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Sophia Besch

@sophiabesch.bsky.social
6.4K followers 302 following 62 posts

Senior Fellow Europe @CarnegieEndowment.org, DC Adjunct lecturer @johnshopkinssais.bsky.social Previously @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Sophia Besch
Tara Varma @taravarma.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Nouvel tribune avec @sophiabesch.bsky.social pour @lefigaro.fr sur ce que les Européens peuvent attendre du sommet de l’OTAN à Ankara. « Le pacte de l’après-1945 dans lequel un hégémon bienveillant garantissait l’ordre européen […] a toujours été exceptionnel. » www.lefigaro.fr/vox/monde/a-...
lefigaro.fr
«À Ankara, l’Europe souhaite davantage de prévisibilité, ce que les États-Unis ne sont pas prêts à lui donner»
TRIBUNE - Les Européens semblent avoir accepté l’idée que l’engagement américain évoluait, analysent les chercheuses Sophia Besch et Tara Varma. Au sommet de l’Otan à Ankara, les 7 et 8 juillet, ils e...
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Tara Varma @taravarma.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Ravie de voir ce papier co-écrit avec @sophiabesch.bsky.social pour @carnegieendowment.org publié. Nous y explorons la question de la soutenabilité de la puissance américaine en Europe: militaire, économique, technologique et soft power : carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
carnegieendowment.org
Will American Power in Europe Run Out?
American power is entrenched in Europe. Yet the depth of this relationship has become a source of unease in Europe and Europeans are working to reduce their exposure to the vicissitudes of U.S. politi...
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Carnegie Endowment @carnegieendowment.org · 01/07/2026
At this year’s NATO summit in Ankara, European leaders are building a stronger Europe-led alliance as America’s commitment shifts. @sophiabesch.bsky.social, @iacoskun.bsky.social, Nate Reynolds, and @stephenwertheim.bsky.social examine what’s shaping the summit. carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
carnegieendowment.org
Ahead of the Ankara Summit, NATO’s Mood Has Changed
European allies are less focused on appeasing Trump and more focused on smoothing the transition to a Europe-led alliance.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Claudia Major @claudmajor.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Call me lucky! Thrilled to announce that the wonderful @sophiabesch.bsky.social will join GMF's transatlantic security team as research director + managing director European+transatlantic defence. Sophia will be a key pillar in my team - together we will shape GMFs security & defense work!
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Jan-Philipp Hein @aufmacher.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
„Strategischer Pessimusmus“ prägt Deutschlands Außenpolitik. Alternativen und wie wir unsere Interessen strategisch klug bei der Gestaltung einer neuen internationalen Ordnung vertreten können, hat FOCUS-Gastautorin @sophiabesch.bsky.social aufgeschrieben. www.focusplus.de/politik/wann...
focusplus.de
Wann fängt Deutschland an, seine Macht in der Welt zu nutzen?
Unsere Außenpolitik ist von strategischem Pessimismus geprägt. Dabei müssten wir uns dringend an einer globalen Ordnung beteiligen. Noch sendet der Kanzler die falschen Signale. Eine Analyse.
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202... New piece out today: Europe cannot sit this one out.
carnegieendowment.org
Europe Cannot Sit Out the Iran War
The Greenland crisis taught Europe to push back against Washington. In Iran, it must learn how to engage without falling in line.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Carnegie Democracy @carnegiedcg.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
"If Europe is as serious about preventing Ukraine’s defeat as it now appears to be, a coordinated long-term strategy will do more to help Kyiv...than its current practice of lurching from one aid package to another." Read the latest from @sophiabesch.bsky.social 🔽
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
New piece out this morning:
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
New @foreignaffairs.com piece out today with Eric Ciaramella on the future of Fortress Ukraine. Gift link here: www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/fort...
foreignaffairs.com
Fortress Ukraine
How a coalition of the willing can rearm Kyiv without Washington.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Gerard Rathenau @grathenau.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
Leestip voor de zondag: @sophiabesch.bsky.social bespreekt in haar paper wat Europa kan doen om de afhankelijkheid van VS te beperken qua defensie, waarbij EU/NAVO vooral faciliterende rol heeft en verder alles in blokken wordt uitgevoerd. carnegieendowment.org/research/202...
carnegieendowment.org
Rebalancing the Transatlantic Defense-Industrial Relationship: Regional Pragmatism in Northeastern Europe
Facing acute threats, states in Northeastern Europe are pioneering a pragmatic model of defense-industrial cooperation that offers lessons for managing transatlantic dependencies in an era of uncertai...
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Aida A. Hozic @hozic.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Sobering analysis of transatlantic woes by @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @jyshapiro.bsky.social and some sage advice re alternatives. But, do European status-quo elites have the courage to face, let alone abandon, an abusive relationship?
lawfaremedia.org
The New American Imperialism: How Europe Can Deal With Trump’s Threat to Greenland
EU leaders will have to learn how to stand up to the bully in the White House.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Steven Everts @sbeverts.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
"Europe’s biggest underpriced risk is financial dependence on the United States" I argue for @carnegieeurope.bsky.social. Great set of 'blind spots' with @cerianbond.bsky.social, @sophiabesch.bsky.social @dimitarh.bsky.social @jakubjanda.bsky.social @alanderminna.bsky.social and more
carnegieendowment.org
Taking the Pulse: What Issue Is Europe Ignoring at Its Peril in 2026?
2026 has started in crisis, as the actions of unpredictable leaders shape an increasingly volatile global environment. To shift from crisis response to strategic foresight, what under-the-radar issues...
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Carnegie Europe @carnegieeurope.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
🆕 | The debate on European nuclear deterrence has intensified, with NATO allies balancing three key aims. They will need to cooperate more deeply to craft a coherent strategy for confronting new threats, argue @sophiabesch.bsky.social & @jamiekwong.bsky.social. carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
carnegieendowment.org
Unpacking Europe's Deterrence Dilemmas
The debate on the future of European deterrence has intensified, as NATO allies seek to balance three key aims. Going forward, they will need to cooperate more deeply to craft a coherent strategy for ...
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Liana Fix @lianafix.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
New from @sophiabesch.bsky.social and myself: internationalepolitik.de/de/wer-trump...
internationalepolitik.de
Wer Trump umarmt, braucht ein starkes Rückgrat
Die Europäer haben im vergangenen Jahr den Fokus darauf gelegt, dem US-Präsidenten zu schmeicheln.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Rosa Balfour @rosabalfour.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
It was great to sit down with @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @dannbaer to discuss the state of things. Watch this space as more will come!
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Carnegie Endowment @carnegieendowment.org · 15/07/2025
Subsea cables carry 95% of the world’s data but are largely invisible in global policy debates. @ibkardon.bsky.social, Jane Munga, and @sophiabesch.bsky.social discuss the geopolitics, economics, and risks surrounding undersea data infrastructure on #TheWorldUnpacked: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJIq...
youtube.com
The New Geopolitics of Subsea Cables
YouTube video by Carnegie Endowment
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
🎯discussion on European security today @sophiabesch.bsky.social w/ unvarnished truth on the 🇺🇸 view of Europe @nathalietocci.bsky.social novel/provocative points & @georginaewright.bsky.social's advice: every ally needs its own PA strategy for more defense spending www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Izb...
youtube.com
UKICE Lunch Hour: European Security after the NATO summit
YouTube video by UK in a Changing Europe
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Jana Puglierin @jpuglierin.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
I’m fine. I've always preferred marriage analogies.
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UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
On Tuesday, global leaders will converge on the Hague for the NATO summit Join our online panel as they discuss the summit and whether UK & EU defence policy is fit for purpose With @nathalietocci.bsky.social, @sophiabesch.bsky.social & @georginaewright.bsky.social
ukandeu.ac.uk
UKICE Lunch Hour: European security after the NATO summit - UK in a changing Europe
Join us online the week after the NATO summit to hear our experts analyse the prospects for defence and security policy in the UK and the EU.
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
After years framing the transatlantic defense relationship in parental terms ("kicking the teen out of the basement") none of you get to complain about "daddy" now.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Iskander Rehman @irehman.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
I very much enjoyed taking part in this event on Gaullist strategic thinking and current debates over European strategic autonomy at the French embassy with the great Julian Jackson and the terrific Léonie Allard, @sophiabesch.bsky.social @michaelshurkin.bsky.social and Aaron MacLean (1/2)
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
New piece out for @brookings.edu this week: www.brookings.edu/articles/how...
brookings.edu
How must Europe reorganize its conventional defense?
The objective should not be to compensate like-for-like the role that the United States is currently playing in European defense.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Liviu Horovitz @liviuhorovitz.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
No easy way out on Europe’s nuclear dilemmas, yet plenty to do, @claudmajor.bsky.social & I conclude. Are we too hopeful & unambitious? Tell us! Thanks to @constelz.bsky.social @brookings.edu for the initiative & opportunity. Look also at the great papers by @sophiabesch.bsky.social & Thomas Wright.
brookings.edu
Should Europeans develop an independent nuclear deterrent?
The biggest challenge today is shaping developments so that Europe does not fall into a "deterrence gap" as a result of U.S. repositioning.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Next week's NATO summit comes at a critical moment Join our online panel as they discuss the summit and whether UK & EU defence policy is fit for purpose With @nathalietocci.bsky.social, @sophiabesch.bsky.social, @georginaewright.bsky.social & @anandmenon.bsky.social ukandeu.ac.uk/events/ukice...
ukandeu.ac.uk
UKICE Lunch Hour: European security after the NATO summit - UK in a changing Europe
Join us online the week after the NATO summit to hear our experts analyse the prospects for defence and security policy in the UK and the EU.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Sarah Brockmeier-Large @sarahbrockmeier.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Es ist gut, dass die deutsche Politik plötzlich deutliche Worte zur israelischen Kriegsführung in Gaza findet. Diesen Worten müssen Taten folgen. Die bisherige deutsche Politik ist das Gegenteil einer interessengeleiteten Außenpolitik. Mit drei @prif.org-Kolleginnen:👉 blog.prif.org/2025/05/28/k...
blog.prif.org
Kritik ohne Konsequenzen: Überfällige Schritte für eine friedenspolitische Rolle Deutschlands im Israel-Gaza Krieg - PRIF BLOG
Die Kritik am israelischen Vorgehen in Gaza wird plötzlich auch in der deutschen Politik deutlich. Doch fehlt bislang ein wirklicher Politikwechsel. Stärkerer diplomatischer Druck auf Israel, regional...
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Foreign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · 20/05/2025
“The two main alliances of European states, the European Union and NATO, are too often paralyzed,” write @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @richardyoungs.bsky.social. To prepare for a new, more challenging era, Europe must embrace a different regional order.
foreignaffairs.com
Europe Needs a New Way to Cooperate
How to fill the gaps created by the EU and NATO’s shortcomings.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Finally, SAFE - the €150bn loan initiative for defence - is not mentioned in the SDP itself, but in the agenda for future EU-UK relations. The SDP as such will enable the UK to participate in EU common procurement, whereas a future, deeper agreement will be required for UK defence industry.
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Nicholas Lokker @nlokker.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Great piece from @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @richardyoungs.bsky.social on the limitations of coalitions of the willing and the need for a new—institutionalized yet flexible—format for intra-European cooperation. bit.ly/3RSsqwg
foreignaffairs.com
Europe Needs a New Way to Cooperate
How to fill the gaps created by the EU and NATO’s shortcomings.
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
What does yesterday's drama mean for Merz's chancellery? What to expect on Ukraine, USA, EU, China, Defense? Can he deliver on Zeitenwende? New piece for @foreignpolicy.com with @lianafix.bsky.social - Gift link: foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/07/f...
foreignpolicy.com
Merz Brings Germany Back to the Table
The new chancellor has moved quickly to fix years of foreign policy dysfunction in Berlin.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Doug Klain @dougklain.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
This is an ambitious and interesting proposal for a new order of cooperation in Europe, especially on security and defense, from @sophiabesch.bsky.social and Richard Young.
foreignaffairs.com
Europe Needs a New Way to Cooperate
How to fill the gaps created by the EU and NATO’s shortcomings.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Gesine Weber @gesineweber.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Brilliant piece by @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @richardyoungs.bsky.social - sums up basically everything about the tectonic shifts and cooperation in the European security order.
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
New @foreignaffairs.com piece out now with @richardyoungs.bsky.social Coalitions of the willing are no silver bullet, nor is EU reform. Increasing defense budgets is not enough. This is not the time to muddle through, its the time for a new regional order. www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/euro...
foreignaffairs.com
Europe Needs a New Way to Cooperate
How to fill the gaps created by the EU and NATO’s shortcomings.
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Carnegie Endowment @carnegieendowment.org · 25/04/2025
For Germany, President Trump’s upheaval of the global order isn’t just a betrayal of trust. It’s a “brutal, multipronged assault,” writes @sophiabesch.bsky.social. How is Germany's new government responding? More in our series on Trump 2.0’s first 100 days: carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
carnegieendowment.org
Germany’s Reaction to Trump Is Another Paradigm Shift
With its second Zeitenwende, Berlin could become a global counterweight to Washington.
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
This was great - have a listen!
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
New paper: lessons learned and what should come next for Europeans seeking to protect their subsea cables. For @lawfaremedia.org with @erikbrown.bsky.social
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Lawfare @lawfaremedia.org · 20/04/2025
With threats to subsea cables increasing, European countries need to step up to secure their interests, write @SophiaBesch.bsky.social and @erikbrown.bsky.social. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/euro...
lawfaremedia.org
Europe’s Undersea Opportunity
With threats to subsea cables increasing, European countries need to step up to secure their interests.
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Hans E. Offerdal @hofferdal.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
Very interesting exchange between @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @oliverstuenkel.bsky.social about Latin America and the Trump adm.. One of the arguments is that Latin America (for now) is opting for laying low and not confronting #Trump. Can #Europe learn from Latin America's history with the U.S.?
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The Syllabus @the-syllabus.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
This dialogue unpacks how Berlin’s rearmament plans, spurred by the Zeitenwende promise, could reshape European defense—but warns that tensions within the EU and new transatlantic dynamics may test unity and strain alliances. With @sophiabesch.bsky.social buff.ly/KTmpP3U
thepresidentsinbox.podbean.com
Germany's Rearmament, With Sophia Besch | The President’s Inbox
Sophia Besch, a senior fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Germany’s ambitious rearmament plans amidst deepening…
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Carnegie Endowment @carnegieendowment.org · 11/04/2025
President Trump’s style may be familiar in Latin America, but his tactics are causing alarm throughout the region. @oliverstuenkel.bsky.social explained what Latin America can expect from the U.S. with @sophiabesch.bsky.social on The World Unpacked:
buff.ly
Latin America and Trump 2.0: Deportations, Trade Wars, and China's Rising Influence
In President Donald Trump’s second term, Latin America has taken center stage in U.S. foreign policy—but not without controversy. From aggressive deportation...
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Reposted by Sophia Besch
Carnegie Endowment @carnegieendowment.org · 08/04/2025
From advocating for the “resettlement” of Palestinians from Gaza to negotiating directly with Hamas, the Trump administration has upended U.S. policy in the region, says @zaha-hassan.bsky.social. Zaha’s conversation with @sophiabesch.bsky.social: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoP3...
youtube.com
Gaza Ceasefire in Limbo: What's Next for U.S. Policy
YouTube video by Carnegie Explains
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Nils Redeker @nilsredeker.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
Here we go: France is already signaling it won’t stick to EU fiscal rules because of the trade war. And with the Commission already bending over backwards to invent flexibility for defense spending, it’s going to be a real challenge to push back on this one. 1/2 www.politico.eu/article/fran...
politico.eu
France risks missing deficit target because of Trump’s trade war, economy minister says
PARIS —The trade war with the United States might prevent France from bringing down its sky-high budget deficit, French Economy and Finance Minister Eric Lombard said on Friday. “Tax revenues…
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
🥁 www.reuters.com/world/us-off...
reuters.com
US officials object to European push to buy weapons locally
U.S. officials have told European allies they want them to keep buying American-made arms, amid recent moves by the European Union to limit U.S. manufacturers' participation in weapons tenders, five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
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Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Great piece. "The American agenda aims at turning Europe into a vassalised market in which tech & climate regulations lose their effectiveness under the threat of commercial coercion". Revisionists like Orban are acting as Trump's agents. Europeans need to hang together, lest they hang separately.
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
In this new paper for Survival, we take a long term view and outline how a new transatlantic alliance of revisionists could threaten the European political project. When we first presented the idea last Dec, it seemed far-fetched to many. Very interested to see how it lands today!
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
Really good and important conversation with the excellent @zaha-hassan.bsky.social - you can listen now @carnegieendowment.org
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Carnegie Endowment @carnegieendowment.org · 24/03/2025
In two recent proposals, the European Commission appeared to hand responsibility for Europe’s tenuous security to its member states. Can they deliver? Read more from @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @erikbrown.bsky.social: carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
carnegieendowment.org
Who’s Going to Unite Europe on Defense?
In a new proposal and white paper, the union lays out how it could use its financial and regulatory levers to incentivize European defense projects—but keeps member states at the helm.
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
VANCE: I just hate bailing Europe out again. HEGSETH: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC. ... MILLER: ..we soon make clear ...what we expect in return....if Europe doesn't remunerate, then what?...there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return.
theatlantic.com
The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans
U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.
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Sophia Besch @sophiabesch.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
My commentary on the EU‘s defense white paper out now - instead of leaning in, in this moment of crisis the Commission is choosing a light touch and passing the buck back to member states - for @carnegieendowment.org with @erikbrown.bsky.social carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
carnegieendowment.org
Who’s Going to Unite Europe on Defense?
In a new proposal and white paper, the union lays out how it could use its financial and regulatory levers to incentivize European defense projects—but keeps member states at the helm.
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Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
I don’t disagree, but it also has to be so. Commission has offered an ambitious, creative and flexible platform from which member states can collaboratively and substantially (re)build European defence. Its credibility and effectiveness can only be in the hands of the Member States.
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