The Netherlands has pulled out of U.S.-led counter-drug missions in the Caribbean, a reaction to the rising death toll from American military attacks on vessels suspected of being used to smuggle narcotics.

Wow!!

Clashes at the Grand Bazaar in Tehran where merchants were historically loyal to Khamenei and the regime. #Iran

Interessant und wert, weiterverfolgt zu werden.

Iran update Jan 4, 2025

The Iranian uprising has now reached 100 cities on its eighth day.

Deutschland muss jetzt schnell sagen, welchen Preis die USA zahlen werden, sollten sie wirklich versuchen Grönland einzunehmen. (Selbstverständlich hinter den Kulissen.) Konsequenzen müssen angedroht werden. Alles muss auf den Tisch. Ramstein gehört ganz oben auf den Stapel.

During Fiona Hill's testimony to Congress on Oct 14, 2019, she described how Trump and Putin discussed exchanging Ukraine for Venezuela. The quid pro quo was if Trump refuses to help Ukraine fight off a Russian invasion, Putin would not help Venezuela (a Russian ally) resist a US takeover.

The ‘rules‑based international order’ was underwritten—again, with exceptions—by American military restraint and structured power. That era is over. If Europeans want to preserve it, military power is like a dinner jacket: when it’s required, nothing else will do.

Exactly. What do we say to Putin now? And on what basis? Trump turns the West into a kind of Wild West and the rest of the world into a jungle.

“The headline Trump shared said it plainly: “Putin ‘attack’ bluster shows Russia is the one standing in the way of peace.” I would not be holding my breath for more action. This is just part of the merry-go-round. www.kyivpost.com/post/67239

Wichtige Liste, da die Bundesregierung diese öffentliche Rechenschaft nicht mehr legen mag.

The geopolitical importance of the US siege of Venezuela happening in synchronicity with China’s “exercises” around Taiwan: we’re entering the era post international law, and the West is losing the war of narratives. China has a better (though false) story about Taiwan than the US about Venezuela.

While the old year is fading away why not use a moment to have a look at my recent book buchshop.bod.de/szenenwechse.... It is a comprehensive firsthand account of “Zeitenwende”. Gorbachev, Yeltsin, Putin, Merkel, Merz, Trump & the MAGA-crowd are all in there. Working on English edition for 2026!🍾

One Russian independent media outlet spoke with 14 residents in Valdai, where supposedly almost 100 drones tried to attack Putin's palace. None heard anything, nor had any text alerts about drone danger. #RussiaLies

Is there no limit to the embarrassment the American people are willing to suffer?

It didn‘t take long for Putin to find an off-piste from a peace process he doesn‘t control and therefore doesn‘t want to succeed. Anything else would have been a surprise.

I fear This is the sad truth.

„Verstehen wir uns noch darauf, der Welt von den Lehren zu erzählen, die wir aus den Weltkriegen gezogen haben: Wir anerkennen Grenzen, (ver-)binden uns durch Verträge und versprechen unseren Bürgern: Kein Mensch soll in der Macht eines anderen stehen müssen!“ www.wiwo.de/politik/euro...

"Möchten Sie die Bundeswehr beliefern? Als Zulieferer der Bundeswehr müssen zahlreiche gesetzliche Vorgaben beachtet werden." ---> so die einführenden, werbenden Sätze auf der Seite des Bundesamts für Beschaffung #baainbw ---> Perfektes Marketing 😅 www.bundeswehr.de/de/organisat...

Budapest Memorandum: "In response to Ukrainian questions when negotiating the assurances, U.S. officials said the United States would take action if Russia violated its commitments but that would not include sending American military forces." cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/news/budapes...

Just as the Dollar isn‘t our currency but belongs to another continent. And we should be thankful for that.

Das Beste, was ich seit längerer Zeit über die Ukraine-Verhandlungen gelesen habe. Nüchtern, kreativ, ausgewogen. Greminger ist ein Vollprofi (genug gesagt). www.spiegel.de/ausland/ukra...

Undifferenziert.

A few quick thoughts about this morning's decision. Don't believe the spin from various Russians & others: it's a big deal. The EU has now unambiguously demonstrated that it is able and willing to provide the external financial support Ukraine needs, for as long and as much as it takes. (1/N)

Also half full bc Germany is finally accepting its full responsibility to lead.

Excellent. This has been needed for years, it would be a great step towards meaningful deterrence.

The rare Kremlin confidant who speaks his mind. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/w...

No surprises then. It is important nevertheless that European and US positions on Ukraine seem to have moved a good bit closer recently. Let’s hope it stays that way. Never quite certain what Trump is really up to.

Under a lot of pressure from Putin as well as America and under the leadership of Chancellor Merz Germany has finally moved off the sidelines. Today, Germany is the indispensable European nation.

Two wrongs don‘t make a right

Liebe Bluesky-Gemeinde, was Friedrich Merz hier macht, ist beeindruckend. Endlich. Gegen Trump, Putin und die europäischen Wackler. Das Risiko ist hoch, um so mehr verdient das Respekt.

NEW US Senate has passed the #defense policy bill, showing bipartisan support for continued military support to the Baltic countries, maintaining an American officer as #NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe & maintaining a significant 🇺🇸 troop presence in Europe. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...

Sehr nötiger Text zu dem immer abstruseren Opportunismus der sogenannten bürgerlichen Mitte in Dland. Oder besser dem eines ihrer Vertreter. @schieritz.bsky.social

Alliances are built on trust and attraction, otherwise known as soft power, and they are the most effective tools that democracies have in their struggle with autocracies.” Steven Kotkin in @foreignaffairs.com

Ukraine negotiations are a two stage process. Finding a common denominator between Europe and Trump is stage one, difficult enough. Stage two would then be an agreement with Putin. At present that seems far off. It is important to raise the pressure on Russia. A common negotiating position helps.

“🇺🇸 Americans continue to have a positive view of relations between the two countries, even with a significant decline in perceptions since last year. 🇩🇪 Germans have completely flipped their assessments of the relationship over that same period.” 🔗 www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...

Putin tries to maximize military pressure on Ukraine these days. Why? He wants Ukrainians to cave so that he and Trump can force them to accept a so-called peace plan which gives Putin the position of dominance he is fighting for. I sincerely hope that Zelensky, Merz and others will foil that plan.

Döpfner misses the point. For a fruitful transatlantic dialogue trust is the indispensable basis. Trump and his fellow travelers have displayed overbearing arrogance, self-centered greed and fundamental ignorance and disinterest vis-a-vis Europe. Let’s be self critical but carry a big stick.

Eine entmilitarisierte Pufferzone hört sich auf dem Papier gut an, aber ohne Verlässlichkeit, dass Putin nicht weiter Krieg führt, ist sie nur eine begriffliche Nebelkerze für Gebietsabtretungen der Ukraine.

Just sent out this piece. The whole idea that Trump's sanctions on Russian oil were meant to hurt Putin is collapsing on all fronts. Indian and Chinese purchases are up and there are no secondary sanctions to be found. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Maria Kalesnikava, hero of Belarus opposition, freed after more than 5 years reut.rs/4iY89ST

Das Paradoxe ist: Solange man UN-Friedenstruppen mit einem robusten Mandat braucht, wird Russland ihre Entsendung im UN-Sicherheitsrat blockieren. An dem Punkt, an dem Russland ihnen zustimmen würde, braucht man sie nicht mehr.

Langsam wird das blamabel. 20 Dronen über einer militärischen Einrichtung mitten in Deutschland, professionell gesteuert, nicht zum ersten Mal, und Bw, Polizei, Innenministerium usw. usw. haben keine einzige abgeschossen oder beschlagnahmt, keinen einzigen Piloten dingfest machen können. Aufwachen!

That is exactly where we are: ivodaalder.substack.com/p/dont-be-fo...

Teile der Ukraine zu einer "neutralen Freihandelszone" zu machen, klingt gut, aber was sollte Russland davon abhalten, mit kleinen grünen Männchen einzurücken und neue Fakten zu schaffen? "Neutralität" von Gebieten würde Gefahr laufen, dass Russland sie sich einverleibt.

Deutschsprachiges Interview mit dem Redakteur des polnischen Radios, Wojciech Osiński. Ausgehend von meinem Buch Szenenwechsel sprechen wir über die Unterstützung der Ukraine, die Rolle 🇩🇪 und 🇪🇺, das transatlantische Verhältnis und die Entwicklung in Russland.👂👂👂 www.polskieradio.pl/400/7779/art...

Glad to see that State Department is finally focusing on the really important stuff

Timely first move

Obscene when contrasted with the circumstances under which the poorest quartile in the US live