India's imported oil in early 2025 came from Middle Eastern suppliers. Meanwhile, Europe faces a second large disruption in the energy market over the last decade, after previous complications stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Read MoreOn February 22, the Mexican army carried out an operation resulting in the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes (“El Mencho”), notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). On the surface, this marks a significant victory for the Mexican Government in its battle against cartel power. For years, CJNG has been one of the most dominant and violent criminal organizations in Mexico, heavily involved in trafficking synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl and methamphetamine, into the United States and Canada. However, the immediate aftermath, along with the historical pattern of similar “kingpin” operations, suggests that long-term change remains uncertain.
Read MoreOn February 16, the People’s Republic of China announced that it had extended its visa waiver for Canada and the UK, allowing nationals from both countries to enter China and stay up to 30 days for various purposes. The most visible short-term benefit is the ease of travel for Canadians and Brits looking to visit China. However, ramifications extend to economic priorities, as the two countries sought favorable trade deals while navigating their once-close ally, the United States.
Read MoreThe EU and India, two of the largest democratic economies, are now partners in a new economic pact that has the political world watching. The agreement is designed to boost trade in goods and services, but it also has a deeper meaning. Alongside the promising tariff cuts and access to global markets, there is a clear signal that the EU is shifting its sights to a more welcoming continent: Asia.
Read MoreThe Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) investigation of General Zhang Youxia is not just about corruption with senior leaders, as it shows President Xi tightening his control over the military during a tense moment for China. By targeting one of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) most experienced commanders, Xi makes clear that loyalty to him matters more than rank or battlefield experience.
Read MorePolitical upheavals in Bangladesh threaten to destroy its carefully curated relationship, and the aftermath has begun to bleed into both countries, becoming evident through changes in cricket and people's daily lives.
Read MoreBeginning on December 28th, 2025, millions of Iranians gathered nationwide to protest the Islamic Republic government amid the country’s deepest economic crisis in modern history, marked by currency collapse, inflation, and widespread loss of public confidence. In response, the Iranian government imposed a near-total internet blackout and carried out a violent crackdown that left thousands dead or detained, signaling a deliberate turn to mass repression to preserve regime control.
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