The European Geopolitical Forum's Geopolitical Trends (Issues 30 & 31, Winter & Spring 2026) analyzes three defining shifts reshaping the international order: the regional fallout from the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, Europe's search for a viable endgame in Ukraine, and the evolving strategic competition between the United States and China. Authored by Dr. George Vlad Niculescu, Head of Research at the European Geopolitical Forum, the report traces how the Iran conflict has ero

On February 23, 2026, Rob Jetten was sworn in as Prime Minister of the Netherlands, ending a turbulent period during which Dutch credibility within the European Union had taken a serious hit. His predecessor, Dick Schoof, led a coalition dominated by Geert Wilders’ far-right PVV (Partij voor de Vrijheid or Party of Freedom), a party whose leader publicly called the EU a 'monster' and whose presence in government, as one diplomat bluntly put it, contributed to a perception tha

On February 13th, 2026, Moldova President Maia Sandu posted on X: “Good meeting with @SecGenNATO. We discussed strengthening Moldova’s resilience against hybrid threats and advancing cooperation to keep our citizens safe. Our long-standing partnership with @NATO helps protect democracy and contributes to regional security.” The deepening of security and defense ties with the European Union has become central to Moldova's EU accession ambitions, alongside expanded engagement w

Between 2022 and 2026, political discourse across Europe has become more assertive and security-focused in the wake of Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This shift is particularly evident when applying critical discourse analysis (CDA) to the public messaging of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Her speeches, official statements, and digital communications have placed independence, defense, security, and competitiveness at the cent