Europe and Eurasia | Council on Foreign Relations

Religion

Women This Week: First Woman Appointed to Top Position in the Holy See

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers January 4 to January 10.

Post by Noël James January 10, 2025 Women Around the World
Foreign Policy

The World Trump Will Inherit

Donald Trump will reenter the White House to face a world racked by historic conflicts and humanitarian crises, but the United States, fueled by its economic strength, remains uniquely poised to influence these and other global challenges.

Article by Michael Froman January 10, 2025
Syria

Will the Shake-up in Syria Undermine the Fight Against ISIS?

The United States appears intent on keeping its counterterrorism alliance with the Kurds in post-Assad Syria despite the strains it is causing with ally Turkey.

Expert Brief by Henri J. Barkey January 9, 2025

Experts in this Region

Robert D. Blackwill

Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy

Liana Fix

Fellow for Europe

Thomas Graham

Distinguished Fellow

Charles A. Kupchan

Senior Fellow

Matthias Matthijs

Senior Fellow for Europe

Stephen Sestanovich

George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies

Russia

The China-Russia Relationship and Its Global Implications

The relationship between Russia and the People’s Republic of China continues to dominate headlines, news stories, and conversations in the American foreign policy community. Analysts continue to discuss the quality and depth of the relationship, how it’s perceived around the world, and what, if anything, the United States can do about it. The CFR China Strategy Initiative is pleased to invite members to the inaugural meeting of its China 360 program: a two-part event on China-Russia Relations. Robert D. Blackwill and Richard Fontaine, in a keynote session, discuss their new Council Special Report, No Limits? The China-Russia Relationship and U.S. Foreign Policy. Following their insights, CFR experts discuss the view and implications of Beijing and Moscow’s relationship for the rest of the world.

Virtual Event by Elliott Abrams , Robert D. Blackwill , Liana Fix , Richard H. Fontaine Jr., Michelle Gavin , Shannon K. O'Neil , Rush Doshi and Bay Fang January 8, 2025
Ukraine

Neutrality: An Alternative to Ukraine’s Membership in NATO

While Ukraine’s acceptance into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) appears unattainable, armed neutrality may be the country’s next best option to protect against future Russian aggression.

Article by Eugene Rumer January 7, 2025
China Strategy Initiative

China, Russia, and Ukraine: December 2024

China and Russia are deepening energy ties, with natural gas exports exceeding contractual agreements. At the same time, in face of economic pressures, Russia is selling stakes in uranium deposits to Chinese companies, bolstering Beijing’s regional influence. Western nations have imposed more sanctions on Chinese companies aiding Russia’s military and are increasingly concerned by Chinese and Russian activity in the Arctic.

Article by Anya Konstantinovsky January 2, 2025 China Strategy Initiative

Germany

Is Angela Merkel a Feminist?

Despite being one of the most powerful women in global politics, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s feminism has remained ambiguous. Her memoir describes her evolving embrace of more proactive measures to secure women’s equality.

Post by Liana Fix and Sophia Winograd December 26, 2024 Women Around the World
Ukraine

The World Next Year: Wars, New Governments, and Stormy Weather to Watch in 2025

In this special year-end episode, hosts Bob McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins sit down with the New York Times’ chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe Steven Erlanger to review the biggest stories of the past year and discuss developments to watch in 2025. They analyze the conflicts and political developments in the Middle East and Europe, President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for his national security team, the state of democracy worldwide, and more.

Podcast with Robert McMahon , Carla Anne Robbins and Steven Erlanger December 19, 2024 The World Next Week
France

What Does France’s Political Instability Mean for Europe?

The fall of the French government, along with political uncertainty in Germany, has upped the pressure on President Emmanuel Macron amid growing European tensions over migration, Ukraine, and energy policy.

Expert Brief by Matthias Matthijs December 17, 2024 Diamonstein-Spielvogel Project on the Future of Democracy
Religion

Religion and Foreign Policy Webinar: The Pope and International Relations

Peter Casarella, professor of theology at Duke Divinity School, and Cecilia González-Andrieu, professor of theological studies at Loyola Marymount University, discuss the geopolitical and cultural influence of the pope, the challenges and opportunities the Catholic Church faces in addressing international issues, and the global religious leadership of Pope Francis.

Webinar by Peter Casarella, Cecilia González-Andrieu and Irina A. Faskianos December 17, 2024 Religion and Foreign Policy Series
India

India Between Superpowers: Strategic Autonomy in the Shadow of a Pacific Conflict

As tensions escalate between the United States and China, India’s long-standing policy of strategic autonomy is increasingly under strain.

Post by Davide Donald December 16, 2024 Asia Unbound
Ukraine

Tighter Sanctions Can Help End the Russia-Ukraine War

Donald Trump has promised to secure a just peace between Russia and Ukraine in his second term. His success or failure will depend on whether the West can give Russia a reason to negotiate in good faith —by mustering the will to tighten sanctions.

Article by Edward Fishman December 13, 2024
China

Where the China-Russia Partnership Is Headed in Seven Charts and Maps

Beijing’s and Moscow’s relationship has strengthened militarily, economically, and diplomatically in the past two decades, demonstrating their commitment to a “no limits” partnership.

Article by Clara Fong and Will Merrow December 12, 2024
Brazil

What Is the BRICS Group and Why Is It Expanding?

As BRICS grows in both membership and global sway, its expansion comes with divisions among its members old and new on how to set the stage for a revised world order.

Backgrounder by Mariel Ferragamo December 12, 2024
Syria

Syrians Plot Transition, Turmoil in Georgia and Romania, UK Joins Trans-Pacific Trade Deal, and More

Syrians begin the early stages of government formation as global and regional powers scramble to devise a strategy for Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad; Georgians protest their government’s postponement of European Union (EU) membership talks as Romanians look for answers following the cancellation of their presidential election results; the United Kingdom (UK) accedes to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership; and China opens an anti-monopoly case against U.S. chipmaker Nvidia.

Podcast with Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins December 12, 2024 The World Next Week