The assassination of Shinzo Abe seems to have given his party an electoral boost, but it also puts the spotlight on the defence issues that he championed.
Category: War and peace
EU expansion, part XXIV
The European Union approves two new candidate countries for membership, one of them very big and difficult. But it's only the start of a long process.
Another win for Ukraine
Danish voters approve an end to their exemption from EU defence activities, in a further sign of Europe's commitment to countering Russian aggression.
Ukraine does well at the polls
The war in Ukraine has led to a wave of strategic rethinking in Europe, with ripple effects in a German state election at the weekend.
Peace or victory?
The only route to a sustainable peace in Ukraine is Ukrainian military victory.
Mr Putin wins one
Hungary's autocratic leader wins big on a promise to stay out of the war in Ukraine. It's not clear how well the message will generalise.
One war ends, another continues
Russia has admitted failure in its quest to replace Ukraine's government and destroy the country's independence. Can it do any better with more limited aims?
Two autocrats tested
Autocratic governments in Serbia and Hungary face the voters on Sunday. One looks like being relatively untroubled, but the other holds only a narrow lead.
Putinism in the Sahara
Just as the international community is trying to halt the military occupation of Ukraine, Spain is moving towards recognition of a previous illicit conquest.
Ukraine & Finland: compare & contrast
Among the various historical precedents for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Winter War of 1939-40 between the Soviet Union and Finland is perhaps the most noteworthy.
The World is Not Enough 