Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program

The Europe, Russia, and Eurasia program produces forward-looking analyses on transatlantic relations and political developments across Europe, Eurasia, and Turkey

The Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program’s work seeks to develop a deeper understanding of Europe’s political, security, and economic evolution and its future role in the world; geopolitical developments in the circumpolar Arctic; the implications of Russia’s foreign and defense policies for transatlantic security; and political and economic developments in Russia and Eurasia.

The Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program is also host to the Lillan and Robert D. Stuart Jr. Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies, launched in 2016 in honor of the life and achievements of the late Robert D. Stuart Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to Norway. Research and analysis by the Stuart Center focuses on the changing geopolitical dynamics and trends in Northern Europe and the Arctic. The Center specifically looks at developing a greater understanding of Northern Europe’s political, security, economic, and energy developments with a strong focus on the regional implications of a rapidly changing Arctic; revitalizing NATO’s collective defense and security cooperation role in Northern Europe; and strengthening the Euro-Atlantic partnership as a whole.

The program’s work in recent years has focused heavily on Russian and Chinese influence across Europe, developments in the Western Balkans region, NATO’s forward-looking agenda with a focus on Northern Europe, Russia’s military and political evolution amid serious environmental changes, the transatlantic digital agenda, and post-Brexit dynamics in Europe and for the U.S.-UK defense relationship.

The program has a long track record of engaging in a thoughtful transatlantic dialogue by bringing together top-level policymakers, analysts, and thought leaders from Europe, Eurasia, and the United States. These candid and insightful dialogues have made the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program a leading forum in Washington for the immediate and long-range challenges facing the United States and its European allies.

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Meet our Experts

Learn more about the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and the network of experts, staff, and non-resident affiliates who contribute to our analysis.

Max Bergmann

Featured Podcast

The Eurofile

Hosted by Max Bergmann, director of the Stuart Center and the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, and Donatienne Ruy, director of the Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy at CSIS, “The Eurofile” looks at Europe through a Washington lens.

CSIS

Featured Podcast

Russian Roulette

Hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at CSIS, Russian Roulette explores the politics, history, and complex societies of Russia and Eurasia. Tune in for fascinating interviews and discussions on some of the biggest questions facing the broader post-Soviet space. 

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Contact Information

Media Queries

Recent Analysis

Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images

Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images

Trump Needs a Plan to Get Europeans to Step Up on Defense

If withdrawing militarily from Europe is the Trump administration’s goal, the United States should push Europeans to undertake deep organizational, political, and fiscal changes.

Commentary by Max Bergmann — January 31, 2025

See all analysis by the ERE Program

Featured Projects

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Project on the Future of Europe

The Project on the Future of Europe aims to examine and raise awareness of the European Union’s increasing geopolitical importance.

Learn about the Project
The Stuart Center

The Stuart Center

In honor of the life and achievements of the late Robert D. Stuart Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to Norway, and his wife Lillan, the Stuart Center is dedicated to greater understanding of Northern Europe’s political, security, economic, and energy developments with a strong focus on the regional implications of a rapidly changing Arctic; revitalizing NATO’s collective defense and security cooperation role in Northern Europe; and strengthening the Euro-Atlantic partnership as a whole.

Learn about the Stuart Center

Featured Report

The Kremlin Playbook

For the past six years, the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program’s flagship research series The Kremlin Playbook has exposed how the Kremlin has sought to erode Europe’s democratic institutions through its influence in order to “break the internal coherence of the enemy system.”

View the analysis

Featured Blog Series

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The Europe Corner

The Europe Corner provides you with analysis and commentary of the most pressing issues facing Europe

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European Election Watch

The CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program provides the Election Watch platform to walk readers through these complex political times in Europe.

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All Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program Content

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Can Trump Persuade Putin to Make Peace in Ukraine?

President Trump has not ended Putin’s war in Ukraine in a day but has invited Putin to the negotiating table. Persuading Putin to actually make peace in Ukraine will be more difficult—and require Trump to master the art of coercive diplomacy.

Commentary by Sean Monaghan — January 29, 2025

Seizing Greenland Is Worse Than a Bad Deal

Taking Greenland through force or coercion would not just be a bad deal for the United States—it could become a legacy-defining unforced error for the Trump administration.

Commentary by Otto Svendsen — January 21, 2025

Defending the North Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions

The Arctic is increasingly characterized by geopolitical and military tensions. President Trump's aggressive engagement strategy, greater Sino-Russian cooperation, and NATO’s Scandinavian enlargement will likely shape the region’s security landscape for the coming years.

Report by Max Bergmann, Otto Svendsen, Marc Jacobsen, Rebekka Åsnes Sagild, Eskil Jakobsen, and Øystein Solvang — January 14, 2025

The Joint Expeditionary Force: From Northern Europe to Ukraine

At a summit of the ten-nation, UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force in Tallinn, Estonia, this week, leaders focused on supporting Ukraine, securing critical undersea infrastructure, investing more in defense, and contesting Russian aggression in Northern Europe.

Commentary by Sean Monaghan — December 19, 2024

Prisoner of the Caucasus?

It is time for Washington, in tandem with its allies, to develop a more realistic, forward-looking approach to the South Caucasus, a region that now faces internal upheaval and its neighbors' mounting ambitions.

Report by Jeffrey Mankoff — December 17, 2024

Addressing Arctic Vulnerabilities

The war in Ukraine has accelerated an ongoing trend of competition and militarization in the Arctic. By applying lessons learned from the Ukrainian battlefield, Arctic NATO states can both enhance deterrence and prepare for potential warfighting the region.

Brief by Jonas Vidhammer Berge and Max Bergmann — December 17, 2024

How to Support Ukraine: Peace Will Require Ukrainian Strength

Ukraine is facing strong headwinds as the war has tilted in Russia's favor. But a revived Western effort to finance Ukraine's war effort will send a clear message to the Kremlin and is likely the only way to bring Russia to the negotiation table.

Report by Max Bergmann — December 16, 2024

Europe, Beyond Its Southern Border

Widespread instability and the growing influence of China and Russia has increased the strategic importance of the Sahel to European security. A reset in relations between Europe and the region is direly needed.

Report by Carlota G. Encina — December 4, 2024