Western Europe

FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Portugal’s shift to the right is accelerating. What does that mean for its future?

New Atlanticist Oct 2, 2024

A man in a hurry: Keir Starmer’s early approach is making waves at home and abroad

By Ed Owen

The new UK prime minister’s much-anticipated speech at the Labour Party’s recent gathering in Liverpool is a window into where the country may be headed.

Economy & Business Elections

New Atlanticist Oct 2, 2024

Three state elections have backed Germany into a corner

By Jurek Wille and Friedrich Conradi

The recent successes of populist parties in Germany’s state elections could signal an imminent shift in Berlin’s policies on climate, immigration, and aid for Ukraine.

Elections Germany

New Atlanticist Sep 26, 2024

France’s new government aims to calm the political storm. What will it mean for foreign policy?

By Léonie Allard, Jean-Loup Samaan

Prime Minister Michel Barnier is likely to follow the path of President Emmanuel Macron, but the big question is whether the delicate political context in Paris will allow ministers to focus on crises in Ukraine and Lebanon.

Europe & Eurasia France

EVENTS

Public Event Tue, May 6, 2025 • 12:30 pm ET

Belgium’s defense minister on Europe’s evolving security landscape

Europe & Eurasia NATO Security & Defense Western Europe

Online Event Tue, May 6, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

What to expect from Germany’s next government

Elections Europe & Eurasia European Union Germany

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Underwater mayhem: Countering NATO energy & critical infrastructure threats

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance Europe & Eurasia European Union

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Content

New Atlanticist

May 20, 2025

Portugal’s shift to the right is accelerating. What does that mean for its future?

By Andrew Bernard

The center-right Democratic Alliance won the May 18 election, while the far-right Chega party continued its rise. With the main center-left party losing seats, there is now an absolute majority on the right.

Elections European Union

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2025

Can the EU-UK summit lead to a new post-Brexit partnership?

By Ed Owen

With shared challenges at home and abroad, the United Kingdom and European Union have an opportunity to renew their trade and security ties.

Defense Industry Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

May 13, 2025

How much longer will Putin be allowed to continue stalling for time?

By Peter Dickinson

President Trump has made a legitimate effort to broker a generous peace, but the time has now come to acknowledge that Putin is not negotiating in good faith and will only respond to the language of strength, writes Peter Dickinson.

France Germany

UkraineAlert

May 13, 2025

Drone superpower: Ukrainian wartime innovation offers lessons for NATO

By David Kirichenko

Today’s Ukraine is now a drone superpower with an innovative domestic defense industry that can provide its NATO allies with important lessons in the realities of twenty-first century warfare, writes David Kirichenko.

Conflict Defense Industry

In the News

May 13, 2025

Ullman in the Hill on the United Kingdom’s “defense dividend” and hybrid Russian aggression

On May 12, Atlantic Council Senior Advisor Harlan Ullman published an op-ed in the Hill urging the United Kingdom and its Western allies to build greater capacity to respond to future Russian hybrid attacks. He argues that, without public support, governments will struggle to meaningfully increase defense spending and counter malign influence.

Politics & Diplomacy Russia

In the News

May 9, 2025

Lipsky interviewed by CNBC on the limited scope of the US-UK trade deal

Watch the full interview

Economy & Business International Markets

New Atlanticist

May 6, 2025

Is Merz’s double-take chancellor vote a sign of things to come in Germany?

By Jörn Fleck and Jurek Wille

It took two rounds of voting in the Bundestag to elect Friedrich Merz chancellor, a sign of division unprecedented in modern German history.

Defense Policy Elections

New Atlanticist

May 2, 2025

France’s foreign minister on Europe’s role in the ‘new era of multilateralism’

By Daniel Hojnacki

Jean-Noël Barrot laid out his vision of European strategic autonomy and cautioned Washington against pulling back from the multilateral system it helped build.

Economy & Business European Union

Transcript

May 1, 2025

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on US tariffs, European security, and risks from Russia, China, and Iran

By Atlantic Council

At an Atlantic Council Front Page event, Barrot said that if China wants to establish a "trusted relationship" with European countries, "it will have to show also that it takes our security interests into account."

European Union France

In the News

Apr 28, 2025

Lipsky’s interview with Bank of England’s Megan Greene featured in Reuters on the implications of US tariffs on UK inflation

Read the full article

Economy & Business International Markets

Experts

Staff

Torrey Taussig

Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia