Who moved this week

Niger is consolidating resource sovereignty at home while the wider Sahel security order around it cracks.

M23-AFC is the dominant armed force in eastern Congo, holding Goma, briefly seizing Uvira.

The junta holds a presidential title and recaptured gem revenue while ASEAN softens its quarantine.

Panama is having a moment.

Hamas holds Gaza in deadlock, refusing to disarm and still taxing civilians.

Britain sits in a familiar middle-power slot, leaning harder into European.

Brussels is stepping into space Washington is vacating, turning the loans-for-arms scheme, tech sovereignty package.

Ireland sits in its familiar lane as a small, stable European state leaning on soft-power gestures.

Bucharest sits in an awkward split: a collapsed government and currency stress at home.

Iceland sits as a small, stable democracy leaning harder into European anchors as Arctic exposure.

Tehran is negotiating from a compressed position, with a US naval blockade choking oil revenue.

Israel sits in a tighter corner than its fundamentals suggest, with Washington cutting a side deal.