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Max Becker

@beckermax.bsky.social
496 followers 802 following 50 posts

Working on security and defence in 🇪🇺 @dgap.org views are my own

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Reposted by Max Becker
Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
We are entering the next stage of the strategic breal-up between Europe and the US:
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Cas Mudde @casmudde.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
This is an extremely important new paper by @armida.bsky.social 🚨 Defense can not be an elite project! Creating broad and deep public support is essential… not just to justify spending but also to create a better pool for military personnel and a convincing reason for compulsory military service.
cer.eu
How to build public support for defence spending in Europe
Strategies for building a national consensus around higher defence investments and the trade-offs required.
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Max Becker @beckermax.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Thrilled to share my first-ever @dgap.org publication co-authored with Patrick Keller and @emilarchambault.bsky.social🎉 The key takeaway: US security guarantees should be a bonus for Europe, not its foundation. This is at the heart of why Europe must take more responsibility for its own defense
dgap.org
To Ensure Its Security, Europe Needs a Stronger Hand in NATO
Under Donald Trump, American national interests and NATO’s multilateral security commitments are not aligned. While Europe cannot – and should not – reject the United States, it must take ownership of...
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Europeans spend the last days pretending that their deployment to Greenland was not against the US. Trump, as always, is sensing a weakness and will force them to come clean. I understand the diplomatic hesitation, but time for Europeans to make clear, unequivocal stance.
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Alberto Alemanno @alemanno.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Who’s going to defend Greenland (assuming it wants to be defended)? Does the mutual solidarity clause apply to Greenland (and who decides about it)? verfassungsblog.de/greenland-an...
verfassungsblog.de
Greenland and US Annexation Threats
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Official confirmation of German participation in European troop deployment to Greenland. First Bundeswehr soldiers to arrive tomorrow. 🇪🇺 / NATO solidarity in action.
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DGAP @dgap.org · 09/01/2026
Ich glaube aber, dass sich vor einer militärischen Eskalation, einer Intervention mit militärischen Mitteln, noch ganz viele andere Möglichkeiten ergeben", sagt @beckermax.bsky.social im "im Loop"-Podcast zu den 🇺🇸 Plänen bezüglich #Grönland. Von einem Deal bis zu einer Beeinflussung ... /1
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Dave Keating @davekeating.substack.com · 08/12/2025
The calls from America this weekend to "abolish the EU" are for one simple reason: the EU is the only thing that can keep European nation-states from becoming Russian or American vassals.
davekeating.substack.com
The US has declared rhetorical war on the EU
The calls from America this weekend to destroy the EU are revealing. They hate the union because it's the only thing that can keep European countries from being Russian or American vassals.
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Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 04/12/2025
FCAS started out as a project to bring France and Germany together, but quickly turned into the opposite. This week, I tried to explain in *two* articles what is going on. For ECFR: 👇 For WPR: www.worldpoliticsreview.com/fcas-europe-...
ecfr.eu
The trouble with FCAS: Why Europe’s fighter jet project is not taking off
The disagreement over the Franco-German-Spanish fighter aircraft system, FCAS, shows that when it comes to building a European defence industry, political will is not enough…
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
The "firewall" in the EU Parliament effectively no longer exists. Just this week we had several uses of the centre-right to far-right majority again. In our new op-ed for @zeit.de, Sophia Russack and I analyze this "Venezuela majority" and why the EP is becoming increasingly unpredictable:
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
This statement highlights part of the problem of the EU's position on Ukraine and the 'Trump peace plan' - as first important achievement it stresses the efficient coordination amongst Europeans, and the resultiing unity. But intra-European coordination and unity are not an end to themselves.
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Neither a Russia nor a Ukraine expert (and at home with a sick kid) but everything I am reading about the Ukraine 'peace' plan reads as much as a capitulation for Ukraine as a capitulation for Europe. Grim, but also a last chance for Europeans to show their ability to say no to Trump.
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Puts one of the fears of additional European defence spending into focus: Instead of spending in a more coordinated way, the additional funds incentivise industry towards more defence inflation and more protection of their national fiefdoms.
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
From the creeping integration of the far-right into the EPP seeking majorities on central EU policies with the far-right. bsky.app/profile/nvon...
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Over the summer, @beckermax.bsky.social, @johannaflach.bsky.social and I wrote about the 'creeping integration of the far-right' into EU decision-making. Now it looks increasingly likely that this week a major part of the Omnibus package will be passed by an EPP-far-right majority.
swp-berlin.org
The Creeping Integration of Far-right Parties in Europe
Where Far-right Parties Are Integrated into the EU System and Where They Are Not
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Der (europäische) Föderalist @foederalist.eu · 20/10/2025
Der Aufstieg der Rechtsaußen-Parteien war die auffälligste Geschichte der #Europawahl 2024 – aber nicht die einzige. In einem Sammelband von MICHAEL KAEDING, MANUEL MÜLLER und ALEX HOPPE analysieren 67 Autor:innen in 38 Kapiteln die vielen Facetten der Wahl. Jetzt auch auf Deutsch erhältlich:
foederalist.eu
Frisch erschienen: Die Europawahl 2024 – Rechtsruck im Schatten des Krieges
Ein Blog über die Demokratie in Europa
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
By now a regular feature of policy-making in the European Parliament - the centre-right EPP at least threatening or actually voting with the far-right, which offers alternative majorities. This significantly moves EU policy to the right, and risks the pro-European majority of the centre.
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Yann Wernert @wernertyann.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
Schrumpfen statt wachsen? Eine neue französische Regierung steht, und zwei Parteien aus der bisherigen Minderheitsregierung drohen auszusteigen, LR und UDI. Die Opposition kocht. Was ist passiert? Kurzfassung und Erklärungen im 🧵
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
In my substack EU-Analytics, I now do monthly reviews of EU voting in the EP and the Council. September 2025 edition is here, with a closer look at voting on Ukraine, overall EP changes - with another centre-right to far-right majority - and a surprise German vote in the Council:
substack.com
EU Analytics - September 2025 review
With the far-right still split on Ukraine, the centre-right working with the far-right on Colombia, and a first Return of the “German Vote” under Merz
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Helga Schmidt @helgaschmidt.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Important analysis of the creeping shift to the right. Decisive factor will be Christian Democratic #EPP, writes @nvondarza.bsky.social Most important, EPP under Manfred Weber (CSU) has got the choice. His coalitions with the far-right are not a must. EPP could easily form majorities without them.
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Max Becker @beckermax.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
The creeping integration of far right parties in 🇪🇺 within the last couple of years and the crucial role of the @eppgroup.bsky.social Give it a read 👇
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Manuel Müller @manuelmueller.foederalist.eu · 22/09/2025
Before #EP2024, I predicted the far right to gain power in EU institutions "not through sweeping victory, but creeping normalisation": fiia.fi/en/publicati... Now, @beckermax.bsky.social et al. have analysed the "creeping integration of far-right parties in Europe". I wish I'd been more wrong.
swp-berlin.org
The Creeping Integration of Far-right Parties in Europe
Where Far-right Parties Are Integrated into the EU System and Where They Are Not
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Before last week, NATO's art. 4 had been activated seven times. Now it has been activated twice in less than ten days, by Poland over the drone incursions and Estonia over the air space by violation by Russian fighter jets.
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Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) @swp-berlin.org · 19/09/2025
Der Einfluss von Rechtsaußenparteien in der EU wächst. Ob sich die Union weiterhin auf ein proeuropäisches Lager stützen kann, hängt v.a. von der EVP ab, schreiben @beckermax.bsky.social, @johannaflach.bsky.social und @nvondarza.bsky.social @swp-europe.bsky.social. www.swp-berlin.org/publikation/...
swp-berlin.org
Die schleichende Integration von Rechtsaußenparteien in Europa
Wo Rechtsaußenparteien in das EU-System eingebunden – und wo sie isoliert werden
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Max Becker @beckermax.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Die schleichende Integration von Rechtsaußenparteien in Europa: Nach den Europawahlen 2024 stellen sie 26 % der Abgeordneten im EP – und sind in 1/3 der Mitgliedstaaten an Regierungen beteiligt. Das neue @swp-berlin.org Aktuell von @nvondarza.bsky.social, @johannaflach.bsky.social und mir 👇
swp-berlin.org
Die schleichende Integration von Rechtsaußenparteien in Europa
Wo Rechtsaußenparteien in das EU-System eingebunden – und wo sie isoliert werden
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ian bremmer @ianbremmer.com · 18/09/2025
just going to leave this here from jon stewart accepting the mark twain prize in 2022:
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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 19/08/2025
Reminder that Putin has never said he wants a trilateral meeting, had never said he would respect Ukrainian sovereignty, and has never said he wants to end the war. Not to be a downer, but the discussion of security guarantees is premature.
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SWP Europe @swp-europe.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
New #EU Security and Defence Partnerships with 🇨🇦 , 🇳🇴 & 🇬🇧 – same framework, different depth. @johannaflach.bsky.social & @nvondarza.bsky.social compare scope, ambitions & political signalling. And what these new agreements reveal about Europe's evolving security architecture. Give it a read 👇
ukandeu.ac.uk
A tale of three partnerships - UK in a changing Europe
Johanna Flach and Nicolai von Ondarza explore the new EU security and defence partnerships with Canada, Norway and the UK.
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Max Becker @beckermax.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
Happy to see my first ever contribution to a book chapter published! If you’re interested in the fluidity of #EP Political Groups - give it a read 😌 Thanks to @manuelmueller.foederalist.eu, Michael Kaeding, @alexhoppe.bsky.social and @nvondarza.bsky.social
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Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Elections have consequences - and with the far-right groups now about 25% of elected representatives int he European Parliament, they are bound to take a more influential role in EU law-making:
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Max Becker @beckermax.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Very important read by @timbale.bsky.social on the increasing use of the term “hard right” and why we shouldn’t be using it - and certainly not because we anticipate criticism from far right actors who do not want to be labelled as what they are
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Alberto Alemanno @alemanno.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
The motion of censure against von der Leyen isn’t about whether her Commission survives - it will -, but what Europe she’ll lead. This motion goes to the heart of what the European Parliament has always been about: to hold the EU Commission democratically accountable. A thread 🧵
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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 04/07/2025
"the American realignment with Russia and against Ukraine and Europe is gathering pace—not merely in rhetoric but in reality" www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
theatlantic.com
The U.S. Is Switching Sides
Donald Trump is giving Vladimir Putin every incentive to keep killing Ukrainians.
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Ronja Kempin @ronjakempin.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Meine Analyse heute morgen bei @Tagesschau zu #EU, #Sicherheitspolitik, #Trump, #G7, #Israel, #Iran www.tagesschau.de/multimedia/v...
tagesschau.de
Ronja Kempin, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, zur Rolle der EU bei Sicherheit und Verteidigung
Ronja Kempin, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, zur Rolle der EU bei Sicherheit und Verteidigung
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Georg ‘Maverick’ Löfflmann @gloefflmann.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Der linke Flügel der SPD hat die Zeitenwende stets nur zähneknirschend mitgetragen, denn die Stärkung der konventionellen militärischen Abschreckung fordert den parteiinternen Heiligenschein von Ost- und Entspannungspolitik heraus. Je länger der Krieg andauert und umso höher die NATO-Ziele steigen,
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Robin Wagener @robinwagener.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Russland begeht Kriegsverbrechen als Routine und schießt ständig Raketen auf Zivilisten. Und immer noch fabulieren manche von „berechtigten Sicherheitsinteressen“. #SPD #Russland www.stern.de/politik/deut...
stern.de
"Manifest": Prominente SPD-Politiker fordern Gespräche mit Russland | STERN.de
Es ist ein heikler Aufschlag: Etliche prominente Genossen fordern in einem
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Max Becker @beckermax.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Man könnte vieles über das #Manifest der (hoffentlich) alten #SPD sagen aber, dass es die dutzendfach widerlegte Falschbehauptung wiederholt Europa seie Russland militärisch überlegen um daraus den Schluss einer „Abrüstungspolitik“ und „Politik der gemeinsamen Sicherheit“ zu ziehen ist verstörend
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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 07/06/2025
"Every time we go to the polls, politicians will say that every election matters and every vote counts. They will be right" www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
theatlantic.com
Every Election Is Now Existential
A nationalist’s narrow victory in Poland offers a preview of many knife-edge contests to come, all across the democratic world.
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Claudia Cornelsen @ccornelsen.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Allein dass Weimer die rechtspopulistische Cancel-Legende der "verbannten" Venus-Skulptur als Beleg eines angeblich links-feministischen Kulturkampfes zeigt, dass ihm die Kompetenz für das Amt des Kulturstaatsministers fehlt. Der Reihe nach 🧵
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SWP Europe @swp-europe.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Wie stark kann Nawrocki Polens EU-Kurs tatsächlich beeinflussen? @nvondarza.bsky.social‬ zeigt: Auch ohne direkte Brüssel-Rolle kann der Präsident Reformprojekte blockieren – mit Wirkung bis nach Berlin.
tagesspiegel.de
Ein Rechtsnationaler wird Polens neuer Präsident: Das bedeutet Nawrocki für die Achse Paris-Berlin-Warschau
Im Wahlkampf hat Rechtspopulist Nawrocki gegen Europa, Frauen und gegen die Ukraine gehetzt. Einer Mehrheit der Polen gefiel das offenbar. Experten schätzen die Folgen für Europa ein.
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Annika Brockschmidt @ardenthistorian.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Ich habe mit @tabouchadi.bsky.social für @volksverpetzer.de über den Forschungsstand zum Ausgrenzen rechtsextremer Parteien, ihrer Normalisierung in Politik und Medien und darüber gesprochen, was sich ändern muss, um die weitere Unterwanderung unserer Demokratie zu verhindern.
volksverpetzer.de
Klare Forschungslage: AfD Ausgrenzen funktioniert
Die Forschung widerspricht der Relativierung der Tagesschau: Eine Normalisierung der AfD stärkt Rechtsextremismus.
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Jana Puglierin @jpuglierin.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
The whole of Europe looked to Berlin today in the hope that Germany would reassert itself as an anchor of stability and a pro-European powerhouse. That hope has been dashed. With consequences way beyond our borders.
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Max Becker @beckermax.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
@annegretbendiek.bsky.social, Ronja Kempin and I have written down, that the current securitisation of the external action of 🇪🇺 and new financing instruments must not obscure the need for structural changes to the #CFSP and #CSDP🧵
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Sabine Fischer @sabfis3.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
#Trump hat durch die Annäherung an #Russland ohne Not das internationale Umfeld des Krieges und das Gleichgewicht zwischen den Parteien radikal verändert. Für #Putin rückt so der erträumte Diktatfrieden näher. Meine neue Analyse zum Thema Verhandlungen: www.swp-berlin.org/publikation/...
swp-berlin.org
Alles über die Ukraine ohne die Ukraine
Friedensverhandlungen in Trumps schöner neuer Welt
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Thu Nguyen @onethuthree.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
Interesting addition: SPD wants to enshrine in the coalition agreement a clause rejecting any cooperation with the far-right (ECR, PfE, ESN) in the European Parliament. Looks like a nod to Manfred Weber to me.
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Andrius Kubilius @andriuskubilius.ec.europa.eu · 21/03/2025
Good phone calls with defence ministers of 🇬🇧 and 🇨🇦. Told them our €150bn loans programme SAFE is open to EU & non-EU collaboration. It invites friends to build deeper defence industry partnerships of mutual benefit with us.
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netzpolitik.org @netzpolitik.org · 24/03/2025
Der Bundesrat will, dass die Polizei bundesweit Palantir als Software einsetzt. Das Unternehmen gehört dem rechten Milliardär und Strippenzieher Peter Thiel. Diesem Feind der Demokratie Geld und Daten in den Rachen zu werfen, ist unverantwortlich. Ein Kommentar. netzpolitik.org/2025/palanti...
netzpolitik.org
Palantir: Wer jetzt bei Peter Thiel Software kauft, hat wirklich nichts verstanden
Der Bundesrat will, dass die Polizei bundesweit Palantir als Software einsetzt. Das Unternehmen gehört dem rechten Milliardär und Strippenzieher Peter Thiel. Diesem Feind der Demokratie Geld und Daten...
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UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 23/03/2025
‘Good intentions, as recently declared by Kaja Kallas & David Lammy, are not enough… it is time for both the EU and the UK to step up’ 🇬🇧🇪🇺 A special UK-EU security relationship is now vital write @beckermax.bsky.social @nvondarza.bsky.social & Johanna Flach👇 ukandeu.ac.uk/resetting-uk...
ukandeu.ac.uk
Resetting UK-EU defence cooperation: the case for a special partnership - UK in a changing Europe
The UK-EU security relationship is increasingly important amid US uncertainties, argue Max Becker, Johanna Flach and Dr. Nicolai von Ondarza.
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