Europe and Eurasia | Council on Foreign Relations

United States

A Conversation With U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield discusses the future of multilateralism and U.S. commitments to reforming the United Nations Security Council to be more inclusive, representative, and legitimate. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Virtual Event by Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Elise Labott September 12, 2024
Defense and Security

Congress’s Funding Battle, Iran Sends Missiles to Russia, Orbán Defies the EU, and More

The U.S. Congress returns from its summer recess to try to pass a budget for federal discretionary programs before the fiscal year ends and avoid a government shutdown; the United States and other Western allies accuse Iran of transferring ballistic missiles to Russia, raising concerns over intensified strikes on Ukraine; Hungary faces a second deadline to pay a $221 million fine for breaking European Union asylum law, which President Viktor Orbán remains unwilling to follow; and China gifts Cambodia two newly built Type 056 corvette warships, raising questions about Beijing’s naval ambitions.

Podcast with Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins September 12, 2024 The World Next Week
United States

Ronald Reagan on U.S. Global Leadership, with Max Boot

Max Boot, the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick senior fellow for national security studies at CFR and a columnist for The Washington Post, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Ronald Reagan’s life and his impact on U.S. foreign policy.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Max Boot September 10, 2024 The President’s Inbox

Experts in this Region

Robert D. Blackwill

Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy

Liana Fix

Fellow for Europe

Thomas Graham

Distinguished Fellow

Charles A. Kupchan

Senior Fellow

Matthias Matthijs

Senior Fellow for Europe

Stephen Sestanovich

George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies

Ukraine

From the Ukraine Conflict to a Secure Europe

Thomas Graham argues that cooperation between European member states, as well as U.S. commitment to its allies in the region, can create a freer, more secure, and more prosperous Europe.

Report by Thomas Graham September 4, 2024 Center for Preventive Action
China Strategy Initiative

China in Europe: August 2024

China and Europe had a busy month, despite the August vacation. A flurry of trade announcements dominated the headlines as the ongoing trade dispute between the EU and China heated up. The coming weeks are likely to only get hotter.

Article by Benjamin Harris August 29, 2024 China Strategy Initiative
Ukraine

The Stakes in Ukraine’s Kursk Offensive, Stopping Mpox Spread, Nuclear Arms Race Returns, and More

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the incursion into Kursk is an important step towards ending the war with Russia, but Ukraine is facing a major test in its own Donbas battlefields; the intensifying mpox outbreak places additional strain on the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding African nations; heightened security tensions spur the United States, keeping nuclear defense planners busy; and the Taliban bans the voices of women and girls in public.

Podcast with Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins August 29, 2024 The World Next Week

Russia

Ukraine’s Attack on Kursk, With Liana Fix

Liana Fix, a fellow for Europe at CFR, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia.

Podcast with James M. Lindsay and Liana Fix August 27, 2024 The President’s Inbox
Georgia

What Georgia’s Foreign Agent Law Means for Its Democracy

Georgia’s new law reflects rising Russian influence in the country and has prompted backlash from the United States and the European Union, which fear it could harm the Caucasus state’s democratic development.

In Brief by Marc Goedemans August 21, 2024
United States

A Conversation With Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) Christopher G. Cavoli

General Cavoli discusses the Euro-Atlantic Partnership, security challenges in the region, Russia's war in Ukraine, and his takeaways from the NATO Summit in Washington.

Event with Christopher G. Cavoli and Ivo H. Daalder August 15, 2024
Ukraine

Ukraine Pushes Into Russia, 2024 DNC Begins, Foreign Hacking Targets Trump and Harris, and More

Ukraine’s surprise incursion of Russia’s Kursk region captures territory and stuns the Kremlin; the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago with concerns of divisions in the party over support for Israel in its war in the Gaza Strip; U.S. intelligence is on high alert after foreign hacking attempts on both former President Donald Trump’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaigns; and Mexico turns down Ukraine’s request for it to uphold warrants to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin by the International Criminal Court.

Podcast with Carla Anne Robbins and Miriam Elder August 15, 2024 The World Next Week
Russia

How the U.S. Can Counter Disinformation From Russia and China

Attempts by Russia, China, and other U.S. adversaries to spread dangerous false narratives need to be countered before they take root.

Expert Brief by Dana S. LaFon August 14, 2024
Norway

Norway: From Mediator to Persecutor of Israel

Norway has abandoned its longstanding neutrality and mediation efforts between Israel and the Palestinians, and instead joined Israel's harshest critics.

Blog Post by Elliott Abrams August 12, 2024 Pressure Points
Demonstrations and Protests

Women This Week: PM Sheikh Hasina Flees Bangladesh Amid Protests

Welcome to “Women Around the World: This Week,” a series that highlights noteworthy news related to women and U.S. foreign policy. This week’s post covers August 3 to August 9.

Blog Post by Noël James August 8, 2024 Women Around the World
Bangladesh

U.S. Presidential Campaign Picks Up, Iran Mulls Retaliation, Bangladesh’s New Government, and More

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, campaign ahead of the party’s convention; world leaders and diplomats reach out to Iran and Israel to head off a wider regional war after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran spurred retaliation threats; Bangladesh prepares an interim government after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country; and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government responds to anti-immigrant riots across the country.

Podcast with Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins August 8, 2024 The World Next Week
United Kingdom

Why a Feminist Foreign Policy

Utilizing an approach that centers on gender equality and gender analysis ensures that policymakers in countries better understand the impact of foreign policy decisions on individuals and every part of a community.

Blog Post by Susan A. Markham and Stephenie Foster July 31, 2024 Women Around the World