Regional Summary
The Fraying Centre When democratic governments lose the argument at home and abroad at once, they do not collapse—they hedge, and the hedging accelerates the fragmentation they hope to contain. Britain shows this most clearly. Keir Starmer, the prime minister, faces pressure from every direction. The Green Party’s win in Gorton and Denton—a northern English seat Labour had held for generations—shows realignment, not protest: the Greens took 41% while Labour fell to third. Several Labour MPs plan to defect, showing how deep the split runs. Yet Mr Starmer cannot turn to protect his supporters because the Iran crisis pulls him abroad. His refusal to let America use British bases for strikes drew a rebuke from Donald Trump, then a conciliatory phone call about reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The Bank of England has shelved rate cuts as oil prices climb past $119. A prime minister who cannot hold his own seats, his ally, or his central bank is not governing—he is arbitrating between crises. Spain shows what happens when a leader chooses confrontation abroad to win peace at home. Pedro Sánchez, the prime minister, discovered that his “No to War” stance won praise from Hamas and the Houthis—an endorsement no NATO government would normally welcome—but helped his Socialists beat expectations in Castilla y León. Mr Sánchez has learned that defying Washington pays at home. But he cannot keep this up for free: his foreign minister skipped the king’s trip to Chile after internal fights about how far to push the confrontation, and the government depends on Catalan separatists blocking the regional budget over tax-collection powers. A foreign policy designed to win over supporters does not fix the underlying problems. Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor, faces the opposite problem: he wants to challenge Washington selectively while pretending his party has not quietly broken its own rules. His criticism of America’s decision to ease Russian oil sanctions—the sharpest yet from a German Chancellor—made him look like a European willing to dissent. But leaked European Parliament chats show his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) working with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) on migration legislation, thanking AfD colleagues for “excellent cooperation” even as the CDU claims its barrier against the far right holds. In Baden-Württemberg, the AfD nearly doubled its vote despite corruption, with 29% of its voters knowing about the graft and backing the party anyway. Mr Merz’s hedging—confronting America when convenient, accommodating the far right when useful—captures how the centre borrows from the extremes it claims to oppose. France and Italy show how external shocks expose brittle coalitions. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, lost a soldier in Iraq to an Iran-linked militia, called the attack “unacceptable,” and ruled out hitting back—which looks restrained to some, weak to others. His left flank is falling apart as Socialists threaten to break with Jean-Luc Mélenchon over antisemitism, while Jordan Bardella’s National Rally uses wins in local elections to court centre-right alliances it once could not get. In Rome, Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, faces a referendum on her judicial reform that polls suggest she will lose, even as her two main coalition partners disagree over whether to follow Mr Trump on Russian oil sanctions. Neither leader can resolve their domestic contradictions because the Iran crisis demands constant attention, and neither can resolve the Iran crisis because their domestic coalitions will not let them act decisively. The Nordic countries show the most careful version of this hedging. Jonas Gahr Støre, Norway’s prime minister, hosted a summit that rejected American calls for military involvement in Iran while affirming NATO membership—threading a needle between defiance and loyalty. Sweden’s Liberals quietly ended their refusal to govern alongside the Sweden Democrats, completing the far right’s move into the mainstream. Even Sweden’s central bank urged citizens to keep cash at home and reduce dependence on American payment networks. These are careful shifts, each moving the boundary of what is acceptable just enough to manage the next crisis. Governments of left and right, in large countries and small, discover they can neither satisfy their domestic bases nor meet their international commitments, so they split the difference—hedging on alliances, hedging on the far right, hedging on economic pain. The result is not stability but the slow erosion of the commitments that once made hedging unnecessary. When every government is buying time, no government is setting direction.Country Summaries
United Kingdom
The Green Party won its first by-election, taking a traditional Labour seat in northern England as several government MPs consider defecting to the Greens.
Hannah Spencer took Gorton and Denton with 40.7% of the vote, beating Reform UK into second place and pushing Labour into third with just 25.4%. The result marked the Greens’ first northern England seat and first by-election victory in the party’s history. Zack Polanski, the Green leader, confirmed that several Labour MPs are in talks about switching sides and seeking assurances about their seats. The defeat in what was once a Labour stronghold suggests a major electoral shift not seen since the 1990s.
Even as his party fragments at home, Mr Starmer faces a second crisis with Mr Trump over the Iran war. The prime minister called the American president about reopening the Strait of Hormuz ‘to end disruption to global shipping’ as the conflict enters its tenth day. Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, said Britain was considering all options including working with allies and contributing mine-hunting drones. The call came after Mr Starmer initially refused to allow America to use British bases for strikes on Iran, provoking public criticism from Mr Trump.
The diplomatic friction is now threatening state protocol. The Liberal Democrats called for King Charles to cancel his planned April state visit to America, with Ed Davey, their leader, saying it would hand Mr Trump a ‘huge diplomatic coup’ and should not go to someone who ‘repeatedly insults and damages our country.’ Polling shows nearly half of Britons want the visit scrapped.
Opposition leaders are changing course as public support for military involvement wanes. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, reversed course to say Britain should ‘not get involved’ in the Iran war after initially supporting regime change. At prime minister’s questions, Kemi Badenoch clashed with Mr Starmer, who accused the Conservative leader of a massive U-turn over Iran policy. Ms Badenoch denied calling for Britain to join the war but maintained support for US-Israeli actions.
The Mandelson scandal continues to damage the government’s reputation for competence. Documents show Mr Starmer was warned of damage to his reputation over Peter Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him US ambassador. Files reveal Lord Mandelson requested £547,000 severance but received £75,000, and that the prime minister’s national security adviser called the appointment ‘weirdly rushed.’ Mr Starmer had previously accused Lord Mandelson of lying during the vetting process.
The Iran crisis is also disrupting economic policy. The Bank of England is now expected to hold interest rates at 3.75% rather than cut them, as oil prices above $119 raise inflation fears. Markets are pricing in possible rate hikes this year, reversing expectations of further cuts. Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, said all options were open for support for households hit by energy price spikes, though she stopped short of major interventions.
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- Starmer’s Iran war stance strains US-UK special relationship with Trump — Prime Minister Starmer refused to support initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran, leading to public criticism from Trump and concerns about the special relationship. Starmer later spoke with Trump and allowed defensive operations from UK bases while maintaining Britain would not be drawn into wider conflict. (bbc.com)
- Starmer admits mistake appointing Mandelson as US ambassador despite Epstein warnings — Documents revealed PM Starmer was warned about Peter Mandelson’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him US ambassador. Starmer later admitted his ‘mistake’ and fired Mandelson in September 2025, with questions remaining about the vetting process and whether Starmer misled Parliament. (nytimes.com)
- Kemi Badenoch faces accusations of confusion over Iran war stance at PMQs — Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch clashed with Starmer at PMQs over Iran policy, with Starmer accusing her of performing ‘the mother of all U-turns’ after she appeared to step back from earlier calls for UK involvement in US-Israeli strikes. Badenoch denied calling for UK to join the war but maintained support for US-Israeli actions. (theguardian.com)
- King Charles expresses concern about Alberta separatism in meeting with Indigenous leaders — King Charles met with First Nations chiefs from Canada who informed him about the Alberta separatist movement and its threat to treaty rights. The King expressed concern and asked questions about the issue, with chiefs formally inviting him to attend Treaty Six commemorations in August. (bbc.com)
Notes
Notes
Starmer's Iran war stance strains US-UK special relationship with Trump
February 15 – March 15, 2026
Starmer admits mistake appointing Mandelson as US ambassador despite Epstein warnings
February 15 – March 12, 2026
Bank of England to replace Churchill with wildlife on banknotes, sparking political backlash
March 11–15, 2026
Nigel Farage performs U-turn on Iran war stance as Reform faces council tax backlash
March 9–10, 2026
Rachel Reeves considers energy support measures as Iran war drives up costs
February 22 – March 13, 2026
Bank of England faces inflation risks as Iran war disrupts rate cut plans
February 22 – March 13, 2026
John Healey announces UK military deployments to Middle East amid Iran conflict
February 22 – March 13, 2026
King Charles expresses concern about Alberta separatism in meeting with Indigenous leaders
February 22 – March 13, 2026
Other
Spain
Hamas and Houthis praised Spain’s foreign policy this week, calling Spain’s downgrading of the Israeli ambassador a ‘noble position’ that shows ‘solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran.’ The endorsement was unprecedented: a NATO member had won applause from designated terrorist organisations.
Spain’s defiance of American pressure over Iran is splitting its own government. José Manuel Albares, the foreign minister, cancelled his participation in King Felipe VI’s trip to Chile for the inauguration of José Antonio Kast, leaving the monarch to represent Spain alone. The government disagrees over how long it can sustain its confrontation with Washington. Pedro Sánchez will explain Spain’s ‘No to War’ stance to Congress on March 25.
The first electoral test of this foreign policy rebellion shows it is working domestically. In Castilla y León, the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) gained two seats and beat expectations, reaching 30 seats despite predictions of losses. Party sources credited the result to mobilisation around Mr Sánchez’s anti-war stance and higher turnout in key provinces. Alfonso Fernández Mañueco of the People’s Party (PP) won with 35.46% but remains short of an absolute majority and still needs Vox support.
Vox itself is in crisis. The party fell short of its 20% target, managing just 18.9%, while Santiago Abascal purged co-founder Javier Ortega Smith and other regional leaders who challenged his control. Mr Ortega Smith accused Mr Abascal of running the party like a personal fiefdom controlled by ‘four individuals’ and filed a data protection complaint. He will keep his congressional seat.
Meanwhile, Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) continues blocking Salvador Illa’s Catalan budget until Madrid transfers income tax collection to the Catalan tax agency. The March 20 deadline approaches with negotiations focused on expanding the tax agency by 400 agents by 2026 and 700 by 2027. The National Intelligence Centre (CNI) is investigating how personal data of hundreds of judges and prosecutors appeared on the dark web under the title ‘Fuck Spain.’
Other Stories
Other Stories
- Spain’s ‘No to War’ stance on Iran conflict creates tensions with US and Trump — Pedro Sánchez maintains Spain’s ‘No a la guerra’ position regarding the Iran conflict, prohibiting US use of Spanish military bases for strikes on Iran and drawing criticism from Trump while gaining international support. Mr Sánchez is scheduled to appear in Congress on March 25 to explain Spain’s position. (bloomberg.com)
- King Felipe VI conducts diplomatic tour of Portugal, Chile and Bolivia as government ministers skip events — King Felipe VI attends presidential inaugurations in Portugal (António José Seguro) and Chile (José Antonio Kast) as part of a multi-country diplomatic tour. Foreign Minister Albares cancels his participation in Chile trip, leaving the King to represent Spain alone at key events. (abc.es)
- Government creates HODIO tool to measure hate and polarization online — Pedro Sánchez announces creation of HODIO (Huella del Odio y la Polarización), a new government tool designed to measure and combat hate speech and polarisation on social media platforms. Critics question its implications for free speech. (diariodenavarra.es)
- Yolanda Díaz travels to Oscars amid government crisis negotiations — Yolanda Díaz, the deputy prime minister, travels to Los Angeles to attend the Academy Awards ceremony representing the Spanish government, drawing criticism for the timing amid Iran war crisis and internal government tensions over economic measures. (efe.com)
- Minor parties seek to reform Congress rules to guarantee parliamentary groups — Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), Together for Catalonia (Junts), We Can (Podemos), Commitment Coalition (Compromís) and Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) register a proposal to reform Congress regulations, lowering the thresholds required to form parliamentary groups from 5% to 3% nationally and from 15% to 10% regionally to avoid relegation to Mixed Group. (europapress.es)
Notes
Notes
King Felipe VI conducts diplomatic tour of Portugal, Chile and Bolivia as government ministers skip events
March 9–10, 2026
ERC blocks Catalan budget approval demanding IRPF tax collection transfer from Madrid
March 11–15, 2026
Vox faces internal crisis as Ortega Smith expelled and Abascal consolidates control
March 9–11, 2026
Other
France
France’s political landscape fractured in opposite directions this week, as the far-right reached for mainstream acceptance while the left tore itself apart over antisemitism.
Jordan Bardella, the National Rally leader, led the charge for respectability, using strong showings in municipal elections to position his party as a coalition partner rather than a pariah. The party held its mayoral strongholds—Louis Aliot won over 50% in Perpignan, David Rachline took 51.3% in Fréjus, and Hénin-Beaumont delivered 78% for its far-right mayor. But the real shift came when Mr Bardella reached out to “sincere right-wing lists” for second-round cooperation, seeking alliances where possible. The far-right was no longer content to go it alone.
Even as the National Rally sought new partners, the left lost old ones. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the France Unbowed leader, faced widespread condemnation for mispronouncing Jewish names, including those of Jeffrey Epstein and Raphaël Glucksmann, during campaign rallies. Socialist leaders called for breaking ties with Mr Mélenchon’s party, threatening to destroy the New Popular Front coalition that had united the left just months earlier. Mr Mélenchon dismissed the accusations as “slander,” but the damage was done.
This domestic upheaval coincided with France’s first military casualty in the Middle East conflict. Adjutant-Chief Arnaud Frion was killed in a drone attack in Iraqi Kurdistan by Ashab al-Kahf, an Iran-linked militia. Emmanuel Macron called the attack “unacceptable” but immediately ruled out retaliation, reaffirming France’s “defensive” posture.
The restrained response reflected broader French approach in the crisis. Mr Macron visited the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier positioned in Greek waters, projecting strength while maintaining the defensive stance adopted since the nuclear doctrine expansion in March. Sébastien Lecornu, the defence minister, ran the response through confidential briefings with party leaders, banning phones to prevent leaks.
Meanwhile, economic constraints prevented any relief for French consumers facing higher fuel costs. François Villeroy de Galhau, the central bank governor, bluntly declared France had “no more money” for fuel subsidies despite rising prices from the Middle East conflict. Mr Lecornu rejected opposition calls for tax cuts or price controls as “demagogic and useless,” warning that more debt would harm French borrowing costs. The government that could project naval power across the Mediterranean could not cushion pump prices at home.
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- Municipal elections first round shows political fragmentation across major cities — First round of municipal elections held March 15 revealed diverse outcomes with incumbent mayors generally performing well but several major cities heading to contested second rounds. Abstention rates and local dynamics varied significantly across France’s municipalities. (linternaute.com)
- DGSE intelligence operations and international cooperation amid regional conflicts — French external intelligence service DGSE continued operations in Middle East context while dealing with detained officer in Mali. Reports highlighted intelligence cooperation with UK services and operational challenges in current security environment. (franceinfo.fr)
Notes
Notes
RN maintains strongholds in municipal elections first round, mixed results in expansion efforts
March 15, 2026
DGSE intelligence operations and international cooperation amid regional conflicts
March 11–13, 2026
Other
Germany
Friedrich Merz called the US decision to ease oil sanctions on Russia “wrong” — the most direct criticism of American policy since he became chancellor. Visiting Norway, Mr Merz said six of seven G7 members opposed Washington’s decision and that he “would like to know the motives” behind it.
Even as he broke with Washington, Mr Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has been working with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the European Parliament. Internal chats show the European People’s Party accepted AfD suggestions on migration legislation and thanked them for “excellent cooperation” — contradicting the firewall against the far right that the CDU claims to maintain.
The contradiction captures Germany’s broader bind: willing to disagree with America when convenient, but unable to sustain the rejection of the far right that it preaches at home. Instead, the CDU works with the AfD when useful — just at the European rather than domestic level.
These tensions showed in this week’s Baden-Württemberg state election, where the CDU lost narrowly to the Greens, 30.2% to 29.7%, despite governing the prosperous southwestern state for decades. More troubling for democratic politics, the AfD nearly doubled its vote to 18.8% and became the third-largest party even as corruption scandals emerged. The revelations show AfD officials hiring family members of other party officials. Twenty-nine percent of AfD voters said the corruption bothered them, but they voted for the party anyway.
Germany’s capacity to act remains intact despite these political strains. Boris Pistorius, the defence minister, organised the delivery of 35 Patriot missiles to Ukraine through European partners, with Germany contributing five from its own stocks. Lars Klingbeil, the finance minister, threatened market intervention after accusing oil companies of “price gouging” during the Iran conflict, warning he might release national reserves to combat high fuel prices.
Bavaria’s Constitutional Court ruled that the state government cannot force universities to cooperate with the Bundeswehr for national security purposes, striking down part of the state’s federal defence law.
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- Federal President Steinmeier advocates social media ban for children under 14 — Federal President Steinmeier supports banning social media platforms for children under 14, saying ‘media literacy’ approaches are no longer sufficient given dangers to child development and democracy. (fr.de)
- Foreign Minister Wadephul conducts crisis diplomacy tour amid Iran war — Foreign Minister Wadephul travelled to Cyprus, Israel, Gulf states and Turkey during Iran conflict escalation, evacuating stranded German tourists and showing solidarity with affected allies while warning against chaos in Iran. (spiegel.de)
- AfD faces widespread nepotism scandal involving family member employment across party — Revelations emerge of routine practice where AfD politicians employ family members of other party officials in their offices, with cases spanning multiple state chapters and potentially violating campaign finance rules. (taz.de)
- Bundesbank abandons renovation plans, will relocate headquarters to Frankfurt city centre — The Bundesbank decides to abandon its current headquarters building after renovation costs reached 1.6 billion euros, opting instead to purchase a new building in Frankfurt’s city centre. Gold reserves will remain at the current location. (faz.net)
- BND intelligence service undergoes major restructuring under new leadership — New BND chief Martin Jäger restructures Germany’s foreign intelligence service to collect information faster and take higher risks, reducing units from six to five and expanding human intelligence operations. (sueddeutsche.de)
Notes
Notes
Merz visits Norway for NATO exercise and space cooperation, criticizes US oil sanctions on Russia
February 08 – March 04, 2026
Baden-Württemberg election: Greens narrowly defeat CDU, difficult coalition negotiations ahead
March 10, 2026
Federal President Steinmeier advocates social media ban for children under 14
February 08 – March 15, 2026
Defense Minister Pistorius secures over 30 Patriot missiles for Ukraine from European partners
February 08 – March 04, 2026
Finance Minister Klingbeil accuses oil companies of price manipulation amid Iran war
February 08 – March 04, 2026
AfD faces widespread nepotism scandal involving family member employment across party
February 08 – March 10, 2026
AfD achieves record 18.8% result in Baden-Württemberg, mixed performance in Bavaria
March 9–10, 2026
Bundesbank abandons renovation plans, will relocate headquarters to Frankfurt city center
February 22 – March 11, 2026
BND intelligence service undergoes major restructuring under new leadership
February 22 – March 13, 2026
CDU-CSU cooperation with AfD in European Parliament revealed despite 'firewall' rhetoric
February 22, 2026
Bayern constitutional court strikes down university cooperation requirement with Bundeswehr
February 08 – March 13, 2026
Other
Italy
Giorgia Meloni faces her first major defeat as prime minister, with polls showing Italians will likely reject her judicial reform in a referendum on March 22-23.
The vote has become a test of Ms Meloni’s authority. She stepped up campaigning this week with events in Milan, but the opposition is organizing ‘No’ votes on her constitutional project. Security incidents are adding to the pressure: a protester interrupted her speech at Teatro Parenti, approaching the stage to demand Sergio Mattarella, the president, resign before being escorted away.
Even as she campaigns at home, Ms Meloni is managing a security crisis abroad. Italian military bases in Iraq and Kuwait faced drone attacks during the Iran conflict. Italy declared it would not join the American and Israeli war against Iran, but provided defensive cooperation — the kind of hedge that has defined her foreign policy. Mr Mattarella convened the Supreme Defence Council as Parliament debated Italy’s position.
The crisis has exposed cracks in Ms Meloni’s coalition. Matteo Salvini, her deputy prime minister, called for Italy to follow Donald Trump’s lead in easing oil sanctions on Russia. Antonio Tajani, the foreign minister, immediately objected, insisting sanctions must stay. Ms Meloni said nothing about the row between her two most senior ministers.
Mr Mattarella delivered his own warning this week, giving a speech in Florence about the dangers of authoritarian regression and ‘Caesarist tyranny’ — a veiled critique of global democratic backsliding. The timing, days before the constitutional referendum, was pointed.
Mediobanca and Monte dei Paschi approved a merger plan that will create one of Italy’s largest banking groups, subject to regulatory approval by the end of 2026.
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- Italy declares it will not join Iran war as attacks hit Italian military bases — Italy said it will not participate in the US-Israeli war against Iran, as Italian military bases in Iraq and Kuwait came under drone attacks. President Mattarella convened the Supreme Defence Council, while Parliament debated the government’s position amid tensions with opposition parties. (governo.it)
Notes
Notes
Justice referendum campaign intensifies as Meloni and opposition mobilize for March 22-23 vote
February 15 – March 14, 2026
Other
Norway
Norway rejected American calls for military involvement in Iran and criticised Washington’s pressure on allies, marking the country’s strongest assertion of independence this year.
Jonas Gahr Støre, the prime minister, hosted Nordic leaders and Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, for a summit that rejected US requests to join Iran operations. Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s prime minister, called American pressure “unacceptable,” and Mr Støre agreed. The leaders said the “old world order is gone” and signed a joint statement strengthening Arctic cooperation between what they called “middle powers.” The summit established the clearest alternative to US-led cooperation while keeping NATO membership intact.
Even so, Norway’s alliance commitments continue normally. The country is hosting NATO’s Cold Response exercise with 11,800 troops testing Arctic defences. Russian aircraft monitored the exercise as usual, with Norwegian F-35s providing standard identification responses.
The government is preparing for fiscal restraint. Mr Støre and Jens Stoltenberg, the finance minister, warned of tough spending choices in the 2027 budget because of international uncertainty, prioritising defence and health while rejecting tax cuts. Equinor announced two new North Sea discoveries but said it has no spare capacity to boost production despite global energy shortages.
Parliament is pressing the government over the Epstein scandal. Per-Willy Amundsen of the Control and Constitution Committee criticised Mr Støre’s responses as “shocking and arrogant” and sent follow-up questions about government actions involving Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The committee wants concrete examples of control mechanisms beyond legal frameworks.
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- German Chancellor Merz visits Norway for defense and space cooperation talks — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Norway to meet with Prime Minister Støre, including visits to Andøya Space facilities and participation in NATO’s Cold Response exercise. The visit focused on strengthening Norwegian-German cooperation in space technology and defense. (nrk.no)
- NATO’s Cold Response exercise underway in northern Norway with international participation — NATO’s major Cold Response 2026 military exercise is taking place in northern Norway with around 11,800 participants on Norwegian soil. The exercise is testing defensive capabilities in Arctic conditions and has drawn significant international media attention. (tv2.no)
- Listhaug demands expanded oil exploration and tax cuts amid energy crisis — Progress Party leader Sylvi Listhaug is demanding the government open new areas for oil and gas exploration and implement tax cuts on fuel and food due to rising prices from the Middle East conflict. She also criticizes the government’s defense spending pace as too slow. (tu.no)
- Inflation pressures challenge Norges Bank’s monetary policy decisions — Norwegian inflation remains above Norges Bank’s targets, creating uncertainty about interest rate policy. Core inflation at 3.0% exceeds central bank projections, with analysts debating whether rate cuts or hikes are more likely. The Iran war’s economic impact adds further uncertainty. (bitcoinworld.co.in)
- Equinor makes new North Sea oil and gas discoveries but cannot boost production — State energy company Equinor announced two new commercial hydrocarbon discoveries in the North Sea near existing Troll and Sleipner facilities. However, CEO Anders Opedal stated the company has no spare capacity to increase production despite global supply shortages from the Iran conflict. (reuters.com)
- Russian military aircraft monitored near Norwegian airspace during NATO exercise — Norwegian F-35 fighters intercepted and identified Russian military aircraft in international airspace near Norway during the Cold Response exercise. The Russian aircraft, including reconnaissance planes, flew as far south as Lofoten. The incidents are described as routine during major NATO exercises. (nrk.no)
- Crown Prince stepson Marius Borg Høiby gives emotional testimony in court case — Marius Borg Høiby, stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, gave tearful testimony in his court case, calling himself ‘Norway’s hate object’ and describing the media pressure as the most burdensome experience of his life. He said the coverage had erased his identity as a person. (dagbladet.no)
Notes
Notes
Nordic and Canadian leaders meet in Oslo to strengthen Arctic cooperation and reject Iran war involvement
February 20 – March 15, 2026
Government holds budget conference warning of tough economic priorities and spending cuts
March 10–12, 2026
Parliamentary control committee demands answers from Støre on Epstein scandal investigation
February 15 – March 02, 2026
NATO's Cold Response exercise underway in northern Norway with international participation
February 18 – March 01, 2026
Listhaug demands expanded oil exploration and tax cuts amid energy crisis
February 18 – March 10, 2026
Equinor makes new North Sea oil and gas discoveries but cannot boost production
February 18 – March 15, 2026
Russian military aircraft monitored near Norwegian airspace during NATO exercise
February 20 – March 01, 2026
Other
Sweden
The Sweden Democrats cleared their last barrier to power this week when Simona Mohamsson, the Liberal Party leader, dropped her refusal to govern alongside them, signing a deal that puts all four parties of the Tidö Alliance in line for cabinet seats after next year’s election.
The deal came after months of secret talks that began in February, with most Liberal leaders learning of it only on the day it was announced. The ‘Sverigelöftet’ covers 15 policy points and marks the Sweden Democrats’ transformation from pariah party to potential governing partner. Jimmie Åkesson, the party leader, had long pushed for cabinet seats rather than just backing the government from outside.
Even as his coalition gained new power, Ulf Kristersson faced criticism over his handling of teenage deportations. Mr Kristersson refused to help teenagers who had already been deported while announcing policy changes for future cases, drawing attacks from the opposition and straining coalition unity ahead of September’s election.
Meanwhile, Sweden’s NATO membership continued causing friction at home. Maria Malmer Stenergard, the foreign minister, accused Magdalena Andersson, the opposition leader, of endangering Swedish security by criticising the government’s role in nuclear weapons talks with France. Ms Andersson denied breaking any agreement and maintained her criticism of the nuclear dialogue.
Beneath the political turbulence, Sweden’s security preparations carried on. The military ran Exercise Birger Jarl, deploying 1,500 troops and 500 civilian personnel across the Stockholm region to practise protecting infrastructure. Thirteen conscripts suffered frostbite during the separate Vintersol exercise when heating equipment failed at minus 17 degrees, showing the problems of expanding the force quickly. The central bank, citing risks from heavy reliance on digital payments and geopolitical tensions, told households to keep 1,000 kronor in cash and pushed commercial banks to find alternatives to American payment systems like Visa and Mastercard.
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- Jimmie Åkesson promotes nationalist rhetoric and attacks government agencies — Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson gave controversial interviews pushing ‘blood and soil’ nationalism and claiming government agencies are deliberately blocking party policies. He faced criticism for inflammatory rhetoric while defending party positions on migration and identity. (dn.se)
- Pål Jonson takes part in Nordic military cooperation — Pål Jonson, the defence minister, took part in joint Nordic defence work, including meetings with Polish and Finnish counterparts and military exercises. The work focused on strengthening Baltic security and NATO cooperation. (english.aawsat.com)
- Wallenberg family leads Nordic business delegation to Mexico — The Swedish Wallenberg dynasty led a Nordic delegation to Mexico, meeting with Claudia Sheinbaum, the president. The group included over 100 chief executives from companies like Volvo, Nokia, and AstraZeneca to explore investment opportunities. (diariodemexico.com)
Notes
Notes
Liberal Party drops red lines against Sweden Democrats, agrees to govern together
February 13–21, 2026
Government and opposition clash over Sweden's nuclear weapons dialogue with France
February 15 – March 13, 2026
Jimmie Åkesson promotes nationalist rhetoric and attacks government agencies
February 13 – March 11, 2026
Prime Minister Kristersson faces criticism over teenage deportations and party unity
February 13 – March 12, 2026
Swedish Armed Forces face training incidents and operational challenges
February 13 – March 13, 2026
Other