October 2023

U.S. Perspective on Transatlantic Relations: Ukraine and the Fight for Funding?

NATO remains the most successful military alliance in history, contributing to Western prosperity and being [...]

October 2023

Election Update: Slovakia Parliamentary Elections

On September 30, Slovakia held parliamentary elections to elect its fifth prime minister in four [...]

March 2023

U.S. Perspective on The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes numerous provisions to address issues including gaps in [...]

January 2023

Possible Next Steps: The U.S. Congress

The House of Representatives has a slim Republican majority and to become Speaker, Kevin McCarthy [...]

January 2023

Sweden’s Third EU Presidency – An Interview with Björn Arvidsson, Head of Trade and Economic Affairs at the Swedish Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Interview with Björn Arvidsson on the Swedish government’s perspectives on some of the topics related [...]

March 2023

European Perspective on The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

EU concerned by IRA [...]

October 2023

President Biden’s 2024 Budget Proposal

On March 9, 2023, President Biden unveiled his 2024 budget proposal in Pennsylvania, a staged [...]

March 2023

Celebrating International Women’s Day

Jesica Lindgren was a panelist on the Embrace Equity webinar hosted by the Carolinas, Washington, [...]

March 2023

Tips & Recommendations

Karen Tramontano (pictured with the author below) recommends… Time’s Undoing: A Novel, by Cheryl A. [...]

March 2023

Cities Summit of the Americas to Convene Leaders

Cities Summit of the Americas to Convene Leaders [...]

April 2023

U.S. Perspective on Relations with China

Prior to French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to China this April, Macron and U.S. [...]

April 2023

European Perspective on Relations with China

Macron in China: a visit paved with good intentions [...]

April 2023

Political Climate in France after Pension Reform

On April 14, the French Constitutional Council approved the key provisions of the controversial pension [...]

April 2023

Strengthening Cooperation with CAMCA Region

Strengthening Cooperation with CAMCA Region [...]

May 2023

U.S. Perspective on Labor Relations

Unions have a seat at the table and the Biden Administration is focused on creating [...]

May 2023

European Perspective on Labor Relations

With his divisive pension reform moving slowly into the rearview mirror, French president Emmanuel Macron [...]

May 2023

EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive

The EU’s planned due diligence rules remain a divisive issue, especially in business circles. [...]

May 2023

United States-Dominican Republic Relations

Sally Painter was interviewed by CDN’s 55 Minutos con Julissa Céspedes on the importance of [...]

May 2023

Nordic Innovation & Sustainability Forum

Jesica Lindgren moderated the second annual Nordic Innovation & Sustainability Forum, hosted by the House [...]

May 2023

Paraguay Elections Results

On April 30, Paraguay held general elections to elect the president, vice president, National Congress, [...]

June 2023

Global Fairness Initiative Celebrates 20th Anniversary

The Global Fairness Initiative came together in New York City to celebrate the organization’s 20th [...]

June 2023

GLOBSEC 2023 Bratislava Forum

Sally Painter and Pero Jolevski participated in the 18th annual GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum in Slovakia, [...]

June 2023

TruCon 2023 National Security Conference

Blue Star Strategies was a sponsor of the TruCon 2023 national security conference in Washington, [...]

June 2023

Is There a Future for U.S. Bipartisanship?

Was it so praiseworthy to note that Speaker McCarthy allowed the legislation to come to [...]

June 2023

European Perspective on European Union Enlargement

" The objective of this renewed push is to strengthen the EU’s visibility and sway on [...]

June 2023

U.S. Perspective on European Union Enlargement

A Perspective from Washington on EU Policy in Light of President Macron’s Speech at GLOBSEC [...]

July 2023

Americas Perspective on 2023 Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Americas perspectives on the 2023 Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, set [...]

July 2023

European Perspective on 2023 Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

European perspectives on the 2023 Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, set [...]

July 2023

Corporate Social Responsibility Update

Mathilde Defarges discussed European progress on sustainability in a panel discussion hosted by ESG & [...]

July 2023

A Look Ahead to the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election

With the 2024 U.S. presidential election race taking shape, political strategist Doug Sosnik has released [...]

July 2023

U.S. Global Leadership in Development & Diplomacy

Jeremiah Baronberg, Advisor, has been selected by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition to join its [...]

July 2023

Welcome New Team Members

We are excited to welcome two new team members, Erin McCoy, Senior Associate in our [...]

July 2023

Marine Conservation Through Synthetic Drug Development

Blue Star Strategies is proud to support the Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition, which is urging [...]

September 2023

U.S. Perspective on the 2023 G20 New Delhi Summit

The 2023 G20 Summit held in India from September 9-10 marked a significant moment in [...]

September 2023

European Perspective on the 2023 G20 New Delhi Summit

The G20 has proven valuable as an informal international forum for agenda-setting on various global [...]

September 2023

EU Update: A Reshuffled European Commission for Ursula Von der Leyen’s Last Year

Under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission has entered its final [...]

September 2023

The Role of the Mountain West in the Global Energy Transition

Join our Jeremiah Baronberg for a discussion on The Role of the Mountain West in [...]

September 2023

Global Vision for Investor Action on Biodiversity

Jesica Lindgren and Julieta Gomez attended the Inter-American Business & Nature Forum hosted by the [...]

September 2023

Welcome New Team Member

We are excited to welcome Alban Sadorge-Hardy as an Associate in our Paris office. Prior [...]

October 2023

Election Update: Poland Parliamentary Elections

On October 15, Poland held parliamentary elections that stunned officials with a 73% voter turnout, [...]

October 2023

Moving Beyond Crisis: Creating a More Prosperous and Resilient Europe

Hosted in Slovakia’s Tatra mountains, the forum serves as a key convener for EU policymakers [...]

October 2023

European Perspective on Transatlantic Relations: The Calm Before the Vote?

On 20 October 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden, Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and [...]

October 2023

U.S. Update: 2023 Off Year Elections

Update on Off year Elections in the U.S. [...]

Nov 2023

European Perspective on Inmigration: Europe grapples with immigration in a changing world

European Perspective on Inmigration: Europe grapples with immigration in a changing world. [...]

Nov 2023

U.S. Perspective on Immigration

For years, immigration in the United States has been a “political football.” Unfortunately, the failure [...]

Nov 2023

Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity: Is Washington finally taking the Americas seriously?

On November 3, 2023, U.S. President Joseph Biden convened the inaugural Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) [...]

Jan 2024

President Macron Reshuffles French Government Ahead of Key European Vote

To breathe new life into his turbulent second term and to limit likely gains for [...]

Jan 2024

No time to sigh: Belgium takes over the Presidency of the EU Council

On January 1st, Belgium took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council. Coming [...]

Jan 2024

U.S. Update: Congress & Presidential Elections

It has been an exciting 2024 in the United States and we are only two [...]

Feb 2024

The U.S. & Climate Change

On this side of the Atlantic, the latest news is that John Podesta—presently overseeing the [...]

Feb 2024

2024 U.S. Presidential Election Update: Court Cases

There are many questions and some confusion about the pending court cases involving former President [...]

Feb 2024

Red light for the European Green Deal?

The European Green Deal is facing mounting resistance within EU member states and at the [...]

Feb 2024

Elections Update: El Salvador, Azerbaijan, Finland

El Salvador Overview: El Salvador’s congressional and presidential elections took place on February 4th, where the [...]

21/03/2024

U.S. State of the Union Address & President Biden’s Budget

Prior to President Biden presenting the State of the Union, much was said about Biden’s [...]

21/03/2024

Victorious But Not Unscarred: Corporate Sustainability Directive Finally Adopted in the EU

Introduction This update follows on from our earlier piece about the inception and subsequent progress [...]

21/03/2024

75 Years of NATO: Strengthening Global Security Through Unity and Cooperation

This summer marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of NATO, the most successful military [...]

21/03/2024

Why Germany’s Coalition Woes Are Also Brussels’ Problem

In recent months, Germany’s stance in the European Union, characterized by indecisiveness, unpredictability, even a [...]

21/03/2024

Election Updates: Belarus & Russia

Belarus Overview: Parliamentary elections were conducted in Belarus on February 24, 2024, marking the first [...]

18/04/2024

New Book in an Old Cover: Change after the June European Elections

Between June 6-9, 2024, European voters—battered by a pandemic, an economic downturn, and two still [...]

18/04/2024

Opinion: Reflections From Berlin

The last few days I have been in Berlin, Germany for business. Unlike other business trips, [...]

18/04/2024

The World Bank Group and IMF Spring Meetings 2024

This year, 2024, commemorates the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Bretton Woods Institutions—the [...]

18/04/2024

Election Update: Slovakia

Overview On April 6, 2024, Slovakia conducted the second round of its presidential elections. Although [...]

May 2024

U.S. Political Update

Although the details have not been worked out, President Biden and former President Trump have [...]

May 2024

Elections Update: North Macedonia, Serbia, & Panama

North Macedonia On May 8, 2024, parliamentary and second round of presidential elections were held [...]

May 2024

U.S. Regulatory Update: Environmental Permitting Reform

Earlier this month, the Biden Administration finalized its Bipartisan Permitting Reform Implementation rule. The new [...]

May 2024

European Union Regulatory Update: EU Laws’ Long-Arm Makes Engagement with Brussels Essential

Anne-Marie Pecoraro is an Attorney at law/Partner at UGGC law firm, specializing in intellectual property, [...]

June 2024

2024 EU Elections Update: New Dynamics in the European Parliament, Balancing Tradition and Change

From June 6 to 9, 2024, 359 million voters across Europe’s 27 member states voted [...]

June 2024

2024 U.S. Elections Update: Race to the White House

Reading and listening to the news about the upcoming 2024 U.S. Presidential election is confusing, [...]

June 2024

Transatlantic Relations Update: Blue skies for Paris-Washington ties, for now

In the wake of the ceremonies of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, just [...]

June 2024

France Political Situation: High stakes snap elections put France at the crossroads

In a controversial move characteristic of his tenure as president of France, Emmanuel Macron has [...]

June 2024

Election Updates: Lithuania, Dominican Republic, Mexico, & Bulgaria

Lithuania Overview: Lithuania held presidential elections in May. The elections saw the incumbent, Gitanas Nausėda [...]

July 2024

EU Elections Update: Von der Leyen’s Reelection Sparks New Dynamics in European Parliament

This update follows on from our earlier piece about the European elections as of June [...]

July 2024

French Elections Result: And now, what do we do?

Following the overwhelming victory of the far-right National Rally in France at the European Elections [...]

July 2024

U.S. Presidential Race Update: Unpacking the Political Landscape

No doubt everyone has read about the attempted assassination of former President Trump, calls from [...]

August 2024

U.S. Presidential Election Update: Current State of Play

As you know from reading the news, there are a lot of changes in the [...]

August 2024

Speculation Mounts Over Venezuela’s Future Amid Political Turmoil

As the political landscape in Venezuela continues to evolve, speculation is mounting over what might [...]

September 2024

U.S. Presidential Race Update The Latest Polls: So Why Is It Still Close?

This weekend, new polling results were released. Here are the numbers: Harris 52-46 (+6) ABC [...]

September 2024

France Political Update: What next for France’s new Prime Minister?

In an unprecedented turn of events, the results of France’s parliamentary elections on July 7th [...]

27th Annual CAF Conference

The 27th Annual CAF Conference in Washington, DC this year brought together more than 1,000 [...]

September 2024

Global Elections Update: Azerbaijan

Overview: On September 1st, Azerbaijan held parliamentary elections. The elections were originally slated to take [...]

October 2024

France Political Update: Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s bitter pill to cure France

On October 2, 2024, France’s newly appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier delivered his much-anticipated general [...]

October 2024

Presidential Transition in Mexico: Is Sheinbaum more of the same?

On October 1st, Claudia Sheinbaum took office as Mexico’s president for the 2024-2030 term, sparking [...]

October 2024

2024 U.S. Election Update: Two weeks until Election Day

The question with two weeks to go appears to be – “Is the race slipping [...]

October 2024

New NATO Secretary General: Key priorities to help safeguard European security

In October of this year, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte became the 14th Secretary [...]

November 2024

2024 U.S. Elections Results: How Did Trump Win?

The most asked question globally about the 2024 U.S. election is “How Did Trump Win?” [...]

November 2024

European Union Economic Update: After Trump Win, EU Ambitions Face Fractured Reality

In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s re-election as President of the United States, calls for [...]

November 2024

Global Elections Update: Georgia, Puerto Rico, Bulgaria, Lithuania & Moldova

Georgia Overview. The Republic of Georgia held parliamentary elections on October 26th.  They were held [...]

December 2024

2025 U.S. Government Transition Update

Admittedly, it is not easy to follow political news developments in the United States. President-elect [...]

December 2024

France Political Update: France’s not-so-new Prime Minister

After only 90 days in office, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier tendered his resignation to [...]

December 2024

Global Elections Update: Romania & Uruguay

Romania Overview Following the first round of polling in Romania’s presidential elections on November 24th [...]

December 2024

Donkeys & Elephants? The Origins of U.S. Political Party Symbols

The origins of the donkey and elephant as symbols of the Democratic and Republican political [...]

January 2025

2025 Year Look Ahead: Important Dates & Elections

Key Dates: In the United States… January 20: Inauguration Day January 27-29: House GOP Retreat [...]

January 2025

U.S. Political Update: Trump Inauguration & Congressional Reconciliation Process

I am sure that many, if not all of you, have been keeping up to [...]

January 2025

EU Political Update: Poland takes over EU Council Presidency

Since January 1, 2025, Poland has held the rotating presidency of the Council of the [...]

January 2025

Global Elections Update: Croatia

Overview On December 29, 2024, Croatia held the first round of its presidential election, with [...]

January #BlueStarByte: Top Hats & U.S. Presidents

Beginning in the late 19th century, it was customary for U.S. presidents to wear a [...]

February 2025

U.S. Political Update: What’s Going On in Washington

Admittedly, it is a challenge to track all that is going on in Washington. No [...]

February 2025

EU Political Update: EU Faces the Simplification Dilemma; Sustainability Under Pressure

Is the European Union dismantling the sustainability framework it has worked so hard to build? [...]

February 2025 #BlueStarByte: Where does the American political term “Caucus” come from?

In the context of U.S. politics, the term can denote either meetings run by political [...]

February 2025

Global Elections Update: Belarus’ Russia Problem and the Potential Return to a Multi-Vector Foreign Policy

Late last month, Belarus’ President Aleksander Lukashenko secured another five-year term in a landslide victory. [...]

February 2025

Global Elections Update: Kosovo

Overview On February 9, Kosovo held parliamentary elections to elect 120 members of the Assembly. [...]

March 2025

Is the United States Congress Exercising its Constitutional Mandate?

Nearly every day, there are changes in the United States. Since his inauguration, President Trump [...]

March 2025

Competitiveness & Defense: The European Commission’s 2025 Cornerstones

Introduction While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently rounded out the first 100 [...]

March 2025

#BlueStarByte: Multicameralism

Multicameralist legislative systems are largely rooted in medieval Europe, where society was often divided amongst [...]

April 2025

U.S. Administration Update

On April 2nd, the single biggest trade action under the new Trump Administration occurred. President [...]

April 2025

Legal Sanctions and Electoral Shifts: Assessing the Political Fallout of Marine Le Pen’s Ineligibility Verdict

Marine Le Pen’s Judgment Marine Le Pen was tried alongside twenty-four other defendants, including eight [...]

April 2025

U.S. Congressional Update

Since January, the United States Congress has largely focused its attention on confirming President Trump’s [...]

April 2025

World Bank Group & IMF Spring Meetings

The theme of this year’s annual World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings [...]

April 2025

Global Elections Update: Ecuador & Curaçao

Ecuador Overview On April 13, Ecuador held a presidential election between incumbent President Daniel Noboa [...]

April 2025

#BlueStarByte: Origin of the term “riding” in Canadian Electoral politics

Today, the term “riding” is used colloquially in Canadian politics to refer to a “constituency” [...]