The Lebensborn Program was a program in Nazi Germany intended to promote the “Aryan race,” encouraging the birth of German blonde blue-eyed babies, while discouraging the birth of other races. The program had tremendous negative consequences, one of which is the lasting impact it has left on European racial relations by glorifying certain ethnicities over others. Many current anti-immigration parties and movements in Europe recently use rhetoric very similar to that of the program, showing yet another lasting effect of the Holocaust. 

Poland has been facing a recent border crisis, with a rush of migrants that it accuses neighbor Belarus of instrumentalizing. To combat this influx of people, Poland has heavily armed the border and has recently introduced new legislation that could severely damage its relation to the EU, who has been known for its welcoming immigration laws.

A far-right wave washing over Europe: Fears of immigration, economic instability, and the erosion of national identity.

Meloni, hosting this year’s G7, wanted attending nations to turn south towards Africa. Meloni cleverly leveraged her role as host to sweeten Western economies’ taste of her grand strategy for Africa: The Mattei plan.

As the US and EU focus elsewhere, Italy and Turkey have increased cooperation in the Mediterranean. Despite differing foreign policy objectives, they share common interests in stabilizing Libya and playing a more active role in the Mediterranean’s security.