> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://middlepowers.fyi/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# The Middle Powers at a Glance

> Week of February 23, 2026

<Note>
  Top story per country this week, ranked by coverage volume. Select a story to visit the full country summary, or a region name to visit the region overview.
</Note>

## [Frontline and Eastern Europe](/briefs/2026-03-01/frontline-eastern-europe)

*Domestic politics are threatening democratic institutions and defense commitments across four NATO allies.*

<Card title="Ukraine" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/ua.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/frontline-eastern-europe#ukraine" horizontal>
  Budanov appointed as head of Presidential Office, outlines negotiation strategy and Russian empire dissolution
</Card>

<Card title="Lithuania" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/lt.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/frontline-eastern-europe#lithuania" horizontal>
  Ignitis Group reports strong 2025 results, sells stake in Vilnius plant
</Card>

<Card title="Latvia" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/lv.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/frontline-eastern-europe#latvia" horizontal>
  Prime Minister and President lead commemoration of fourth anniversary of war against Ukraine
</Card>

<Card title="Finland" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/fi.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/frontline-eastern-europe#finland" horizontal>
  President visits Ukraine and Paris, promotes narrative of Ukraine winning the war
</Card>

<Card title="Poland" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/pl.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/frontline-eastern-europe#poland" horizontal>
  Prime Minister defends SAFE program with 'zakute łby' comment, faces ethics backlash
</Card>

<Card title="Czech Republic" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/cz.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/frontline-eastern-europe#czech-republic" horizontal>
  Speaker invited to Václav Moravec TV show after nine-year absence
</Card>

<Card title="Romania" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/ro.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/frontline-eastern-europe#romania" horizontal>
  Ciolacu launches sustained attack on PM Bolojan amid Social Democratic Party internal tensions
</Card>

<Card title="Estonia" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/ee.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/frontline-eastern-europe#estonia" horizontal>
  Foreign Minister sparks controversy by stating Estonia open to hosting NATO nuclear weapons
</Card>

## [Western Europe](/briefs/2026-03-01/western-europe)

*European allies split over US-Israeli Iran strikes while governing parties faced domestic crises from Macron's historic disapproval ratings to Labour's third-place by-election finish.*

<Card title="United Kingdom" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/gb.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/western-europe#united-kingdom" horizontal>
  Green Party delivers historic by-election victory, pushing Labour to third place in Gorton and Denton
</Card>

<Card title="Germany" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/de.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/western-europe#germany" horizontal>
  Chancellor conducts first China visit, meets Xi Jinping amid trade tensions
</Card>

<Card title="Spain" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/es.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/western-europe#spain" horizontal>
  Government declassifies 23-F coup documents revealing Superior Center for Defense Information agent involvement and new details
</Card>

<Card title="Norway" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/no.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/western-europe#norway" horizontal>
  King hospitalized in Spain with infection, discharged after treatment
</Card>

<Card title="France" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/fr.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/western-europe#france" horizontal>
  President to deliver major nuclear deterrence doctrine speech at submarine base
</Card>

<Card title="Italy" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/it.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/western-europe#italy" horizontal>
  US-Israel attack Iran as Italian military personnel in Kuwait base hit by missiles
</Card>

<Card title="Sweden" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/se.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/western-europe#sweden" horizontal>
  Russian drone intercepted near French aircraft carrier in Malmö
</Card>

## [Asia-Pacific](/briefs/2026-03-01/asia-pacific)

*US allies in Asia-Pacific split over Iran but boosted militaries in the same week, showing an alliance built on separate deals rather than joint planning.*

<Card title="Taiwan" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/tw.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/asia-pacific#taiwan" horizontal>
  TSMC hits \$2 trillion market cap amid AI chip surge and expansion plans
</Card>

<Card title="Indonesia" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/id.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/asia-pacific#indonesia" horizontal>
  Central bank opens currency exchange service for Ramadan and Eid
</Card>

<Card title="Japan" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/jp.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/asia-pacific#japan" horizontal>
  Emperor marks 66th birthday with disaster remembrance focus
</Card>

<Card title="South Korea" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/kr.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/asia-pacific#south-korea" horizontal>
  Former President Yoon Suk-yeol appeals life sentence for insurrection
</Card>

<Card title="Australia" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/au.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/asia-pacific#australia" horizontal>
  Angus Taylor rises to Liberal leadership, faces early polling challenges
</Card>

## [Near East and South Asia](/briefs/2026-03-01/near-east-south-asia)

*Iran's missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE forced both countries to abandon rapprochement efforts with Tehran and coordinate their defense response despite recent bilateral tensions.*

<Card title="United Arab Emirates" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/ae.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/near-east-south-asia#united-arab-emirates" horizontal>
  Iran launches major missile and drone assault on UAE in response to US-Israeli strikes, killing 3
</Card>

<Card title="India" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/in.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/near-east-south-asia#india" horizontal>
  Prime Minister makes historic Israel visit, addresses Knesset amid regional tensions
</Card>

<Card title="Turkey" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/tr.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/near-east-south-asia#turkey" horizontal>
  President celebrates 72nd birthday amid domestic and international congratulations
</Card>

<Card title="Saudi Arabia" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/sa.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/near-east-south-asia#saudi-arabia" horizontal>
  Iran launches retaliatory strikes against Saudi Arabia and Gulf states following US-Israeli attacks
</Card>

## [The Americas](/briefs/2026-03-01/the-americas)

*American countries split four ways when responding to strikes on Iran, with Canada backing the action as a Western partner, Mexico advocating diplomacy, Brazil condemning as a BRICS member, and Chile criticising both sides.*

<Card title="Canada" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/ca.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/the-americas#canada" horizontal>
  Prime Minister launches major trade mission to India, Australia and Japan seeking to diversify from US
</Card>

<Card title="Mexico" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/mx.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/the-americas#mexico" horizontal>
  National Defense Secretariat kills Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader 'El Mencho' in operation with US intelligence support
</Card>

<Card title="Chile" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/cl.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/the-americas#chile" horizontal>
  US sanctions Chilean officials over proposed Chinese submarine cable, sparks diplomatic crisis
</Card>

<Card title="Brazil" icon="https://flagcdn.com/w40/br.png" href="/briefs/2026-03-01/the-americas#brazil" horizontal>
  Finance Minister accepts President's invitation to run for São Paulo governor after months of resistance
</Card>