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Foreign Policy

  • Did Trump Miscalculate on Iran?

    2026-03-02

    Iran is escalating gradually in this war, whereas the biggest punch from Israel and the United States came right at the beginning. Israel wants to topple the Islamic Republic or at least degrade it to a point that it is no longer a real regional actor. The Middle East is going to be negotiating a new equilibrium for a while, says Ravi Agrawal.

  • The U.S.-Israel War Against Iran Is Not Slowing Down Anytime Soon

    2026-03-02

    U.S. President Donald Trump vows to continue the assault on Iran for as long as it takes. Since Saturday, the United States and Israel have struck more than 2,000 targets in Iran. In response, Tehran has launched a slew of retaliatory attacks.

  • Khamenei Is Dead. Who’s In Charge of Iran?

    2026-03-02

    The killing of Iranian dictator Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by Israel will have profound consequences for the regime and the Iranian people. As supreme leader, Khamenei was Iran’s ultimate authority. The lack of an organized opposition inside and outside of Iran is also a serious obstacle to overthrowing the Islamic Republic.

  • Iran’s Proxies Are Out for Themselves for Now

    2026-03-02

    Hezbollah launched rocket attacks against Israel this past weekend. Two Iran-backed groups in Iraq also expressed readiness to defend Iran. Lebanon needs billions for reconstruction, and that funding won’t come if Hezbollah fights on Iran’s behalf.

  • Pentagon Says Iran War Is ‘Not Iraq,’ but Won’t Rule Out Boots on the Ground

    2026-03-02

    U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a full-throated defense of the United States’ actions in the escalating war with Iran. “We didn’t start this war, but under President [Donald] Trump, we’re finishing it,” he said, accusing Iran of waging a “savage, one-sided war against America”

  • The U.S. War on Iran Rattles Energy Markets

    2026-03-02

    Oil prices jumped significantly on Monday, the third day of the U.S. war on Iran. Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, and essentially did, with tanker traffic nearly stopped. The global oil market is very well supplied, and rising oil demand is not a concern at a time of global wars.

  • Iran, Israel, and the U.S. Are Racing the Clock

    2026-03-02

    U.S. and Israel have overwhelming air superiority, precision-guided munitions, integrated intelligence, and multilayered missile defense systems against Iranian retaliatory strikes. Tehran is pursuing an attritional strategy, attempting to saturate Israeli, U.S., and Gulf air defenses in hopes of depleting interceptor stockpiles.

  • Pakistan and Afghanistan Are Fighting, Too

    2026-03-02

    The U.N. Security Council has called for a cease-fire in the region by the end of the month. The Taliban may be talking tough by vowing to carry out sustained military operations against Pakistan, but they likely don't want all-out war.

  • The United States Is Still Addicted to War

    2026-03-02

    Julian Zelizer: Presidents have learned not to ask the American people to pay for wars. He says the use of force has become too easy and seemingly risk-free for U.S. presidents. President Barack Obama has been criticized for his handling of the Syria crisis.

  • How George W. Bush Created ICE

    2026-03-02

    Senate Democrats have withheld funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The move comes after the deaths of two Americans at the hands of ICE agents. According to one recent poll, 60 percent of Americans believe ICE has gone too far.

Politico

  • mistakenly shot down

    2026-03-02

    U.S. Central Command adds that four Americans have died so far during combat with Iran. Kyiv denounces steps that “whitewash the aggressor’ even as Moscow’s full-scale invasion continues unabated.

  • diplomatic spat is brewing

    2026-03-02

    The government in Nicosia will make a formal diplomatic complaint and didn’t rule out renegotiating the status of British bases in Cyprus. The deployment comes after a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle hit Britain’s airbase at Akrotiri.

  • drone attack

    2026-03-02

    The U.K. government is considering a ban on the use of U.S. military bases in Cyprus. The move is in response to a complaint that the bases are being used to spy on British citizens.

  • Trump’s Iran gamble risks leaving Ukraine as forgotten war

    2026-03-03

    Europeans fear a distracted U.S. will lose interest in pushing Putin toward peace. America depletes stocks of the missiles that Ukraine desperately needs. Europeans fear that the U.K. will be left without the missiles it needs to protect itself.

  • Iran crisis puts EU foreign policy turf war back in spotlight

    2026-03-03

    Ursula von der Leyen won’t travel to Washington for Gaza talks, but Dubravka Šuica will be there. European prosecutor is leading investigation that concerns sales of buildings to the Belgium state in 2024.

  • Why Khamenei’s killing hit Putin where it hurts

    2026-03-03

    Putin may have lost an ally with the death of Khamenei but an oil price shock is good news for the Kremlin. U.S. strikes on Iran will have deepened the Russian president's paranoia, and his desire to win in Ukraine.

  • Germany’s Merz aims to sweet talk Trump on Ukraine and tariffs

    2026-03-03

    Merz will tell the president what he wants to hear on Iran to keep Washington aligned with Europe on Ukraine. The chancellor said his government is in no position to reproach Trump on Iran given Europe’s own failures.

  • Unprepared EU tries to stay out of Middle East war — but can that last?

    2026-03-03

    European affairs ministers from around the bloc were due to arrive in Nicosia on Monday, but the spreading crisis in the Middle East has disrupted flights. Lacking influence with the White House and with Israel, Brussels has been relegated to the role of spectator.

  • Madrid bars US from using Spanish bases to attack Iran

    2026-03-02

    Spain is an outlier among EU countries in its strong condemnation of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez denies that he has a terminal illness after the rumors infiltrated Madrid’s parliament.

  • Ex-Bulgarian President Radev tipped to win general election with new coalition

    2026-03-02

    Brussels has shifted into crisis mode after the U.S.-Israel strikes against Iran. Leaders are trying to use the court’s temporary ruling that they can’t be classified as ‘extremist’

  • Greece sends warships, fighter jets to defend Cyprus after drone strike

    2026-03-02

    The UK government is considering a ban on the use of U.S. military bases in Cyprus. The move is in response to a complaint from the island's government. The U.K. government says the move is necessary to protect the country's sovereignty.

  • World’s money launderers are shifting to crypto, report warns

    2026-03-02

    British experts warn the Islamist group’s use of AI should alarm lawmakers. New report sheds light on lax enforcement of money laundering powered by the tech. The U.K.’S vehicle for cultural and education programming abroad faces massive cuts.

  • Hungary’s Orbán leverages oil price shock from Iran war in his election campaign

    2026-03-02

    The Hungarian leader wants to portray his main rival, Péter Magyar, as a stooge of his traditional bogeymen. EU capitals are particularly annoyed about a Commission promise to ensure ‘equal treatment’ in the legislative process.

  • Macron starts biggest European nuclear shift since Cold War

    2026-03-02

    Paris shifted its tone after two Iranian drones hit a French naval base in the UAE Sunday. The French president pointed to threats from Russia and China as well as changing U.S. defense priorities as reasons for the atomic buildup.

  • UK’s Starmer breaks with Trump on Iran

    2026-03-02

    Former British PM raised concerns with the president in the lead up to Trump’s renewed attacks on the deal. U.S. and Mauritius will hold talks in Port Louis next week.

  • Resist ‘dangerous and socially unacceptable’ age checks for social media, scientists warn

    2026-03-02

    European leaders urge restraint after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran. The strikes targeted facilities in Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said.

  • Furious graduates give UK’s Starmer another reason to be fearful

    2026-03-03

    Gorton and Denton’s new rep has railed against ‘posh boys’ in Westminster. The left-wingers played Reform at its own game — and won. Vast student debts have left Britain's Gen Z in despair.

  • Iran conflict worsens UK defense dilemmas

    2026-03-02

    Europeans fear a distracted U.S. will lose interest in pushing Putin toward peace. America depletes stocks of the missiles that Ukraine desperately needs. FCDO guidance follows American instructions to staff in Israel to depart due to “safety risks’

  • Meeting of EU ministers in Cyprus postponed after drone strike

    2026-03-02

    European affairs ministers from around the bloc were due to arrive in Nicosia on Monday, but the spreading crisis in the Middle East has disrupted flights. Europeans fear a distracted U.S. will lose interest in pushing Putin toward peace.

LRT

  • LRT to boycott Paralympics opening ceremony over Russian, Belarusian participation

    2026-03-02

    LRT said it made the decision in solidarity with public broadcasters in Latvia, Estonia and Finland. IPC decided in late February to allow six Russian and four Belarusian athletes to take part in the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics under their national flags rather than as neutral competitors.

  • Lithuania’s MFA advises additional caution when travelling to Cyprus

    2026-03-02

    Travellers advised to take additional precautionary measures. Two suspected drones heading toward British base were intercepted. UK agreed to allow US to use British military bases for strikes aimed at destroying Iranian missiles and their launch sites.

  • Lithuania considers relocating citizens from the UAE to neighbouring countries

    2026-03-02

    Lithuanian authorities are exploring options to move citizens currently in the United Arab Emirates to neighbouring countries. Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre, said: “Probably the best way is to talk about transporting residents to other countries where flights are less restricted”

  • Vilnius will require ‘Ukrainian card’ for free public transport

    2026-03-02

    Ukrainian refugees in Vilnius will need a valid, personalised card to use the city’s public transport for free starting in September. The card will replace the need for refugees to show a passport or other document each time they use public transport.

  • Vilnius Airport cancels eight flights due to Iran strikes

    2026-03-02

    Eight flights from Vilnius to Dubai and six to Tel Aviv have been cancelled. AirBaltic says it is closely monitoring the situation and will make changes if necessary. The flights are scheduled to resume on March 7.

  • Lithuanian FM critical of EU’s ‘slow’ reaction to US strikes on Iran

    2026-03-02

    Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said the EU should have reacted more swiftly to the offensive launched over the weekend by the United States and Israel against Iran. He called for closer cooperation with Washington to achieve long-term changes in the region.

  • Lithuania to offer internship scholarships for international students

    2026-03-02

    Lithuanian government to offer scholarships to international students. The scholarships will be worth up to $1,000 per year. The scholarship will be available to students from Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

  • Belarusian challenges Lithuania’s residency revocation at human rights court

    2026-03-02

    The woman married a Lithuanian citizen in September 2019 and lived in both Lithuania and Belarus. She worked for 24 years as head of the sales and marketing department at the state television and radio company Grodno. Lithuanian authorities cited her long-term employment as part of their assessment.

  • Iran war likely to cause inflation bump in Lithuania – economist

    2026-03-02

    Lithuania’s annual inflation rate reached a preliminary 3.2% in February. Rising energy prices linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East could push it higher in the coming months, an economist said.

  • No plans to evacuate Lithuanian citizens from Middle East – MFA

    2026-03-02

    Lithuania’s foreign minister says authorities are not currently considering an evacuation of Lithuanian citizens from the region. “I can say today that there are no plans to activate evacuation or repatriation procedures, but all mechanisms on the European Union side are prepared for that,” Kęstutis Budrys said. He added that he has discussed ensuring the safety of Lithuanians.

  • Lithuanian officials divided over backing US critical minerals plan

    2026-03-02

    Lithuanian PM says he will not wait for European Commission decision. He says he wants to work with the US to fight China's dominance of rare earths. The EU is considering a joint action plan with the U.S. on the issue.

📊 VoxEU

  • AI and the distribution of income between capital and labour

    2026-03-03

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping production systems and raising concerns about the future of work. Regions with more intense AI patenting tend to experience a decline in the labour share of income, especially in areas with a strong industrial base. Tax systems must adapt to the shifting balance between labour and capital.

  • Fiscal drag in Europe: How inflation is quietly affecting public revenue

    2026-03-03

    Post‑pandemic inflation surge and energy price shock that followed Russia’s aggression against Ukraine led to a rapid increase in nominal incomes across Europe. In progressive personal income tax systems defined in nominal terms, this can raise effective tax rates even when real earnings are unchanged.

FT Markets

✍ Blogs

Paul Krugman

  • War, Oil and the World Economy

    2026-03-02

    The world economy looks less vulnerable to instability in Iran now than it did in 1979. The 1979 oil shock hit an economy that was already suffering from persistently high inflation. Major economies are much less dependent on oil than they were in the 1970s.

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