Europe Center Commentary & Analysis

‘We still need to fight for democracy.’ Latvia’s prime minister on defending against Russian aggression.

By Daniel Hojnacki

Speaking at the Atlantic Council, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa discussed Latvia’s approach to bolstering security on NATO’s eastern flank.

A geopolitical European Commission is a must for 2025 and beyond

By James Batchik, Stuart Jones

The next European Commission president will need to prioritize the bloc’s defense transformation and economic security.

With Operation Aspides, Europe is charting its own course in and around the Red Sea

By Léonie Allard, Cinzia Bianco, and Mathieu Droin

The main distinction with the US-UK approach is that the EU operation does not envision any participation in strikes against the Houthis.

Your primer on Portugal’s parliamentary elections

By Andrew Bernard

Portugal will head to the polls on March 10 for snap parliamentary elections following Prime Minister António Costa’s November 2023 resignation and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s subsequent decision to proceed with new elections.

Don’t let the ‘boots on the ground’ debate obscure the progress France is making on Ukraine

By Léonie Allard

Too much focus on the French president’s speculative comments about a potential Western military presence in Ukraine is a distraction from the concrete steps that European leaders made in Paris to support Kyiv. 

It’s Italy’s time to cement itself as the indispensable Mediterranean nation

By Kaush Arha, Paolo Messa

Italy is poised to be Europe’s linchpin for connecting the free and open economies of the Med-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific.

After 14 years in opposition, what might a Labour foreign policy look like?

By Francis Shin

UK Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy outlined a doctrine of "progressive realism" drawing on the Labour Party's past.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski: ‘Helping Ukraine is not only a good deed. It’s also a good deal.’ 

By Radosław Sikorski

The United States must continue to back Ukraine and deepen its alliances to stop Putin's aggression and prevent a wider global conflict.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski on how the West must stand up to Russia’s aggression

Sikorski joined the Atlantic Council to outline his government's priorities and discuss ways the West can stop dictators—such as Vladimir Putin—from shaping the world order.

It’s Swe-done: What’s next for NATO now that Hungary has approved Sweden’s bid to join

By Atlantic Council experts

Hungary’s parliament has ratified Sweden’s accession to NATO, the final approval needed. Atlantic Council experts share their insights on the about-to-be thirty-two member Alliance.