The negotiations on the EU budget for the years 2028 to 2034 are entering a critical phase. The Commission had presented a draft budget of about two trillion euros which has immediately come under fire from the net contributors – Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria. The Irish EU presidency has now proposed a new budget for around 160 billion euros less as a compromise.

US President Donald Trump has struck a diesel deal with Russian leader Vladimir Putin while the EU is struggling to reach a consensus on the next package of sanctions against Moscow. At the same time, voices within the EU are increasingly calling into question aid for Ukraine. Commentators ask how Europe should position itself to find an appropriate response.

The scandal-hit US Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, has resigned at Donald Trump's request amid allegations that she suggested in Athens that Washington could topple governments in the region if they refused to buy expensive US liquefied natural gas. Shortly afterwards, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan's government in Romania collapsed.

After a week of attacks on airports and industrial facilities in Saudi Arabia, the Iran-backed Houthi militia is threatening further escalation. Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognised government in Yemen, which is fighting the Houthi. The US and the Mecca Alliance have so far been cautious in showing support for Riyadh.