Emmanuel Macron will present France’s nuclear doctrine on Monday. The focus will be on opportunities for cooperation with key European partners, as conventional systems take on a growing role in French doctrine.
By Gabriel Bub
Following ratification by Uruguay and Argentina, the EU has provisionally implemented the free trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc. However, its provisional application has sparked controversial reactions in Europe.
By Antonia Zimmermann
The Swiss President is coming to Brussels to sign a new package of agreements on bilateral relations with Ursula von der Leyen. Switzerland will align itself with EU law and, in return, gain access to the internal electricity market, among other things.
By Stephan Israel
Friedrich Merz talks up a European China policy, but mainly means bilateral alignment with France and the UK. The EU plays little role – underscoring growing strategic disunity. For high-level EU–China engagement in 2026, no dates have been set so far.
By Helene Bubrowski, Antonia Zimmermann and Amelie Richter
China is responding cautiously to US strikes in Iran, even though Iran is an important strategic partner. Reactions inside China and across the Chinese diaspora vary widely.
By Fabian Kretschmer
Israel and the United States are preparing for days of airstrikes against Iranian military facilities and government sites. Whether the population turns against the regime in Tehran as a result remains unclear.
By Markus Bickel
South Africa’s market for new cars is growing. However, this provides little cause for optimism among local manufacturers, as growth is driven primarily by rising imports. Volkswagen is now increasing pressure on the government to act and protect its industrial base.
By David Renke
The Federal Chancellery is aiming not only to strengthen the powers of the Federal Intelligence Service, but to change oversight of the service. The opposition and experts are calling for greater transparency.
By Wilhelmine Stenglin
Terrorism is spreading ever further south from the Sahel. Attacks are primarily carried out by groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS). However, another actor is repeatedly emerging – though its real influence remains disputed among analysts.
By Lucia Weiß
Germany’s Economy Ministry is planning to end the feed-in tariff for small solar systems. Instead, utility-scale ground-mounted PV is to be expanded more strongly. Whether that keeps the 22-gigawatt expansion target within reach is, however, doubtful.
By Malte Kreutzfeldt and Nico Beckert
