Relations between the EU and Israel have been deeply strained over the war in Gaza. But the bloc is struggling to withstand the allure of Israel’s tech and missile defense prowess. On today’s show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss how EU capitals are looking again to Israel for cooperation on things like air defense, space and artificial […]
The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, wanted a group of heavyweight former leaders to come up with fresh ideas to address Europe’s defense gaps. Instead, the initiative was killed before it even launched. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart look at why some capitals pushed back — and what the episode says about Kallas’ authority and […]
The tit-for-tat move marks a new escalation in Berlin and Moscow’s worsening diplomatic fight.
After a sweeping victory in the regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) could be in a position to govern the state — putting a far-right party in power in part of Germany for the first time since World War II.  As Europe wakes up to the AfD win, Zoya Sheftalovich and […]
Marine Le Pen's unclear views on Russia and Ukraine are being exploited by her center-right competitors.
At the informal General Affairs Council in Dublin today, the EU’s next 7-year budget is set to dominate the agenda. The talks are still in deadlock over the size of the money pot … but the red lines of various capitals are starting to take shape. On today’s episode, host Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart […]
Senior officials working for the foreign policy chief are sounding out capitals for ideas on how to reform the EEAS without drastic changes to its makeup.
The political center in the European Parliament is looking increasingly fragile. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart look at a proposal from two senior German MEPs for the center-right EPP and the Social Democrats to strike a much more formal deal — as relations between the two groups deteriorate and the far right gains influence. Then: […]
Brussels is getting increasingly worried about its economic relationship with Beijing … but the bloc doesn’t want to bring out the big guns just yet. While the EU already has the infamous ‘trade bazooka’ at its disposal, the Commission is considering a new tool to address Chinese overcapacity and dangerous dependencies. Our colleague Camille Gijs […]
Just days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new “economic D-Day” to choke Iran, the U.S. carried out its first known attack on Iran since July.