Richard G. Whitman
@rgwhitman.bsky.social
Professor of Politics and International Relations, University of Kent; Senior Fellow, UK in a Changing Europe; Senior Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute.
‘A reminder that whatever the external perceptions of the government in office, the Royals’ unique appeal creates an affinity for 🇬🇧 that can be used to national advantage,’ argues @rgwhitman.bsky.social, @kent.ac.uk #BigAsk #BritainsWorld
Did the King’s visit to America reaffirm the importance of soft power?
The Big Ask | No. 16.2026
britainsworld.org.uk
Did the King’s visit to America reaffirm the importance of soft power? We asked 6 experts in today’s #BigAsk ✍️ @evieaspinall.bsky.social, @joshuachuminski.bsky.social, @vckeating.bsky.social, Dr Ksenia Kirkham, Thomas Nurcombe, @rgwhitman.bsky.social #BritainsWorld
Did the King’s visit to America reaffirm the importance of soft power?
The Big Ask | No. 16.2026
britainsworld.org.uk
Always a pleasure to cooperate with @rgwhitman.bsky.social... and intellectually productive:
Richard G. Whitman@rgwhitman.bsky.social · 5mo agoIran and Ukraine are changing the EU and testing its unity - analysis with @stefwolff.bsky.social on the end of the EU's age of innocence - theconversation.com/iran-and-ukr...
Iran and Ukraine are changing the EU and testing its unity - analysis with @stefwolff.bsky.social on the end of the EU's age of innocence - theconversation.com/iran-and-ukr...
Iran and Ukraine are changing the EU and testing its unity
The two wars are forcing the EU to take a more assertive role in defence and security affairs, leading to arguments between senior officials.
theconversation.com
Great to have had the chance to have provided evidence to the UK Foreign Affairs Committee inquiry into the EU-UK reset. The FAC report out today pulls no punches in its assessment of the relationship. committees.parliament.uk/committee/78...
UK-EU reset lacks “direction, definition and drive” - Committees - UK Parliament
Report: From a Common Understanding to Common Ground: Building a UK-EU Strategic Partnership fit for the future
committees.parliament.uk
Applications are now open for the 13th Clara Marina O’Donnell fellowship, full details below. Start date: October 2026 for six months Pay: London Living Wage Applications in by: 09/04/26 @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social @brookings.edu @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social buff.ly/3vV64SZ
The Clara Marina O'Donnell fellowship
Applications are now open for the 13th Clara Marina O’Donnell fellowship. Start date: October 2026 for six months. Pay: currently £14.80 per hour plus 8 per cent pension contribution. Applications in…
buff.ly
‘The best way for 🇬🇧 to support middle powers is not to join them, but to lead in a way that makes their cooperation possible,’ argues @rgwhitman.bsky.social, @kent.ac.uk #BigAsk #BritainsWorld
Should Britain act more like a major or middle power?
The Big Ask | No. 05.2026
britainsworld.org.uk
EU agrees €90 billion loan to Ukraine, but squabbles over frozen Russian assets expose the bloc’s deep divisions - my analysis with @stefwolff.bsky.social theconversation.com/eu-agrees-90...
EU agrees €90 billion loan to Ukraine, but squabbles over frozen Russian assets expose the bloc’s deep divisions
To placate pro-Moscow governments in Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia, the EU had to include an ‘opt-out’ clause for its support for Ukraine.
theconversation.com
‘🇬🇧 should also help to normalise 🇺🇦 strategic integration with #EuroAtlantic allies and partners, using the coalition as a mechanism for ensuring that the country becomes a “shadow” member of #NATO,’ writes @rgwhitman.bsky.social, @kent.ac.uk #BigAsk #BritainsWorld
How should Britain cultivate the Coalition of the Willing?
The Big Ask | No. 44.2025
britainsworld.org.uk
Thanks @congeostrategy.bsky.social for the #BigAsk invitation: My answer - Move beyond its ‘start-up’ phase with less focus on preparing to enforce a notional peace and more on securing Ukraine for the long term. www.britainsworld.org.uk/p/the-big-as...
How should Britain cultivate the Coalition of the Willing?
The Big Ask | No. 44.2025
britainsworld.org.uk
As Trump flip-flops and the coalition of the willing is unlikely to go beyond securing Ukraine’s immediate survival, a credible pathway to ending the war with a just and stable peace is still lacking -- my latest analysis with @rgwhitman.bsky.social for @navvortex.bsky.social : bit.ly/43IOKP9
Despite another week of diplomatic whiplash, an end to the fighting in Ukraine is not in sight
By Richard Whitman & Stefan Wolff
navigatingthevortex.com
The Trump administration flip-flops and the track record of Kyiv’s European partners to slow-walk the necessary goods for Ukraine’s defence continues. - shared analysis with @stefwolff.bsky.social theconversation.com/ukraine-anot...
Ukraine: another week of diplomatic wrangling leaves Kyiv short of defensive options
Despite exhaustive discussions, neither the EU or the US has come up with any really substantial measures to boost Ukraine’s defence.
theconversation.com
Time is running out for Europe to prevent Russia from broadening its war against Ukraine into a full-blown military confrontation with the west: my latest analysis with @rgwhitman.bsky.social: bit.ly/42e0qZB
Great to be back in The Conversation and especially for a shared analysis with @stefwolff.bsky.social
The Conversation UK@uk.theconversation.com · 10mo agoThe US president had already severely criticised the UN in his speech to the general assembly.
In memoriam: Professor A J R (‘John’) Groom It is with sadness that we bring the news that former BISA Chair Professor A J R Groom has passed away. Here @rgwhitman.bsky.social outlines some of Professor Groom's main contributions and achievements. Read here - buff.ly/8Kl7Cc5 @kent.ac.uk
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🚨 #REF2029 update - Matthew Flinders and @ailsahenderson.bsky.social provide an update on REF2029 sub-panel 19 - Politics and IR: 🎉 Pause button pressed & Sub-panel members appointed: @usempire.bsky.social @rgwhitman.bsky.social @jamespattison.bsky.social @whitproject.bsky.social Read here 👉
REF2029: Update on Politics and International Relations
Matthew Flinders and Ailsa Henderson provide an update on the timeline and panel remembers.
buff.ly
‘In an era of growing uncertainty in American politics…closer British-French nuclear cooperation is a prudent strategic hedge,’ argues @rgwhitman.bsky.social @kent.ac.uk #BigAsk #BritainsWorld
How should Britain and France cooperate to realise the Northwood Declaration?
The Big Ask | No. 29.2025
britainsworld.org.uk
Macron: when France and the UK "come together around one table, everything is possible". Well not everything…https://inews.co.uk/news/world/eu-split-uk-joining-weapons-fund-france-saying-non-3791737?ito=link_share_article-top
The EU is split on UK joining its weapons fund - and France is saying non
Some countries are sceptical about full British involvement in the EU's defence investment fund - with senior officials saying it will undermine the bloc's supply chain
inews.co.uk
"The summit captured a moment of uneasy consensus — forged not through shared strategy, but through collective accommodation of a US president whose commitment to the Alliance remains conditional." ✍️ @rgwhitman.bsky.social on the NATO summit and Trump's influence
The Art of the Pledge: Trump, NATO, and the price of unity - UK in a changing Europe
Richard Whitman takes stock of the NATO summit at the Hague in June 2025. He argues that the brief summit aimed to appease Donald Trump with its commitment to his 5% defence spending target and…
ukandeu.ac.uk
@edrusi.bsky.social has the must-read take on The Hague NATO summit.
RUSI@rusi.bsky.social · last yr.At this year’s NATO Summit, Donald Trump won, Ukraine lost, Europe rolled out the red carpet and exposed the total psychological dependency on the US, writes @edrusi.bsky.social in the latest RUSI Commentary.
What to make of the NATO summit? @rgwhitman.bsky.social explains all ukandeu.ac.uk/the-art-of-t...
The Art of the Pledge: Trump, NATO, and the price of unity - UK in a changing Europe
Richard Whitman takes stock of the NATO summit at the Hague in June 2025. He argues that the brief summit aimed to appease Donald Trump with its commitment to his 5% defence spending target and failed...
ukandeu.ac.uk
In conversation with Neil Melvin on the ever insightful Global Security Briefing podcast from @rusi.bsky.social . A great opportunity to reflect on the record of the UK Labour government after its first year in office and how UK security and defence is evolving. www.rusi.org/podcasts/glo...
Episode 103: How Should the UK Approach European Security?
How is the UK’s Labour government approaching European security, and how does this compare to the Conservatives?
rusi.org
"As the United States re-evaluates its security commitments to Europe, the UK and EU are under increasing pressure to assume greater responsibility for their own defence." @rgwhitman.bsky.social analyses the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership & the role of the US
A modest beginning: the new EU-UK Security and Defence Partnership - UK in a changing Europe
Professor Richard Whitman analyses the Security and Defence Partnership announced at the UK-EU summit in London on Monday 19 May. He argues that the agreement does not exceed any strategic…
ukandeu.ac.uk
Fantastic occasion - and very many thanks to @mybisa.bsky.social for bringing us all together to reflect on the first fifty years of the Association.
BISA - British International Studies Association@mybisa.bsky.social · last yr.We finished the 1st day of #BISA2025 with our 50th roundtable talk chaired by Mark Webber Joined by Barry Buzan, Chris Brown, Christopher Hill, Caroline Kennedy-Pipe, @rgwhitman.bsky.social and Ruth Blakeley for a fascinating discussion about how IR has changed over the last 50 years! 🌟
Thanks to @congeostrategy.bsky.social for giving me the chance to answer the #BigAsk this week.
Council on Geostrategy@congeostrategy.bsky.social · last yr.‘To add real value to European security the 🇪🇺-🇬🇧 Security and Defence Partnership needs to embrace defence industrial cooperation as its defining strategic purpose,’ argues @rgwhitman.bsky.social, @kent.ac.uk #BritainsWorld #BigAsk
🌟BISA chair roundtable: 50 years and counting: reflecting on the discipline and profession of International Studies🌟 Online or in person 🎉 Ft/ @rgwhitman.bsky.social, Barry Buzan, Chris Brown, Christopher Hill, Caroline Kennedy-Pipe, Ruth Blakeley & Mark Webber Sign up now! 👉
Public event - BISA chair roundtable: 50 years and counting: reflecting on the discipline and profession of International Studies
A roundtable with past BISA chairs. Part of the #BISA2025 conference.
buff.ly
Modesty (doesn't quite) forbid me for drawing attention to this piece for @congeostrategy.bsky.social - Resetting (modestly): The UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership www.britainsworld.org.uk/p/the-memora...
Resetting (modestly): The UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership
The Memorandum | No. 19.2025
britainsworld.org.uk
"It does not represent a transformative moment or strategic shift; rather, it formalises a more normalised, codified dialogue between the two parties." 🖊️ @rgwhitman.bsky.social analyses the Security and Defence Partnership announced at the UK-EU summit in London ukandeu.ac.uk/the-new-eu-u...
A modest beginning: the new EU-UK Security and Defence Partnership - UK in a changing Europe
Professor Richard Whitman analyses the Security and Defence Partnership announced at the UK-EU summit in London on Monday 19 May. He argues that the agreement does not exceed any strategic partnership...
ukandeu.ac.uk
Sharp and on point from @edrusi.bsky.social
RUSI@rusi.bsky.social · last yr.'If the threat to European security is genuinely grave, and increased UK-EU cooperation is vital to security, then why are both sides holding up progress over relatively minor domestic priorities and legacy disagreements?' notes @edrusi.bsky.social.
