⚡️ Ukraine will 'never' join NATO, ex-commander Zaluzhnyi says. "It is impossible for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, given their current level of development, to join an organization that is guided by World War II doctrines," Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.K., Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said.

Ukraine will 'never' join NATO, ex-commander Zaluzhnyi says

"It is impossible for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, given their current level of development, to join an organization that is guided by World War II doctrines," Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.K., Valerii...

kyivindependent.com

"Can I ask you for your three pieces of advice to @andyburnham.bsky.social, @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social, Healey for how to go about building this national conversation on #defence?" @armida.bsky.social asked Lord Robertson in the latest CER podcast. Listen here: buff.ly/jCJqMnw

‘NATO … must also update the way it conceptualizes twenty-first century warfare’, write @jamespattonrogers.bsky.social, Dominika Kunertova, James Wesley Hutto & Elizabeth H. Redmond. Read their #openaccess policy paper as our Editors’ Choice article: https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiag092

Ook Amerikaan @james-r-green.bsky.social van de denktank @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social ziet een ‘economische kans’ voor het Europese blok omdat de concurrentiestrijd tussen de VS en China ertoe leidt dat betaalbare AI breder beschikbaar komt. buff.ly/GDjPsHP

Zou Europa in de AI-race meer naar China moeten gaan leunen?

AI-race: De twijfel groeit aan de houdbaarheid van de Amerikaanse AI-strategie. Een belangrijke pijler daaronder is ‘China klein houden’ – en dat lukt niet. Experts zien kansen voor Brussel.

nrc.nl

Solidarity is the EU's greatest strength In their haste to capitalize on anti-immigration sentiment, European centre-right politicians have strengthened MAGA/Russian propaganda and undermined the very asset that protects them as a unit

Nathalie Tocci@nathalietocci.bsky.social · 3d ago

When an EU member is in trouble, esp if instigated from outside, as for Spain in Ceuta, solidarity should be the only EU response. Far-right reactions is yet more proof there’s no “moderate” far-right, only different ways far right forces seek to dismantle European integration

Speaking on our podcast, Lord George Robertson suggested that other European NATO countries should contribute (financially or otherwise) to maintaining the UK's nuclear deterrent. An innovative idea, though not without challenges...

Centre for European Reform@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 5d ago

"It's very interesting what you said, your suggestion that other countries should contribute to the UK's nuclear deterrent, how do you imagine that working?" Armida van Rij asked Lord Robertson in the latest CER podcast. Listen to the full episode here: buff.ly/jCJqMnw

Really enjoyed this conversation with Lord Robertson. Come for the NATO chat, stay for the ideas on funding the UK nuclear deterrent. Ps. If you make it to the end of the episode and wonder what paper Lord Robertson is endorsing, it's this one www.cer.eu/publications...

Centre for European Reform@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 6d ago

New #CERpodcast Unpacking Europe: @armida.bsky.social spoke with Lord Robertson about the UK's #defence policy priorities for the new #Burnham government. They discussed the UK's role in NATO and how the UK should adapt to changing political realities. Listen here:

Really enjoyed this conversation with Lord Robertson. Come for the NATO chat, stay for the ideas on funding the UK nuclear deterrent. Ps. If you make it to the end of the episode and wonder what paper Lord Robertson is endorsing, it's this one www.cer.eu/publications...

Centre for European Reform@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 6d ago

New #CERpodcast Unpacking Europe: @armida.bsky.social spoke with Lord Robertson about the UK's #defence policy priorities for the new #Burnham government. They discussed the UK's role in NATO and how the UK should adapt to changing political realities. Listen here:

How's reindustrialisation going in the US? The country pursuing a mercantilist policy of tariff and trade coercion in order to reindustrialise. Well, badly. Jobs declining in almost every manufacturing sub-sector.

I am very pleased to share my latest Study for the @europarl.europa.eu, requested by SEDE, on “Advancing the Inclusion of SMEs in the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base”. I hope you find it of interest! Read here: www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/mt... #EDTIB #EUdefence #SMEs

Russia's war on Ukraine is now in its fifth year. @armida.bsky.social spoke to Libby Berry of @global-affairs.bsky.social about where things stand on the battlefield, the prospects for peace, and what Europe can learn from Ukraine.

How Russia's War on Ukraine is Reshaping Europe's Defense Strategy

The conflict offers lessons for how to bolster European security with less support from the United States.

buff.ly

Last week, @armida.bsky.social gave evidence to UK Parliament's National Security Strategy Joint Committee for its inquiry into deterrence in an age of Russian aggression. Watch here:

National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)

Subject: Deterrence in an age of Russian aggression

buff.ly

📢 #WereHiring: CGD Europe is looking for a Senior Policy Analyst to join our Europe Programme in London. This is an opportunity for an experienced policy professional with expertise in European development cooperation and development finance. Apply by 18 August: https://go.cgdev.org/4vLnACu

Senior Policy Analyst I - Center for Global Development - Career Page

Apply to Senior Policy Analyst I at Center for Global Development in London, London, United Kingdom.

centerforglobaldevelopment.applytojob.com

Louder for those at the back who still think all male cabinets/boards/panels/anything is acceptable or leads to better outcomes.

Simon Hix@simonhix.bsky.social · 2w ago

The new UK cabinet has 12 women and 11 men. 👏

Good to sit down with Libby Berry from @global-affairs.bsky.social to discuss where things stand with Russia's war on Ukraine, what the rest of Europe can learn from Ukraine's defence tech ecosystem, and where Ukraine goes from here. Read the interview here: globalaffairs.org/commentary/a...

How Russia's War on Ukraine is Reshaping Europe's Defense Strategy

The conflict offers lessons for how to bolster European security with less support from the United States.

globalaffairs.org

The US State Department is planning to hand $5m to Toby Young's Free Speech Union and $7m to some Jacob Rees-Mogg junk tank. You get the civil society you pay for. www.ft.com/content/1cb9...

Trump to fund Maga-aligned projects in Europe as he reorders US aid

Objectives include countering ‘censorship’ from EU regulations and supporting ‘national sovereignty’

ft.com

This is a very rich and thought-provoking piece and is relevant far beyond France. Can be great start for a discussion about the future of democracy and, particularly, what we can and should do ourselves.

France’s Democratic Malaise: Stop Blaming Citizens, Start Reforming Institutions

When eight in ten French citizens feel unrepresented, the problem lies not with democratic fatigue but with a political system that has forgotten how to listen.

socialeurope.eu

Delighted to have contributed this By Invitation piece for The Economist on a question that has been troubling me deeply. How can Europeans switch into a war mentality, needed to prevent war, without actually entering it? And what can Ukraine teach us? www.economist.com/by-invitatio...

Would Europeans fight, if it came to that?

Putting boots on the ground would not help Ukraine, but it might help Europe find the stomach for war, writes Nathalie Tocci

economist.com

I gave evidence to the UK Parliament's Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy as part of their inquiry on deterring Russia, specifically focussing on NATO. In a sign of the times, we spent half of the session discussing the US... Watch back here: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

Parliamentlive.tv

National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)

parliamentlive.tv

As I wrote last year: 'As Vance’s and Silicon Valley’s MAGA views converge, they will increasingly seek to bring about a transatlantic cultural revolution based on nativist values [...] to chip away at Europe’s liberal democracies.' Ps. I also offer how Europe should respond icds.ee/en/trump_sil...

Trump, Silicon Valley, and Europe’s Far-right - International Centre for Defence and Security

A new transatlantic alliance is forming. The old partnership was based on advancing liberal democracy, upholding the rules-based international order, and a security contract between the US and Europe....

icds.ee

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 3w ago

US state department offers $3mn grants to Maga-aligned groups in Europe ft.trib.al/sjYHKHE

As mentioned last week www.ft.com/content/e2ad...

Armida van Rij@armida.bsky.social · last mo.

My take on why illiberal, nativist thought is here to stay - regardless of whether its political proponents are friends or foes.

As I wrote last year: 'As Vance’s and Silicon Valley’s MAGA views converge, they will increasingly seek to bring about a transatlantic cultural revolution based on nativist values [...] to chip away at Europe’s liberal democracies.' Ps. I also offer how Europe should respond icds.ee/en/trump_sil...

Trump, Silicon Valley, and Europe’s Far-right - International Centre for Defence and Security

A new transatlantic alliance is forming. The old partnership was based on advancing liberal democracy, upholding the rules-based international order, and a security contract between the US and Europe....

icds.ee

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 3w ago

US state department offers $3mn grants to Maga-aligned groups in Europe ft.trib.al/sjYHKHE

As mentioned last week www.ft.com/content/e2ad...

Armida van Rij@armida.bsky.social · last mo.

My take on why illiberal, nativist thought is here to stay - regardless of whether its political proponents are friends or foes.

It is a small amount of money, for now, but it will be interesting to see which organizations will receive the money. Moreover, it is yet another step in the active attack on liberal democracy by the U.S. as was announced in its National Security Strategy.

Financial Times@financialtimes.com · 3w ago

US state department offers $3mn grants to Maga-aligned groups in Europe ft.trib.al/sjYHKHE

Experts say Russia's efforts aren't necessarily about making Brits pro-Russian, but "making the UK feel dysfunctional, hypocritical, exhausted, divided": "For Russia, it suffices to identify divisive issues to pour gasoline on, intensify them, and benefit from the resulting chaos"

The former head of countering disinformation at the Foreign Office, told me social media had increased Russia’s ability to influence public debate and reach specific audiences, both through the use of bots and paid assets: “They use a variety of different means, and they’ve got better at it.”

The efforts, overt and covert, come as the threat from extreme right-wing terrorism driven by “anti-immigration sentiment” is rising CT police say the threat is being worsened by "polarised views in society", themselves driven by "wedge tactics from foreign states looking to create division"

Vicki Evans, the Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, said: "They’re intent on identifying willing volunteers to peddle the Russian narrative. "Their ultimate goal is destabilising our democracy, sowing division and chaos, and disturbing our peace.”

Russia is inflaming the debate on immigration in Britain as part of “increasing ambitions to disrupt our way of life”, counter-terror police and experts say It has directly and indirectly paid right-wing influencers to spread messages that align with its political goals inews.co.uk/news/putin-i...

How Putin is inflaming immigration tensions to spark disorder in Britain

Counter-terror leaders reveal the tactics Russia is using to sow division in the UK

inews.co.uk

"Europe needs to quite seriously think about their way of war, how they're going to bring mass to a conflict, how they're going to use technology, how they're going to learn lessons from Ukraine in terms of developing quick innovation cycles", @armida.bsky.social told @npr.org

NATO summit set to begin in Turkey

Ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, the illusion of appeasing Trump has vanished—and Europe is being forced to take primary responsibility for its own defense.

buff.ly