Strengthening Europe’s defence requires smarter cooperation. Defence clusters - small groups of aligned countries are the way forward, argues @lscazzieri.bsky.social. #EUdefence ➡️ ow.ly/NVXL50YiR7m

"The Western Balkans should not be relegated to the margins of European security. The region retains assets that matter for European defence". ow.ly/uEIV50Yh1Ph

The EU's northern flank is central to European security. President Costa in Norway & HRVP Kallas in Sweden today make that clear. The Arctic is both a pillar of Russia’s economy & its weak spot, writes @ditrych.bsky.social. How the EU can #UnpowerRussia there ⤵️ ow.ly/9CjX50YhZ2N

Sitting on critical military mobility corridors, the Western Balkans can play a decisive role in strengthening European security. Europe’s defence readiness extends beyond its borders, argues Bojana Zorić & @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social 🔗 ow.ly/uEIV50Yh1Ph

Sitting on critical military mobility corridors, the Western Balkans can play a decisive role in strengthening European security. Europe’s defence readiness extends beyond its borders, argues Bojana Zorić & @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social 🔗 ow.ly/uEIV50Yh1Ph

The Munich Security Conference was all about the transatlantic relations & two distinct messages came from the US administration. @ditrych.bsky.social on @f24debate.france24.com on the outcome of #MSC2026. ➡️ Full show: f24.my/BkEi

Commissioner Šuica will attend the 1st formal meeting of the Board of Peace as an observer. As the EU has decided not to join, Katarzyna W. Sidlo explains why remaining outside may be the best choice. ow.ly/ftI650Y4Hsa

Europe’s rearmament cannot stop at its borders. The Western Balkans have a critical role in Europe’s defence readiness: from defence-industrial capacity to military mobility & regional resilience. 🔗 ow.ly/uEIV50Yh1Ph

"This is a regime that kills rather than protects its own people." Two years after #Navalny's murder, @ditrych.bsky.social words on his legacy, and the system that silenced him, still ring true.

Europe must invest in its own strength & shed its psychology of weakness. Our firm response on Greenland showed that if Europeans are united & back their objectives with resources, they can achieve what they set out to do. @sbeverts.bsky.social in @elpais.com. english.elpais.com/internationa...

Could an 'E5' model work for the European Security Council? Informal formats allow fast coordination but raise legitimacy concerns, risk friction with countries that are out & still require translation into EU processes, argues Luigi Scazzieri. https://ow.ly/KlTI50YgC9f

India is unlikely to fully pivot away from Russia, explains Lizza Bomassi to Czech media Seznam Zpravy.

At #MSC2026, Marco Rubio struck a more conciliatory tone than Vance last year, insisting the US & Europe 'belong together.' But one year into Trump’s 2nd term, trust is low & the transatlantic relationship has radically changed. 🔗 ow.ly/7W7550XbpcO

At #MSC2026 panel on security guarantees for Ukraine, NL FM Van Weel makes the correct point that we should not give Putin a veto on whether there can be other European counties deploying troops to Ukraine post ceasefire. That’s a sovereign choice belonging to Ukraine and its partners, not Russia.

As NATO launches a new Arctic mission, @ditrych.bsky.social explains the Russian threat there is real. It could take the form of a clash at sea or over territory like Bear Island in the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago. 🎙️ Story by @terischultz.bsky.social on NPR: www.npr.org/2026/02/12/n...

As NATO launches a new Arctic mission, @ditrych.bsky.social explains the Russian threat there is real. It could take the form of a clash at sea or over territory like Bear Island in the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago. 🎙️ Story by @terischultz.bsky.social on NPR: www.npr.org/2026/02/12/n...

European Security Council: why creating a new institution is not the answer. @lscazzieri.bsky.social explores four possible ESC models but all face political & practical limits. The more realistic path: making better use of existing structures. ow.ly/3AbV50YebZw

What are the global risks to the EU in 2026? The @euiss.bsky.social and the @eui-eu.bsky.social recently presented the Global Risks to the EU 2026 survey. What were the main findings? 🎞️ Take a look at our video ➡️ youtu.be/DeuAXJB5QqQ @erik-jones.bsky.social @sbeverts.bsky.social

15 trade deals in one year. Trump’s approach: cut tariffs in exchange for market access, secure supply chains & critical minerals, and push partners to 'buy American'. More on the 'Foreign Policy-First' President: ow.ly/OeQv50Y8Gaf

European Security Council: why creating a new institution is not the most realistic option. Making better use of existing formats can deliver just what Europe needs, argues @lscazzieri.bsky.social. 🔗 ow.ly/3AbV50YebZw

That’s a wrap for the CFI Africa Forum! 2 days of Africa–Europe exchanges on foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). Clear takeaway: countering FIMI across the continent demands sustained cross-regional cooperation, grounded in solid, context-sensitive research.

"It is time for Europe to fully embrace the drone evolution." As the European Commission presented its new Drone Action Plan today, time to take another look at our analysis on the EU drone gap 👇 www.iss.europa.eu/publications...

How is the war on Ukraine affecting Russia's regions & ethnic communities? Alexandra Garmazhapova of the Free Buryatia Foundation explains the toll beyond Moscow & Saint Petersburg, as part of our discussion on the drivers of change in Russia.

How is the war on Ukraine affecting Russia's regions & ethnic communities? Alexandra Garmazhapova of the Free Buryatia Foundation explains the toll beyond Moscow & Saint Petersburg, as part of our discussion on the drivers of change in Russia.

The CFI Africa Forum opened in Dakar! Over 2 days, researchers & policy experts from Africa & Europe come together to discuss one of the most complex and rapidly evolving security challenges facing the continent: foreign information manipulation and interference.

Good to see @euiss.bsky.social paper on shifts in Transatlantic relationship featured in @munsecconf.bsky.social #MSCreport. The paper can be read here: www.iss.europa.eu/publications... ...and my chapter on how to turn the wheel and see more unity on Ukraine here: www.iss.europa.eu/sites/defaul....

Tariffs have been one of Trump's main instruments to reshape the global trade order. While the administration argues that tariffs are paid by foreign companies, 96% of the burden was absorbed by US citizens. More on the "Foreign Policy-First" President, by @gspataf95.bsky.social: ow.ly/OeQv50Y8Gaf

What if China could control the on-off switch of Europe’s energy system? Chinese-made connected device could enable remote access to solar installations, creating a real risk of disruption to Europe’s electricity systems. More: ow.ly/aZx150XXfzC

Maybe time for Europeans to openly fund democratic (small d) orgs in the US?

Trump claims to have ended 8 wars in 2025. Many of these US-brokered peace deals include economic components, such as access to minerals, making them tools to forge business ties & secure new resources. More on the "Foreign Policy-First" President: ow.ly/OeQv50Y8Gaf

Nearly 500 US military strikes in 12 months - more than under Biden in four years. From 'America First' to 'Foreign Policy-First'? 📊 Our interactive analysis of US foreign policy under Trump, by @gspataf95.bsky.social: ow.ly/OeQv50Y8Gaf

From production to coercion: how China turned critical minerals into a strategic weapon. From @joristeer.bsky.social Brief of the risks posed by Trump’s ‘G2’ bargaining with an emboldened China: ow.ly/CC5G50XKcrz

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆-𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 It was supposed to be America First — but #Trump 2.0 has been defined above all by foreign policy. My latest @euiss.bsky.social data analysis: www.iss.europa.eu/publications...

Nearly 500 US military strikes in 12 months - more than under Biden in four years. From 'America First' to 'Foreign Policy-First'? 📊 Our interactive analysis of US foreign policy under Trump, by @gspataf95.bsky.social: ow.ly/OeQv50Y8Gaf

China is systematically embedding itself in global renewable energy supply chains, connected devices & Europe’s energy system operators. In a geopolitical environment marked by weaponised dependencies, this risk has become unacceptable, warns @casparhobhouse.bsky.social. 🔗 ow.ly/aZx150XXfzC

Where could change in Russia really come from - elites or society? @markgaleotti.bsky.social shares his take on Russia’s possible futures.

Where could change in Russia really come from - elites or society? @markgaleotti.bsky.social shares his take on Russia’s possible futures.

Is the Board of Peace positioning itself as an alternative to the UN? The risk: sidelining established institutions & weakening multilateral legitimacy. @katarzyna-sidlo.bsky.social explains 👇 🔗 Read the full analysis: ow.ly/ftI650Y4Hsa

💬 @ruehlig.bsky.social tells @apnews.com that Trump's Greenland ambitions and China's October 2025 rare earth export controls "have substantially contributed to a European understanding that we face two major powers that are not shy to bully the EU". apnews.com/article/chin...

Is the Board of Peace positioning itself as an alternative to the UN? The risk: sidelining established institutions & weakening multilateral legitimacy. @katarzyna-sidlo.bsky.social explains 👇 🔗 Read the full analysis: ow.ly/ftI650Y4Hsa

Where could change in Russia come from? Our panel was stark: propaganda & fear are working, society is disarmed and elites remain loyal. But confusion is not acceptance. Russia and the regime are not the same, and that gap still matters.

America’s NATO allies have shifted from fearing US abandonment to fearing US hostility, and are now confronted to a new existential question: can the US security guarantee be trusted at all? @sbeverts.bsky.social rts.bsky.social in the @financialtimes.com

What’s really going on in Russia? Understanding our adversary is key to defending Europe’s security & democratic resilience. Today, we take a closer look at Russia’s economy, society & future — to prepare for the Russia we face, not the one we wish for.

Board of Peace: for the EU, being inside the Board yet repeatedly sidelined may be more politically damaging than staying out. To shape the next phase of the Gaza process, Europe needs political will more than Board membership, argues @katarzyna-sidlo.bsky.social. ow.ly/ftI650Y4Hsa

Moscow spends $1.5 bn a year into propaganda abroad. The Democracy Shield & its Centre for Democratic Resilience are crucial steps to push back. As EP Special Committee meets today, read Nad’a Kovalčíková recommendations to turn principles into action. ow.ly/AFJv50XvGEL

💬 For Trump, the transatlantic relationship is no longer one between allies, but a US-dominated order based on coercion rather than consultation and rules. @sbeverts.bsky.social in @standaard.be on why Europe must detach from a worldview that no longer exists. www.standaard.be/economie/ste...

The EU–India #FTA is an important step but trade is no longer the partnership’s centre of gravity. The real opportunities lie elsewhere, once we acknowledge differing priorities & threat perceptions. Read our analysis ⤵️ ow.ly/14it50Y3KbM

Can the Board of Peace deliver results without sidelining existing institutions or eroding multilateral legitimacy? Gaza will be the first test. For the EU, being inside the Board without a meaningful role may be more damaging than staying out, warns @katarzyna-sidlo.bsky.social 🔗 ow.ly/ftI650Y4Hsa

Europe and India are drawing closer, but their priorities & threat perceptions are different. For India - China - not Russia, is the main security challenge. Accepting divergence & focusing on practical cooperation is key to making the partnership work. 👉 ow.ly/14it50Y3KbM

Russia’s military build-up in the #Arctic has been underway for years, even if its war in Ukraine has slowed things down. The Northern Fleet, incl. nuclear submarines, is central to Moscow’s deterrence, explains @ditrych.bsky.social in @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/4130...