Franco-German “sovereign AI” initiative: Europe’s bid for digital autonomy
France and Germany have announced a new strategic partnership with Mistral AI and SAP SE to build what they frame as a sovereign AI infrastructure for public administration. As shown in the chart below, the US and China account for roughly two-thirds of newly funded AI start-ups worldwide. This joint initiative, revealed on 18 November, […]
India’s multi-alignment and the growing partnership with Italy
In the last article, we have commented on whether multilateralism can survive the current Age of Multipolarity. Now, we examine multi-alignment in Indian foreign policy. India’s global weight is rising. It is today the third-largest economy in the world, according to the IMF and the World Bank. The largest economies in the world, according to […]
Europe’s chip race: inside the Dutch Nexperia takeover
On September 30, the Dutch government invoked its rarely used Goods Availability Act to take control of Nexperia, a semiconductor company owned by China’s Wingtech Technology. Officials cited acute governance concerns and risks to Europe’s technological security. What is Nexperia? Nexperia is a leading Dutch semiconductor manufacturer based in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, producing essential chips […]
THE 2025 PAPAL CONCLAVE: Geopolitics and Key Candidates for Pope Francis’ Succession
The death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, marked the beginning of a transition period within the Catholic Church. This transition will culminate with the Papal Conclave set to commence on the next May 7. The vacant papacy not only raises questions about the future of the Church but also carries significant global political […]
CHINA-EU AUTOMOTIVE TRADE WAR: Retaliation Reshapes Europe’s Automotive Sector
As part of the China-EU automotive trade war, Beijing has frozen investments in European countries supporting tariffs. Automakers like Stellantis are forced to reassess production strategies and navigate the growing uncertainties of an escalating trade conflict. The EU’s Tariff Decision and Industry Reactions In late 2024, the European Union imposed tariffs of up to 45% […]
EUROPEAN REARMAMENT: A new era of defense?
The Return of European Rearmament The issue of rearmament has returned with force to the European agenda, driven by a mix of geopolitical, industrial, and institutional factors. After WWII and the Cold War, Western Europe rearmed under NATO to counter the Soviet threat. However, following the fall of the Berlin Wall, military spending sharply declined. […]
TRUMP AIMS FOR GREENLAND
The Trump Administration The Trump II administration is disrupting international and commercial balances with its tariff policies and imperialist statements, first targeting Panama and Mexico. Furthermore Trump aims for Greenland and Canada, speaking of annexation for both. Recently, there has been a formal step back only regarding Canada, as Trump referred to the new Prime […]
FROM CARS TO CHEESE: how new U.S. tariffs could shake transatlantic trade
On April 2, 2025, the United States is set to impose sweeping new tariffs on imports from the European Union. While the administration frames this move as a corrective step against what it perceives as unfair trade practices, the economic consequences could ripple across both sides of the Atlantic, affecting supply chains, costs, and the […]