Tag: Germany

When Volodymyr Zelenskyy walked into the White House couple weeks ago, he did not come alone. At his side stood a striking entourage: French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. The photo op was no accident. It was a carefully constructed display of solidarity — a demonstration that Europe, in its many forms and factions, is prepared to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine. With Washington debating the scope of America’s role, Zelenskyy’s escorts reminded all parties that Ukraine’s survival and Europe’s stability are inseparable…

At a time when domestic political turmoil seemed to engulf his second term, Emmanuel Macron is experiencing a remarkable political resurrection. His approval rating has jumped from 24 percent in March to 31 percent in April — a phenomenon whose origins lie not in domestic successes but in an unexpected international circumstance: Donald Trump’s hostility toward NATO has suddenly transformed Macron’s long-ridiculed vision of European strategic autonomy into a lucid premonition…

2024 is the year of elections…for most voters, “It’s the economy, stupid” may reign supreme…these are 10 bellwether economies to watch in 2024…

Whether an internationalist or isolationist approach, there are some alliances that will be strategically vital with five countries being at the top of that list…

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is quietly doing her share to help Italy and greater Europe with little applause…

Recent legislation in the U.S. and Europe (and a war in Ukraine) is accelerating energy transition. Yet, the overhaul of policy requires significant change in other aspects of the economic system and individual livelihoods – in particular, the limited resources of metals and rare earth elements, water and land become significantly more important.

Everyone knows economists have a poor track record of predicting recessions. Yet, it is hard to ignore the growing consensus among economists that the combination of inflation and interest rate hikes alongside tempered Chinese demand and US economic uncertainty could be the perfect storm for a global recession.

Those same economists, however, disagree on the depth and length of a potential recession as well as the underlying indicators that will answer their questions. Thus, instead of agreeing on a list of indicators, let’s focus on some countries that could be bellwethers for changing headwinds in 2023…

Europe is facing an energy crisis that threatens its ability to phase out coal by 2030…

The U.S. will have to engage European countries on where their relations are on January 20, 2021 (inauguration day) versus where U.S. relations were with each country back in 2016. And, as expected, relations with some countries are warmer than with others after the past four years. With that in mind, Biden will have to assess U.S. relations with the three biggest European economies (UK, France, and Germany) and push those relationships forward as a signal to other European countries on what a Biden administration represents to (and expects from) the larger European region…