Following a summer lull, the conflict in the Middle East has intensified and spread. In recent weeks the Houthis have made strategic gains around the Red Sea and have stepped up their strikes on Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline was attacked by Iran-backed Iraqi insurgents on 10 September, shutting down as a result. The Strait of Hormuz remains at a relative standstill, with traffic heavily disrupted following a series of […]
This is the sixth and final edition of our Frontiers of Trade series, where we look at the trade issues businesses will face in the coming decade. The first looked at the rules governing the origin of a resource mined in space, the second asked who is liable when an autonomous AI agent executes a […]
The 7-8 July 2026 NATO Summit took place in a markedly different geopolitical environment from last year’s summit. Within the span of the last year, the US has held a wartime summit with the Russian President in Anchorage, threatened the territorial integrity of Denmark through claims on Greenland, and launched a war against Iran that saw NATO’s European members refuse the US airspace access to offensive Iran-bound tankers and bombers. In the same timeframe, an exhausted Ukraine reaped the benefits […]
Both action and inaction on China carry costs for EU industry Europe faces structural changes in China's economic model Europe’s concerns reflect a fundamental shift in China’s economic system. Weak domestic demand and extensive state support have reinforced an export-led growth model, generating large trade surpluses and excess industrial capacity. This has intensified competitive pressures […]
Europe enters a dense sequence of summits over the next few weeks, including the G7, European Council, NATO summit and potentially an EU-UK summit, against a backdrop of mounting geopolitical and economic pressure. Managing relations with an increasingly embattled President Trump will be a recurring theme as tensions continue to simmer over Ukraine, Iran, trade, […]
On 3 January, US forces carried out airstrikes and a military operation in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, capturing President Nicolás Maduro who has been in power since 2013. Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has assumed presidential powers as interim President. This US action in Venezuela illustrates Trump’s increased focus on the US sphere of influence in the Western […]
Political backdrop Several key themes form the backdrop to this intense diplomatic sequence. On Ukraine, the focus has shifted decisively back to the military track following the unsuccessful US attempt at negotiating a ceasefire. Tensions remain high in the Middle East. An Iran-Israel escalation is a major risk following Israel’s unprecedented strikes against Iran’s nuclear […]
Introduction International climate negotiations will begin in Baku on 11 November. COP29 is being dubbed as the ‘finance COP’, with countries needing to set a new global target to mobilise as much as $1 trillion per year of climate finance to developing countries. Ahead of COP30 in Brazil, a key moment for global climate ambition, […]
1. What is COP28? In this look-ahead post, we provide a brief guide to COP28, the key issues and items of agenda headed into the event. COP (“conference of the parties”) takes place every year and is the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change, attracting high-level global participation and interest. Each COP seeks […]
Over 2 billion people – a quarter of the world’s population – will be affected by elections in 2024, including in the US, EU, UK, Taiwan, India and Russia. Some will have significant global implications, though in many cases the full effects will not play through until 2025. This blog explores the upcoming elections and […]
In the run-up to a general election, being seen interacting with world leaders is an important element to building legitimacy and credibility for both the incumbent and challenger campaigning for the top spot. The meeting between Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron on 19 September is such a moment. It concludes an intense international week for […]
The G7 Leaders’ Summit is taking place on 19 – 21 May in Hiroshima, Japan. Economic security and combating economic coercion will be the dominant themes, driven by the US as they push allies to curb dependencies on China. Opposition to Russia and support for Ukraine will be the other main theme. Leaders will discuss a […]
Last week, the Government published the long-awaited “refresh” to its national security and international policy, the Integrated Review (“IR23”). The Government also announced an additional £11 billion to the defence budget over the next 5 years, with £5 billion of that in the first 2 years. The Integrated Review, initially published in March 2021 (“IR21”), […]
What happened? 2023 started on a strong note for the crypto industry in France. Senator Hervé Maurey, a centrist, caught the industry - and the government - by surprise in adding an amendment to an otherwise unrelated legislation. The change would have drastically strengthened the authorisation framework for digital asset services providers (DASPs, or so-called […]
Flint Partner Josh Buckland is joined by Flint experts Mary Starks former Executive Director for Consumers and Markets at the UK energy regulator Ofgem, Gregor Kreuzhuber, former advisor to two EU Commissioners and Francois-Joseph Schichan, former diplomat and political adviser to various French Ambassadors to discuss where next for the energy market. You can also download this episode here.
2023 looks set to be a transition year for geopolitics. Developments this year will shape the political debate ahead of major electoral events in 2024: the US, Russia, Ukraine and Taiwan will face presidential elections, the UK will in all likelihood hold a General Election, and the EU will hold the European parliament elections. 2023 […]
Russia’s war against Ukraine and the West’s response will have structural long-term economic consequences. A month after the beginning of the war, we take stock of some of the big questions around the macroeconomic impact and the global financial system. Russia and Europe will pay a heavy price A global recession is unlikely. The IMF […]
We asked some of Flint’s experts for their take on the wider and longer-term impacts of the Ukraine crisis. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had an immediate impact on energy prices and security, spurring Western countries to cut or reduce their reliance on Russian gas. This has long-term implications for the energy sector. Nations are scrambling […]
We enter 2022 amid great international uncertainty. Covid may be in retreat in the developed world, but not across the globe. High debt and inflation will make delivering on climate promises hard. Serious political and military tension has flared between Russia and the West over Ukraine. The China/US standoff persists. America is divided and Biden […]
France will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union between 1 January and 30 June. The success of this Presidency will be a key element of President Macron’s re-election bid. He has placed Europe at the heart of his political priorities and sees this as an opportunity to showcase French leadership in […]
Listen from 1:37 to hear Flint Partner François-Joseph Schichan talk about the ongoing student protests in France and their implications for the political situation in the context of the presidential election campaign.
Listen from 01:08:25 to hear Flint Partner François-Joseph Schichan discuss the end of the "one in, one out" policy to manage illegal channel crossings between France and the UK, as well as the broader EU-UK relationship outlook following Andy Burnham's speech at the Labour Party conference.
Listen from 01:08:20 to hear Flint Partner François-Joseph Schichan talk about the EU-UK relationship following Andy Burnham's speech at Labour Party conference.
"The agreement with Venezuela is another step towards increasing US imports, but it will take time before Venezuelan oil has any significant impact on oil prices in the US."
François-Joseph Schichan says, "The Burnham-Macron meeting for the Bayeux Tapestry's exhibition is a symbolic moment marking a new step in the post-Brexit reconciliation between France and the UK. But it's also geopolitically significant, with more and more coordination and cooperation taking place between the two countries on Russia, Iran and China."
Listen from 1:07:55 to hear Flint partner François-Joseph Schichan talk about UK-EU relations and UK-France relations as President Macron visits the UK today and tomorrow for the inauguration of the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum.
Listen from 1.20.05 to hear Flint partner François-Joseph Schichan discuss the French political situation, Marine Le Pen's verdict, and her announcement that she would run for President in 2027.
Flint partner François-Joseph Schichan shares his insights with Le Figaro on UK domestic politics, the immigration challenge, and the rise of Nigel Farage’s party
In this op-ed for Le Figaro, Flint Partner François-Joseph examines whether the UK is becoming increasingly difficult to govern amid mounting political fragmentation, economic pressures, and growing public distrust in traditional institutions. The piece explores how Brexit, regional divides, the rise of populist movements, and weakening confidence in the two-party system are reshaping British politics […]
“Whilst the routes to North America are most profitable for airlines and therefore least likely to be cancelled, the uncertainty for fans planning to attend the World Cup in the US, Mexico or Canada, particularly for a short trip, might put at least some of them off from travelling.”
"With his texts to Trump, Macron was trying to engage with classic diplomacy, but that doesn't work with Trump because he puts it on Truth Social and the plan blows up. You used to be able to have a one-on-one conversation in private between leaders, but now you don't know if it'll end up on […]
Listen to Flint Partner François-Joseph Schichan discuss EU-US tensions over Greenland and what to expect from the upcoming meetings President Trump will have in Davos with European leaders this week, and President Macron's position and influence on this issue.
"The key element for Europeans to influence the negotiations is the question of the use of Russian frozen assets. If Europeans find an agreement on this in the coming weeks, it will make a big difference for Ukraine and allow the Europeans to gain some leverage in the discussions with the US."
"Markets are concerned by the fiscal position of both France and the UK, but the UK already had its wake-up call with Liz Truss' mini budget a few years ago. France hasn't had this confrontation with market realities yet."
Flint Director François-Joseph Schichan on Times Radio with Danny Finkelstein discussing the French political situation and the imprisonment of former President Nicolas Sarkozy. Listen from 23.02
On BBC News, Flint’s François-Joseph Schichan discusses the French political situation and what the vote of no confidence means for President Macron's government.
Turbulence in Paris: Sébastien Lecornu’s shock resignation has thrown Macron’s government back into uncertainty. On Sky News, Flint’s François-Joseph Schichan unpacks what this means for France.
Sébastien Lecornu’s resignation barely a month into his premiership leaves France facing renewed political uncertainty. Flint expert François-Joseph Schichan discusses the implications for President Macron.
As French President Macron's government is facing a vote of no confidence, Flint expert François-Joseph Schichan discusses the political instability instability in France.
With a vote of no confidence against the current French government scheduled for September 8th, François-Joseph Schichan is on Times Radio discussing what's happening and how this political instability could affect the UK. Listen from 20:40-28.20 for more.
Director, François-Joseph agreed this week should be seen as “a summit of reconciliation,” but acknowledged there would nonetheless be “differences on issues, on how to deal with Trump.”
“It’s very much a starting point, a lot of things need to be hammered out, and actually negotiations are going to continue for quite some time before any final deal is going to be done.” Watch from 2:56.
Director François-Joseph Schichan tells Bloomberg that "France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz have their own Franco-German reset front of mind."
In this piece, Director François-Joseph Schichan gives his views on the UK-EU relationship, stating the "bloc needs to anchor the U.K. to its security interests, priorities and values."
Director François-Joseph Schichan tells Politico "the French have stayed very much on the position that there shouldn’t be any advantages given to the British after Brexit”.
Director François-Joseph Schichan spoke on BBC News political situation in France ahead of President Macron’s address to the French people on the political crisis
Director François-Joseph Schichan spoke on Sky News about the political situation in France following the resignation of Michel Barnier as Prime minister.
"To say that the business community is disappointed with the new government would be too strong and too early to say, but they are cautious and the optimism that followed the election has clearly passed."
Director François-Joseph spoke to Sky News about the political situation in France after the European elections and President Macron's decision to call a snap general election in France.
In this appearance, Director François-Joseph spoke about the latest on channel crossings, immigration policy in France and UK-France cooperation to tackle illegal immigration. Listen from 54 minutes and 43 seconds.
Director François-Jospeh speaks about Macron’s vision for European security, the French national security strategy, and what role he [Macron] sees the relationship between France, Germany and the UK as the E3.
Director François-Joseph speaks on Swiss television channel RTS about David Cameron's appointment as Foreign Secretary and the political situation in the UK.
Director François-Joseph Schichan spoke about French foreign policy and President Macron’s visit to the Middle East on this morning's BBC News segment.
Director François-Joseph speaks on Sky's podcast about the state of the Franco-British relationship, the King’s visit to France and Keir Starmer’s meeting with Emmanuel Macron.
Director François-Joseph Schichan analyses Labour leader Keir Starmer’s meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, highlighting the reasons for the visit from a French perspective.
« Il y a aussi une proximité idéologique entre le parti de Macron et le Parti travailliste d'aujourd'hui : Macron a gagné en faisant campagne au centre, en fédérant le centre gauche et le centre droit - une approche très similaire de Tony Blair qui est une source d'inspiration majeure pour le Labour »
"Les entreprises en première ligne face aux désordres du monde" : François-Joseph Schichan, Directeur à Flint Global, analyse l'impact des incertitudes géopolitiques sur les entreprises, et comment elles peuvent y répondre.
In an article for Le Figaro, Director François-Joseph explains to a French audience the political and symbolic significance of the coronation for the UK and the challenges facing the new King.
Director François-Joseph Schichan quoted in Bloomberg's article on crypto regulation in the EU where he said “MiCA brings quite considerable regulatory constraints and is not necessarily about to usher in a golden age for crypto in Europe”.
Director François-Joseph said “The government is in a complicated situation,” [...] “France is going to come under pressure, from the EU and maybe the US, to harden its regulation.” for Bloomberg's article France’s ‘Startup Nation’ Becomes a Haven for Crypto.
Director François-Joseph Schichan was interviewed by French Newspaper Le Figaro on the current political situation in Ireland, touching on the crisis in the asylum system and the housing crisis.
Director François-Joseph Schichan was quoted in The Washington Post's article 'Let Them Eat Crypto? France Cooks Up a Plan,' where he said “the environment is more unstable than it was a year ago.”
“Boris Johnson and Emannuel Macron managed to have quite a stable relationship at the start, but it went downhill pretty quickly,” Mr Schichan said. “Johnson and Liz Truss took a confrontational stance towards the EU and the member states. I think Rishi Sunak decided you can get more from the EU member states by having […]
Director François-Joseph Schichan is quoted in the French weekly economic magazine on the Franco-British summit and economic cooperation between France and the UK.
Director François-Joseph Schichan appeared on BBC News to discuss the UK-France summit (10 March) and the important agreement reached by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on illegal immigration.
Director François-Joseph Schichan was quoted in the French newspaper Les Echos on the Northern Ireland protocol and the political challenges facing the Prime Minister to sell his deal in the UK.
Flint has taken a significant step in expanding our European offer, opening a new permanent office in Paris headed by Partner Anne-Juliette Rohrbach. Our Flint France team across the company has experience working at the most senior levels in the French government, parliament, regulatory agencies, and the private sector. They support clients on commercial, political […]
In this episode, Flint experts examine the outlook for US–Iran talks following the fragile ceasefire, and the broader geopolitical and economic implications of the evolving Middle East conflict. They explore potential scenarios for the ceasefire and negotiations, the regional impact across the Gulf and beyond, the effects on energy markets and the global economy, and […]
25 Mar, 2026
After France’s local elections: President Macron’s final year begins
In this episode, Flint experts examine what the municipal election results reveal about France’s evolving political landscape and the implications for the year ahead. They explore how the outcomes could shape the dynamics of the 2027 presidential race, what they mean for Macron’s final year in office, and the risks and opportunities for businesses navigating […]
10 Sep, 2025
France in uncertainty: political instability, budget risks and EU Implications
France faces a new phase of political uncertainty and instability as President Macron’s government, led by François Bayrou, loses a vote of no confidence, paving the way for Sébastien Lecornu’s new appointment as Prime Minister. In this podcast, Director François-Joseph Schichan chairs a discussion with Anne-Juliette Rohrbach, Partner & Managing Director, Flint France, David Wright, Senior Adviser at […]
07 May, 2025
Power shift in Germany – what businesses and investors should prepare for
On 6 May, Friedrich Merz was formally elected Chancellor by the German Bundestag. Merz and his government will take office at a critical moment for Germany and for Europe. Our experts consider the implications for business of the choices confronting Friedrich Merz’s first cabinet. The challenges that Merz and his top team face are marked […]
In this podcast, our experts take stock of Trump’s first month in office and discuss the implications for the US’s political, security and economic relationships around the world. The Trump Administration has moved quickly, making a range of announcements about domestic policy, deregulation, tariffs, and foreign affairs. Even if this momentum slows, it is clear […]
18 Jul, 2024
The French election results: Implications for France, the EU and business
The second round of the French snap parliamentary elections took place over the weekend with surprising results. Over the coming days, the final count will probably raise more questions than answers. French politics will now likely change dramatically, with implications well beyond France’s borders. In the Flint podcast, our experts explore these implications and […]
27 Jun, 2024
French snap election: what is at stake for France, Europe and business
Following a crushing defeat at the European election on 9 June, President Macron called a snap parliamentary election that will take place in two rounds on 30 June and 7 July. The result is uncertain but is likely to represent a watershed moment for French and European politics, with the far-right set to become the […]
Russian forces are on the offensive again. Putin has made significant changes to his defence and security team and is strengthening Russia’s relationship with China. In the West, US support has resumed after months of delays, but upcoming US and EU elections mean that long-term support will remain a challenge. Switzerland will host a […]
In the second instalment of Geopolitics for Business, Flint director and former Australian diplomat Katie Whitting chairs a panel of Flint experts to discuss the outcome of the recent BRICS summit; they debate the significance of enlargement of the BRICS, whether China can succeed in turning this group into a counterweight to the G7, and what these […]
14 Jul, 2023
#1: The NATO Summit and the Future of European Security
In our first episode, we discuss the outcomes of the NATO summit that was held on 11 and 12 July in Vilnius, Lithuania. Flint Director and former French diplomat Francois-Joseph Schichan hosts the discussion between this month’s guests:
02 Feb, 2023
Crisis over, or crisis just begun: where next for the energy market?
Flint Partner Josh Buckland is joined by Flint experts Mary Starks former Executive Director for Consumers and Markets at the UK energy regulator Ofgem, Gregor Kreuzhuber, former advisor to two EU Commissioners and Francois-Joseph Schichan, former diplomat and political adviser to various French Ambassadors to discuss where next for the energy market. You can also download this episode here.
