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Short political reports of the KAS offices abroad

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Christian Life in Israel

Between Protection, Uncertainty, and Participation

Pentecost is one of the most important moments in the Christian year; believers come together to celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the Church, as was the case recently on Pentecost Sunday in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is holy to three world religions. Jews, Muslims, and Christians look at the city from different perspectives and from all over the world, closely following what happens there. Above all, the sites sacred to the three religions symbolize the Middle East conflict and the still-unresolved question of whether and how Jews and Muslims, Israelis and Palestinians, can live together and side by side in lasting peace. In the meantime, however, another line of conflict has emerged, as Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem increasingly report attacks, repression, and violence. What is the situation regarding the lives of Christians in Israel?

Dr. Michael Rimmel, Pascal Franz
June 1, 2026
Country reports
Imago / Anadolu Agency

Surprise in Colombia: Conservative Outsider Wins First Round

Strong performance by Abelardo de la Espriella makes a political shift more likely

Colombian voters have delivered a surprise in the first round of the presidential elections. Contrary to polling predictions, conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella managed to defeat government candidate Iván Cepeda. The two will face each other in a runoff on June 21. The security crisis and the weakness of the political center are reshaping Colombia’s political landscape. While votes were still being counted, the government camp publicly questioned the results, further intensifying political polarization.

Dr. Kristin Wesemann
June 1, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / Xinhua

New government in Latvia: Four-party alliance under Kulbergs

JV remains security policy anchor

On 28 May 2026, the Saeima confirmed the new government under Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs. The 47-year-old businessman, economist and trained car mechanic from the centrist United List (Apvienotais saraksts, AS) takes over the duties of Evika Siliņa (Jaunā Vienotība, JV), whose cabinet collapsed on May 14 over a dispute over the replacement of the defense ministry after several drone incidents, including the impact on an oil storage facility in mid-May. President Edgars Rinkēvičs then tasked Kulbergs with forming a government. The new prime minister promises an "effective, professional and accountable government" and describes himself as a "realist". Kulbergs leads a four-party coalition.

Oliver Morwinsky
May 29, 2026
Country reports
Credit IMAGO / Anadolu Agency

A Test for Bolivia’s Government

Less than six months after President Paz took office, a wave of protests is threatening the stability of the country.

Severe supply shortages and road blockades are shaping the image of Bolivia’s capital, reviving memories of past crises in the country. The escalation is fueled by an explosive mix of political legacies, social conflicts, and growing dissatisfaction among influential groups. The government of President Rodrigo Paz is under acute pressure to act, yet from the very beginning of its term it has been confronted with a dual structural problem: the heavy legacy of the socialist era and an extremely fragile power base of its own.

Dr. Christina Stolte
May 28, 2026
Country reports
Grafik mit KI Copilot generiert / Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

The Playbook of Health Disinformation and the Ebola Outbreak in the DRC and Uganda

Bioweapons, Big Pharma and Simple Remedies

The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda has been accompanied by targeted health disinformation just hours after the WHO emergency declaration. Our report analyses the narratives, actors and dynamics of this information manipulation – from bioweapons claims and conspiracy narratives to alleged “simple remedies” and anti-Western narratives. The analysis shows that: Ebola disinformation is not a new phenomenon but has followed a recurring pattern for decades. Many of the narratives spread today resemble earlier campaigns about HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 or other epidemics. Particularly problematic is the combination of fear, political instrumentalization and economic interests: Health disinformation has long become a business model. The report classifies the current situation, describes typical narratives and shows why health cri-ses are particularly vulnerable to disinformation and what countermeasures policymakers, authorities and media should now take.

Christopher Nehring, Hendrik Sittig
May 28, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / ITAR-TASS

Is an entry of Belarus into the war against Ukraine looming?

For weeks, Ukrainian President Zelensky has been warning that Russia is attempting to openly draw Belarus into the war.

Ukrainian intelligence services have reportedly registered the construction of roads leading toward the Ukrainian border as well as the preparation of artillery positions in Belarus. According to the Ukrainian side, Russia is considering offensive scenarios launched from Belarus toward Chernihiv and Kyiv. The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that the Russian General Staff is examining offensive operations from the north in order to stretch the front line. However, according to the prevailing assessment of independent Belarusian analysts, no troop movements have so far been observed that would clearly substantiate these scenarios. A direct Belarusian entry into the war remains rather unlikely. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense given the country’s close military alignment with Russia and its high degree of militarization. Most recently, Russia and Belarus conducted joint exercises with a nuclear dimension, thereby creating a clear posture of intimidation. On 25 May, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leading representative of the democratic Belarusian opposition, arrived in Kyiv — an important political signal from Ukraine that Ukrainian Belarusian relations are to be oriented more strongly toward the democratic opposition and distanced from dictator Lukashenka.

Gabriele Baumann
May 27, 2026
Country reports
KAS

Malaysia's Special Economic Zones

Growth Engine and Balancing Tool

Malaysia's Special Economic Zones reflect a dual-track economic strategy: rapid integration into high-value regional supply chains and long-term domestic rebalancing. The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), launched in 2025, demonstrates strong early momentum, attracting RM68 billion (USD17 billion) in approved investments within nine months and leveraging cross-border complementarities with Singapore. In contrast, the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) SEZ, established in 2008-2009, targets structural disparities by promoting industrial development in less-developed states. While JS-SEZ benefits from proximity to global capital and logistics networks, ECER faces constraints linked to geography, visibility, and execution capacity. Together, these zones illustrate Malaysia's attempt to move up the value chain while addressing internal inequality. The central policy challenge lies in sustaining investor confidence through credible execution and ensuring that high-growth zones do not deepen regional imbalances. These zones serve two distinct functions. First, they attract foreign direct investment in higher-value sectors such as digital services, advanced manufacturing, and green industries. Second, they address uneven development across regions. The contrast between the Johor-Singapore SEZ and the ECER SEZ illustrates this dual objective clearly.

Natalie Russmann, Justin Tee Yong Ting
May 20, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / dts Nachrichtenagentur

Evika Siliņa resigns: Latvia's primary phase begins with government crisis

Vienotiba: between a coalition breakdown, an election campaign and a general election

Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (Jaunā Vienotība / EPP) announced her resignation on 14 May. The occasion was the forced resignation of Defense Minister Andris Sprūds (Progresīvie) on May 10 after drone incidents in Latgale — which were subsequently identified as Ukrainian missiles diverted by Russian electronic warfare. This ends the three-party coalition of JV, ZZS and Progresīvie, which has been in office since September 2023 — just under five months before the parliamentary elections on October 3. On the same morning, Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze (ZZS) was arrested by the anti-corruption office KNAB as part of the "wood industry affair". Siliņa continues to conduct official business in an acting capacity; On 15 May, President Edgars Rinkēvičs will start consultations with all Saeima parliamentary groups. There are three scenarios for the transition phase.

Oliver Morwinsky
May 15, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / Anadolu Agency

Strategic Bet: How Germany Is Rediscovering Turkey

From Bilateral Rapprochement to a Shared Security Architecture

On 18 May 2026, the Strategic Dialogue Mechanism between Germany and Turkey is scheduled to be resumed. Since Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s inaugural visit to Ankara in late October 2025, German–Turkish relations have taken on renewed momentum. Both countries currently see tangible opportunities to achieve concrete progress in their bilateral cooperation. From a German perspective, Turkey has increasingly come into focus as a strategic security partner. The upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara in July 2026 offers a valuable opportunity to further strengthen cooperation in the field of defence. Additional substantive impulses may also emerge from the forthcoming 18th Istanbul Security Conference®.

Dr. Markus Hildebrand
May 13, 2026
Country reports
IMAGO / Wolfgang Maria Weber

Reactions and Background to the Trump Administration’s Decision to Reduce Troops in Germany

Gradual Withdrawal or New Strategy?

The United States’ decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany over the next year reflects not only President Donald Trump’s displeasure with America’s European allies, but also the continuation of a policy by the Trump Administration to hold American allies responsible for their own security. This move was substantially criticized by members of both houses of Congress, including many of Trump’s Republican allies, for being short sighted, lack of transparency (especially considering the lack of a released Global Posture Review) and demonstrating weakness. This may also be driven by an attempt to shore up Trump’s political base ahead of the 2026 midterm elections after the president’s approval rating sharply fell after the attack on Iran.

Dr. Hardy Ostry
May 7, 2026
Country reports

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About this series

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is a political foundation. Our offices abroad are in charge of over 200 projects in more than 120 countries. The country reports offer current analyses, exclusive evaluations, background information and forecasts - provided by our international staff.

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Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.