Few countries have been as profoundly affected by the attacks of October 7th and the subsequent Gaza war as Germany. This is not merely a political controversy. It reflects a deeper structural problem: German-Israel policy has long rested on two guiding principles—a particular historical responsibility toward Israel derived from the Holocaust, and a firm commitment to universalist norms, above all international law and human rights.

Geopolitical risk has established itself, within the space of a few years, as a central variable in corporate strategy.

In April 2023, The Economist published an article pointing to the vast amounts of electricity infrastructure needed to reach energy transition goals. 

For what may be its most significant stress test since the end of the Cold War, European deterrence is under strain. Russia’s war against Ukraine has demonstrated Moscow’s willingness to use force and its ability to combine conventional operations with nuclear signalling, coercive rhetoric, and hybrid actions. At the same time, the gradual deterioration of transatlantic relations has revived concerns about the reliability of extended deterrence.

Germany is facing fundamental challenges to its economic and social model and is seeking a new course. The German post-war model was hugely successful, leading to economic strength and prosperity over many decades, but now it is steadily faltering. The previously latent fear of deindustrialization is becoming more concrete, particularly due to the weakening of a key sector: the automotive industry.

The nomination of researchers Alain Aspect and Michel Devoret for the 2022 and 2025 Nobel Prizes in Physics, for their work in quantum physics, attests to the enduring vitality of French and European research in this field. While the deployment of technologies stemming from the second quantum revolution is still in its infancy, one might think that strategic patience is called for, and that we must wait for the proliferation of basic research to give way to innovations ready for deployment. That would be a serious mistake, given that the potential for profound transformation inherent in the quantum sector is directly linked to states and organizations’ strategic autonomy.

Over the past two years, Spain has emerged as one of the most vocal countries in supporting the Palestinian cause. While Madrid initially aligned with the prevailing European position, recognizing Israel’s right to self-defense after the 7 October attacks, it soon distinguished itself from most European Union (EU) Member States by questioning and later condemning Israel’s conduct of war in Gaza.

After Albania and Denmark in 2025, it will be Armenia’s turn to host the next summit of the European Political Community (EPC). As Yerevan gets ready to welcome the leaders of more than 40 European countries, the location of the summit in the heart of the South Caucasus draws attention to the geopolitical significance of the format, launched in Prague in 2022.