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RAND Europe Commentary

Rebuilding Trust in Global Biosecurity
Global capacity to sequence a new pathogen or deliver a vaccine is greater than ever. But mounting a coordinated response to future biosecurity threats will require a framework designed with geopolitics in mind.
10 Jun 2026
Deterring Russia Beneath the Waves: Securing NATO’s Critical Undersea Infrastructure
The sea is home to an increasingly complex and vulnerable assemblage of data cables, energy pipelines, and electricity interconnectors. How might NATO help deter attacks on this critical underwater infrastructure?
01 Jun 2026
The Race to Mine the Moon Is On—And It Urgently Needs Some Clear International Rules
Binding international agreements—particularly between the great space powers—which emphasise principles of stewardship, clarify access rights, and support common benefits from lunar development would ensure the Moon becomes a proving ground for the equitable and sustainable development of space.
05 Mar 2026
Five Ways Quantum Technology Could Shape Everyday Life
Quantum computing has the potential to shape the future. In what areas might this emerging technology have tangible impacts?
05 Mar 2026
How Russia Is Intercepting Communications from European Satellites
Russia has been secretly stalking European spacecraft since its invasion of Ukraine in 2014. What can Europe do about it?
02 Mar 2026
Europe Is Betting on Biotech—But Success Depends on Demand
The success of the European Biotech Act should ultimately be judged on whether it meets health policy goals and whether patients across Europe can access, afford, and benefit from new therapies.
27 Feb 2026
Grok Isn't a Glitch—It Is a Regulatory Reckoning
From a regulatory perspective, the question is not whether harmful outputs are entirely predictable, but whether platforms have taken reasonable steps to anticipate how conversational design, persistence, and personalisation may increase exposure to misleading or extremist narratives.
09 Feb 2026
New START’s Expiration Will Make the World Less Safe
The expiration of the New START treaty won't trigger an immediate arms race. But without the norms, transparency, and dialogues that the deal fostered, the strategic environment will be more dangerous for everyone.
05 Feb 2026
It’s Time to Treat China’s Connected Energy Systems As a National Security Risk
Chinese batteries, turbines, and solar panels aren’t just hardware anymore—they’re smart, connected systems. That connectivity brings new security risks for importers.
21 Jan 2026
Prospects for Lasting Peace Between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
The peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan is fragile, and the geopolitics of the region are evolving. How might the West help promote a lasting peace in the South Caucasus?
12 Jan 2026
Russia's Military Procurement Is a Warning for Europe
Russia's naval and missile buildup has been informed by its invasion of Ukraine, but the risk extends further. Russia's industrial investments are building a coercive toolkit that explicitly targets European territory.
10 Jan 2026
The EU Needs a Plan for the Age of Strategic Globalization
A new kind of globalization is being shaped by China and the United States. What can Europe do to stay economically and geopolitically relevant?
08 Jan 2026
Small Boats and Shifting Threats: Britain Can't Keep Fighting Yesterday's Battle in the Channel
Unless the UK and its European partners update their approach to Channel crossings in 2026, they risk merely managing arrivals rather than disrupting the criminal systems that drive them.
05 Jan 2026
What Is 'Good' Digital Learning?
What are the keys to ensuring that educational technology is a genuine driver of student improvement?
05 Jan 2026
The World Is Sliding Back into Nuclear Competition
After decades of disarmament following the Cold War, nuclear weapons are regaining significance. What are the implications of this “new nuclear world”?
23 Dec 2025
Platforming Parenting Interventions: A New Repository Can Improve Support for Caregivers Globally
Researchers increasingly highlight the strengthening of caregiving practices as a powerful strategy for advancing child development and well-being. To implement such a strategy, policymakers, funders, and sector professionals need more powerful ways to share knowledge about what sorts of interventions work best.
18 Dec 2025
Turning Policy into Habit: Where the UK's Vision of a Circular Economy May Be Won or Lost
Recycling a yoghurt pot shouldn't feel harder than throwing it away. Yet, for many in the United Kingdom, doing the 'right thing' still takes more effort than the easy thing. For the government's circular economy reforms to succeed, that balance needs to flip—the system itself must make repair, reuse, and recycling feel routine.
17 Dec 2025
The Changing Economic Dimension of Warfare
How can Western militaries and governments better leverage commercial technologies and firms to gain a strategic advantage in modern conflicts?
15 Dec 2025
How Ignoring Non-AI Demand Risks the Electric Grid
Planning for uncertainty is key to building a resilient power grid—one that can keep up with both the rise of AI and the shift toward a decarbonized future.
12 Dec 2025
Electromagnetic Warfare: NATO's Blind Spot Could Decide the Next Conflict
The war in Ukraine has revealed a critical weakness in NATO's defenses: electromagnetic warfare (EW). While Russia dominates this invisible battlespace, Ukraine is learning in combat what the West neglected in training. To close the gap, NATO must quickly build its own EW capabilities or risk falling behind.
24 Nov 2025
Wargaming: The Surprisingly Effective Tool That Can Help Us Prepare for Modern Crises
By revealing gaps, stress points, and unexpected outcomes, wargaming can help decisionmakers plan and respond better when the real thing hits.
21 Nov 2025
Can More British and French Nuclear Cooperation Help Deter Russia?
Enhanced Franco-British nuclear cooperation, coupled with the gradual development of long-range precision strike capabilities, will be central to both reinforcing Europe's deterrent against Russia and reassuring European allies.
17 Nov 2025
Germany's €35 Billion Bet on Military Space Capability
Modern life and national security depend on space, yet satellites remain dangerously exposed to attack. Germany plans to invest €35 billion by 2030 to strengthen its military space capabilities, reduce reliance on others, and safeguard Europe’s role in an increasingly contested domain.
13 Nov 2025
China Is Going to the Moon by 2030. Here's What's Known About the Mission—and Why It Matters
More than 50 years after humans last walked on the Moon, China is moving steadily toward sending astronauts there by 2030. With advanced rockets, a new spacecraft, and a proven record in space, China's mission could rival NASA's and reshape the future rules and power balance beyond Earth.
13 Nov 2025
Turning the Tide on NEET: Global Lessons to Empower UK Youth
By learning from international success stories, the UK can build a system that truly supports young people in their transition from education to employment, sets them on a pathway that's right for them, and improves the UK's economic prosperity.
12 Nov 2025

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