Wat Europa te doen staat, nu Trump ons twee dreunen heeft uitgedeeld: de strategische verlating, en de ideologische aanval. “Nog geen EU-regeringsleider heeft een geloofwaardig tegenverhaal dat Europa’s zelfvertrouwen en handelingsvermogen versterkt”, schrijft @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social

Opinie | Europa is een machtsblok in wording – alleen moeten we dat zelf nog gaan inzien

1 jaar Trump: De gedaantewisseling van de VS in de tweede termijn van Trump geeft Europa een dubbele opdracht, schrijft Luuk van Middelaar: ons wapenen vanwege het vertrek van een beschermer én ons ku...

nrc.nl

Really looking forward to Monday, 6pm! With @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social of @bigeurope.bsky.social Oliver Rentschler @diplo.de Katharina Neckel @dihk.bsky.social & Filip Medunic @dgap.org

Internationale Politik Quarterly@ipq.bsky.social · 11mo ago

We've added another panelist to next week's IPQ Debate celebrating our fifth anniversary: Oliver Rentschler, director general for geoeconomics in the German Foreign Office. RSVP here: dgapev.cmail19.com/t/r-l-tkjikl...

The Trump regime is seeking "regime change in Europe" former Chatham House director Robin Niblet tells the New York Times. This American-led global far right movement is turning into the Comintern of our times, warns Dutch historian @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/w...

📺 On Nieuwsuur, BIG director Luuk van Middelaar discusses the current turning point in US-European relations with Francis Fukuyama. From the Normandy landings and the fall of the Berlin Wall to today’s world of Trump 2.0 @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social @frankfukuyama.bsky.social youtu.be/iXgvZ9pYNIA

Luuk van Middelaar - Nieuwsuur March 2025

YouTube video by Brussels Institute for Geopolitics

youtu.be

Face à Poutine et Trump, Friedrich Merz change de cap — une décision clé pour l’Europe, explique @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social, directeur du BIG sur @france24.com avec Caroline de Camaret. www.france24.com/fr/%C3%A9mis...

Ici l'Europe - Luuk van Middelaar : "l’arrivée de Friedrich Merz en Allemagne change radicalement la donne"

Cette semaine, nous accueillons Luuk van Middelaar, philosophe et historien néerlandais, ancien conseiller du Conseil européen et également à la tête du think tank Brussels Institute for Geopolitics.…

france24.com

“Europe has to get ready for a rougher world order where we have to be able to defend ourselves” Director @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social talks to @france24.com about Europe’s place in a world of increasing geopolitical rivalries. www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/...

Talking Europe - 'Fundamental change is afoot in European defence': Political theorist Luuk van Middelaar

Our guest is someone who spends a lot of time thinking about Europe's place in the world, and how it should adapt to the new global order of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. We speak to Du...

france24.com

The EU is issuing burner phones to US-bound staff over spying fears. BIG's @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social talking to @financialtimes.com, says “Washington is not Beijing or Moscow but an adversary prone to using extra-legal methods to further its interests & power.” www.ft.com/content/20d0...

EU issues US-bound staff with burner phones over spying fears

European Commission officials heading to IMF and World Bank spring meetings advised to travel with basic devices

ft.com

The Trump supernova that Europe didn’t see coming. My editorial for @bigeurope.bsky.social on how Europe was blindsided to structural shifts in US domestic and foreign policy – in the making since long before this MAGA-inspired conflagration. big-europe.eu/publications...

Dark Side of the Sun

big-europe.eu

Last week, I had the pleasure of moderating this excellent high-level exchange on energy and climate diplomacy. Grateful to participants for having brought deep insights and a strategic mindset to the table. I hope it will provide impetus ahead of COP30 in Belem, Brazil.

Brussels Institute for Geopolitics@bigeurope.bsky.social · last yr.

The Institute hosted a 'safe space' session this week on Europe’s energy and climate diplomacy with six Commission DGs and the EEAS — a chance to break down silos and reflect on strategic priorities. big-europe.eu/2025-04-03-b...

💬 'There is a consciousness that it's a new time for Europe' 🔊 Listen to Bruno Maçães talking at our event ‘Tech Sovereignty – What does it mean?’ explaining that the time has come for Europe to pick a new path of independence.

💬 'Who thought that our stock markets would be doing better than the American stock market?’ 🔊 Listen to Bruno Maçães talking at our event ‘Tech Sovereignty – What does it mean?’ reminding us that bold decisions made on Europe’s new path of independence can lead to rewards @brunomacaes.bsky.social

Delighted to host a stellar panel on AI and geopolitics at the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics last week. Brimming with ideas, a real intellectual feast! Tks Bruno Maçães, Ophélie Coelho and Daniel Mügge @opheliecoelho.bsky.social @dmugge.bsky.social @bigeurope.bsky.social

Brussels Institute for Geopolitics@bigeurope.bsky.social · last yr.

📅 We held an event ‘Tech Sovereignty –What does it Mean?’ on 12 March to discuss AI and geopolitics, including a book launch with Bruno Maçães, plus expert panel with Ophelie Coelho and Daniel Mügge. @opheliecoelho.bsky.social Find out more here: big-europe.eu/2025-03-12-t...

Luuk van Middelaar’s editorial on finding Europe’s historical footing @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social big-europe.eu/publications...

Finding Europe’s Historical Footing

big-europe.eu

"In crisisdagen zoals deze werken verbijstering en angst verlammend. Daarom dunkt me de kracht ons mentaal een pad naar de toekomst te banen zeker zo onmisbaar als het vermogen ons militair tegen nieuwe dreigingen te verdedigen." Mijn afscheidsessay @nrcnl.bsky.social www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

Opinie | Europa moet terugkijken om de greep op de tijd niet te verliezen

Europa loopt achter de feiten aan. Het initiatief ligt elders, in Washington, Moskou, Beijing. Handelingsvermogen vraagt om houvast buiten het onmiddellijke heden. Wie strategisch vooruit wil kijken m...

nrc.nl

„In crisisdagen zoals deze werken verbijstering en angst verlammend. Daarom lijkt mij de kracht ons mentaal een pad naar de toekomst te banen zeker zo onmisbaar als het vermogen ons militair tegen nieuwe dreigingen te verdedigen“, stelt @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social

Opinie | Europa moet terugkijken om de greep op de tijd niet te verliezen

Europa loopt achter de feiten aan. Het initiatief ligt elders, in Washington, Moskou, Beijing. Handelingsvermogen vraagt om houvast buiten het onmiddellijke heden. Wie strategisch vooruit wil kijken m...

nrc.nl

France calls a second emergency Paris Summit on Ukraine today with EU leaders, Norway and Canada. Can these spontaneous summits help Europe find its voice in a time of crisis? 🤔 📖 Read our op-ed by @vestertborger.bsky.social & @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social ⤵️ big-europe.eu/publications...

Europe’s voice at times of crisis – decrypting the Paris Summit

big-europe.eu

Leaving Munich after an intense weekend at #MSC25, I was struck by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy being the only European leader without any illusions about Trump's America. The others still have the luxury of hope.

"The Transatlantic era was a golden period for (Western) Europe. It was always going to end one day. [...] Europe needs to consider the transition to a new relationship not as an unwelcome change but as an opportunity to control its own destiny." @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social #MSC2025

Brussels Institute for Geopolitics@bigeurope.bsky.social · 2y ago

@luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social on The Demise of the Transatlantic Era big-europe.eu/publications...

Three key points from my insightful conversation with Claude-France Arnould, former head of @EUDefenceAgency, on Europe–US defence relations and the armaments industry.

Thanks Prague House for the invitation to bid farewell to Czech Amb. Edita Hrdá, an early supporter of @bigeurope.bsky.social Great too to meet her successor Vladimír Bärtl, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, and others for this occasion. Looking forward to ongoing collaboration! 🇨🇿 🤝

Delighted about the news below and very much looking forward to working with the Spanish authorities on a strategy for Europe in the age of Trump, Putin and Xi.

Brussels Institute for Geopolitics@bigeurope.bsky.social · 2y ago

Great news! 🇪🇸 Spain joins the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics as the 7th EU member state, alongside 🇧🇪 🇨🇿 🇩🇰 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇳🇱 A big step for strategic thinking in Europe. Welcome to new Board member Diego Martínez Belío! ¡Gracias, España! 🇪🇸💪 big-europe.eu/2025-01-20-s...

Are European leaders ready to follow tech CEOs and join the queue as supplicants at Mar-a-Lago? Should they have to? In this op-ed, BIG’s Hans Kribbe explores Europe’s strategic options in Ukraine and beyond in an era of tough geopolitical choices. big-europe.eu/publications...

In the Putin-Trump era only the strong can be free

big-europe.eu

"Nothing about Europe’s security should be decided without Europeans," writes @elieperot.bsky.social in this BIG op-ed on securing Ukraine after the war. As Trump’s enters the White House, Europe must act or risk exclusion from critical peace talks. 💡 big-europe.eu/publications...

Securing Ukraine after the war: what role for Europeans?

big-europe.eu

20 January: as the Wheel of Fortune starts spinning faster, it's time to re-engage with history as a scholarly discipline. My essay for @bigeurope.bsky.social big-europe.eu/publications...

The Return of History to the Present

big-europe.eu

Bruegel's 20th anniversary an excellent opportunity to reexamine "new rules for a new world". Thanks for initiating this timely conversation. @bruegel.bsky.social @pisaniferry.bsky.social @gpapak.bsky.social

Defence a priority for Europe and @eucopresident. Delighted to offer strategic recommendations with esteemed colleagues ahead of 3 Feb retreat of European leaders, plus the UK and NATO sec gen.

António Costa@eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu · 2y ago

Got valuable insights from defence experts as I prepare our leaders’ meeting on 3 February. Many thanks for your contributions!

What do we mean by the Return of History to the Present? 🤔 Our Director, @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social breaks it down in this fascinating piece looking at how Europe can regain its sense of history from three perspectives and anchor itself in this new geopolitical era. big-europe.eu/publications...

The Return of History to the Present

big-europe.eu

What a year! Some reading highlights below from the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics. Looking forward to much more to come in 2025!

Brussels Institute for Geopolitics@bigeurope.bsky.social · 2y ago

1/8 As 2024 comes to a close, we’re sharing some BIG reading highlights to dive into over the festive period. 🌟 A thread 🧵:

Enjoyed talking with @angelaskujins on Polish television @TVPWorld_com about the priorities for the upcoming EU Council presidency starting 1 Jan 2025 and other political challenges for Poland and Europe on the horizon. m.youtube.com/watch?v=u3jA...

Polish Presidency in the EU | Luuk van Middelaar

YouTube video by TVP World

m.youtube.com

Dealing with the Don. 💭What can Europe learn from Coppola’s iconic film The Godfather about its dealings with the US? We break it down in @bigeurope.bsky.social latest editorial. big-europe.eu/publications...

Dealing with ‘the Don’

Picture Don Vito Corleone at his daughter’s wedding in The Godfather, showered with  gifts and the fawning gestures of his guests, consulting with his consigliere and family members, offering...

big-europe.eu