Talks between the US and Iran took place on Friday, aimed at avoiding a new round of military conflict. Nevertheless, the question of the legality of any military action has been disturbingly absent from the European debate over possible US strikes, writes Anthony Dworkin. 👇 https://bit.ly/4ts9EgG

🪫♻️ African countries view the energy transition as a tool for economic transformation, contrasting Europeans’ more limited focus on decarbonisation. We assessed these dynamics and how Europe can align with African priorities. Read the @ecfr.eu paper here 👇

After nearly 16 years of Fidesz rule, the centre-right Tisza party stands a chance of winning Hungary’s April election. Under their rule, Budapest would work with Europe, not against it, writes Zsuzsanna Végh. @ecfrpower.bsky.social 🔍Check out the situation in Hungary: https://bit.ly/3Mf4Evj

Giorgos Verdi writes, "AI middle powers could pool the costs of frontier AI development and collaborate more closely to acquire homegrown capabilities. The EU should kickstart a 'club' of AI middle powers, with a focus on three main pillars." @ecfrpower.bsky.social Full text👉 https://bit.ly/4rN7qqQ

📢 New polling report! @pawelzerka.bsky.social and@celiabelin.bsky.social argue, "In the second Trump era, Europe urgently needs to secure its autonomy. Leaders must therefore link together different islands of European public opinion to establish strong majorities for action" https://bit.ly/4aHAs5k

Sanae Takaichi’s supermajority victory will speed up Japan’s assertive policies on defence and economic security. For Europe, this makes Japan a more predictable partner—but it also adds pressure to match Tokyo’s new pace, writes @ellipohlkamp.bsky.social 🔍 Read more: https://bit.ly/4rf0kve

The British prime minister has long said the UK does not need to choose between the US and Europe. The time has come for him to admit he is wrong, writes Nick Wittney. Britain must change its partner for upgrading its nuclear deterrent from America to France. 👉 Read here: https://bit.ly/4qvLcZo

🎙️ In the latest @ecfr.eu WOMENP podcast episode, Ellie Geranmayeh speak to @asliaydintasbas.bsky.social, Dina Esfandiary & Yasmine Farouk to unpack how Iran's neighbours view the domestic turmoil following brutal crackdowns and the increasing risk of US military strikes 👇 buff.ly/OOMHKxm

European governments are terrified of Trump’s threats on trade, Greenland and the future of Nato. But the biggest threat is not that Trump invades an ally. It is that his ideological movement could transform Europe from the inside, writes @markhleonard.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

"The new right has exploited the 'polycrisis' context in notable ways that help it stand out from mainstream forces", writes @markhleonard.bsky.social. He unpacks the new right’s policy agenda and its communication and mobilisation strategy in the recent report. 👉Find out more https://bit.ly/4bycLNK

🎧Monday with the latest episode! @markhleonard.bsky.social and @leaypi.bsky.social delve into defining moments in global politics, from the 1920s to the post-Cold War era. What lessons does this period hold for today? 👉Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4qVONRn

Some dismiss the right-wing forces as mere nostalgists; resentment-merchants peddling a better yesterday. In fact, research reveals them to be strikingly modern—even post-modern—and well-suited to current times. They truly are the “new” right, writes @markhleonard.bsky.social https://bit.ly/4bycLNK

@markhleonard.bsky.social and @leaypi.bsky.social discuss her latest book, Indignity: A Life Reimagined, and how lessons from the past can help the left counter the new right. Do any parallels exist between then and now? And what lessons does this period hold for today? 🎧 https://bit.ly/4qVONRn

📢 Working Student Position Open! Support ECFR's Re:Order Project from an administrative perspective for 20 hours per week. You can gain hands-on experience in event management and administration tasks at a think tank in the heart of Berlin! ⬇️ Apply now and join us! https://bit.ly/440pyUN

Majda Ruge writes that "Trump’s foreign and security policy is the product of factional competition in the White House and a president fixated on short-term wins". Here’s how Europeans should come to terms with this new reality. ⬇️ Read her latest policy brief: https://bit.ly/4r18tmR

As France starts its G7 presidency, collaboration with the US G20 presidency won't be smooth sailing - yet not hope is lost and as I argue for @ecfr.eu the French may yet find a willing partner in the US in three areas: economic security, development aid and critical minerals ecfr.eu/article/call...

France’s G7 presidency coincides with an American-led G20. Paris will not find it easy to collaborate with the Trump administration, but it can still find meaningful areas for G7-G20 cooperation, writes @agathedemarais.com Read the full commentary here: ecfr.eu/article/call...

🎧 New Week, New episode! @markhleonard.bsky.social welcomes @leaypi.bsky.social to discuss her latest book on indignity—and how lessons from the past can help the left counter the new right. What does a revitalised left look like in Europe and beyond? 👉Full episode: https://bit.ly/4qVONRn

📑 NEW @ecfr.eu commentary by @boppenheim.bsky.social: Europeans should work to contain Trump & Netanyahu to prevent renewed offensives in Iran & Lebanon , while supporting Lebanon’s fragile governance Read the piece here 👇 ecfr.eu/article/sell...

China’s evolving foreign economic strategy—firm-driven, diversified, and micro-integrated—poses stealthier risks to EU industries than the old, loan-heavy, megaproject tactics, which at least made the dangers obvious, writes Vladimir Shopov in his latest commentary. @ecfr.eu

Beth Oppenheim @ecfr.eu: Europeans should oppose renewed military intervention and press the case for diplomacy. Together with Arab states, they should play on Trump’s desire for deal-making to show him that more military action will not serve his agenda of regional peace. ecfr.eu/article/sell...

@boppenheim.bsky.social argues that "Israel is agitating for US strikes against Iran, while preparing for renewed war in Lebanon. Europeans should work to contain Trump and Netanyahu to prevent renewed offensives in both arenas, while supporting Lebanon’s fragile governance" 📌 https://bit.ly/4rDVCah

Vladimir Shopov writes "China is shifting its economic strategies towards micro-integration and market diversification, which pose a more subtle danger to Europe’s industrial heartlands". @ecfrasia.bsky.social 👇 Read the commentary here: https://bit.ly/4tkx33M

The thinkers and ideas of the rising nationalist right merit the political mainstream’s attention. Only by understanding them can it build a resilient counter-project. Read @markhleonard.bsky.social's new report. ecfr.eu/publication/...

France’s G7 presidency coincides with an American-led G20. Paris will not find it easy to collaborate with the Trump administration, but it can still find meaningful areas for G7-G20 cooperation, writes @agathedemarais.com. Read the full commentary here: bit.ly/3OnL7cx

📢 New report! “The new right: Anatomy of a global political revolution”, authored by @markhleonard.bsky.social, ECFR’s co-founder and Director, unpacks the new right’s policy agenda and its communication and mobilisation strategy. 📌Read the full text: https://bit.ly/4a8rWLe

"Though EU policymakers are presenting the bloc’s growing energy dependence on the US as a growing challenge, there are three reasons why Europeans shouldn’t panic", writes @szymonkardas.bsky.social from @ecfrpower.bsky.social. 👉 Read Szymon's recent commentary here: https://bit.ly/4rotVlr

📢 Working Student Position Open! Support ECFR's Re:Order Project from an administrative perspective for 20 hours per week. You can gain hands-on experience in event management and administration tasks at a think tank in the heart of Berlin! ⬇️ Apply now and join us! https://bit.ly/3M8qRLi

"How Europe engages with African energy transitions will demonstrate whether it can adapt to a multipolar world where multiple powers assert different priorities," say @madprocopio.bsky.social and Sarah Logan. Read the @ecfr.eu paper here 👇 buff.ly/LsHaCtq

The India-EU trade deal this week is the best embodiment of the kind of “pragmatism” the moment really requires and proves that a like-minded approach to China can provide economic and strategic payoffs, write @ajwsmall.bsky.social and Janka Oertel. Read the full text 👇 https://bit.ly/4qPesv9

Internship opportunity! We're looking for a Working Student to assist with Re:Order project’s overall event management & logistics activities and research efforts, ensuring the smooth execution of various tasks related to organizing events & day-to-day office administration. https://ecfr.eu/jobs/

Europeans must adapt their approach to supporting Africa’s energy transitions—or risk losing out to China and other competitors https://ecfr.eu/publication/carbon-bargain-how-europe-can-adapt-to-africas-new-energy-alliances/

Internship opportunity! We're looking for a Working Student to assist with Re:Order project’s overall event management & logistics activities and research efforts, ensuring the smooth execution of various tasks related to organizing events & day-to-day office administration. https://ecfr.eu/jobs/

Internship opportunity! We're looking for a Working Student to assist with Re:Order project’s overall event management & logistics activities and research efforts, ensuring the smooth execution of various tasks related to organizing events & day-to-day office administration. https://ecfr.eu/jobs/

Europeans must adapt their approach to supporting Africa’s energy transitions—or risk losing out to China and other competitors https://ecfr.eu/publication/carbon-bargain-how-europe-can-adapt-to-africas-new-energy-alliances/

@rafaelloss.bsky.sociall writes "Greenland’s geography is a critical piece of Trump’s 'Golden Dome'. Alliance relations might be strained: but using NATO to improve US-European cooperation and counter Russian nuclear coercion could be a silver lining to this episode." 🔗👇 https://bit.ly/3NZwsnP

We recorded a podcast episode with ECFR Director Mark Leonard, looking at Europe-Africa relations in 2026. Take a listen below 💡🎧

🎧 New Week, New episode! @markhleonard.bsky.social is joined by Nathalie Delapalme, Carlos Lopes and Alex Vines to discover the pathways and bottlenecks facing the Europe-Africa relationship. @ecfrafrica.bsky.social 👇Listen to the full episode here: https://bit.ly/4kgXVO4

The India-EU trade deal this week is the best embodiment of the kind of “pragmatism” the moment really requires and proves that a like-minded approach to China can provide economic and strategic payoffs, writes @ajwsmall.bsky.social and Janka Oertel. Read the full text 👇 https://bit.ly/4qPesv9

After years of simmering competition between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, their clash is having an impact beyond Yemen and into the wider Red Sea region. This is reshuffling regional alliances and threatening to further destabilise Red Sea geopolitics, writes Camille Lons. 👉 https://bit.ly/4qa2Lhg

📢 NEW BRIEF African countries view the energy transition as a tool for economic transformation which stands in contrast to Europeans’ more limited focus on decarbonisation. ♻️🌍 How can Europe adapt its approach and unlock its comparative advantage? @ecfr.eu 📑 👉 Read here: buff.ly/5QP3bRa

African countries view the energy transition as a tool for economic transformation, to deliver jobs, industrialisation and development. This stands in contrast to Europeans’ more limited focus on decarbonisation, write Sarah Logan and @madprocopio.bsky.social 👇 Read more: https://bit.ly/4rfJD2d

🎧 New Emergency episode! @markhleonard.bsky.social welcomes @jamescrabtree.bsky.social live from India, to unravel the recent EU-India trade deal. Together, they explore India’s strategic pivot amid US tariffs, the potential for deeper defence and tech ties. Listen now! https://bit.ly/467RWVM

Europe needs green tech. Europe needs to be resilient against Chinese coercion. Two imperatives, two camps. How to reconcile them? @byfordt.bsky.social just published the definitive study for @ecfr.eu. Read it ⬇️ ecfr.eu/publication/...

China’s economic approach and trade tactics are dampening the EU’s ambition to become a clean-tech powerhouse. Byford Tsang examines five EU member states' green transition status and suggests that clarifying trade-offs between climate ambition and economic security is vital ecfr.eu/publication/...

The EU-India FTA deal is hot on the heels of Mercosur. Instead of decrying the end of a world order from which they benefitted, Europeans are finally embracing their trade strengths, writes @alberto-rizzi.bsky.social 👇Read the full commentary in our website. https://bit.ly/4tayhi4

New commentary on Africa+1 Summits in 2026 and whether Europe can stand out is now available on our website. 👇📢

The new EU-India free trade agreement could become a template for 21st-century trade governance, write @manishareuter.bsky.social & @jamescrabtree.bsky.social. @ecfr.eu buff.ly/Y80MKVM

Africa+1 summits have multiplied over the past decade. However, many of those summits have struggled to translate announcements into delivery. Commitments are ambitious but weakly institutionalised, reinforcing scepticism among African partners, writes Lena Krause. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3LXde1A

In her new book „Wer verteidigt Europa?“ (Who Defends Europe?), @jpuglierin.bsky.social delivers a timely and insightful contribution to the debate on Europe’s security. The book (in German) is now available from Rowohlt: www.rowohlt.de/buch/jana-pu... …and wherever books are sold.