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...

‘🇬🇧 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

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...

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

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...

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

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

🚨 #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 👉

‘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

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 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

@edrusi.bsky.social has the must-read take on The Hague NATO summit.

What to make of the NATO summit? @rgwhitman.bsky.social explains all ukandeu.ac.uk/the-art-of-t...

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...

"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

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.

Thanks to @congeostrategy.bsky.social for giving me the chance to answer the #BigAsk this week.

AUKward - on.ft.com/4jPXsQN

🌟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! 👉

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...

"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...

Sharp and on point from @edrusi.bsky.social

My take on the EU-UK Security and Defence Partnership agreed at the summit today.

Thanks to the @congeostrategy.bsky.social for getting the opportunity to answer their #BigAsk this week - on whether Britain should have a foreign policy doctrine.

It isn't a surprise that an administration with little respect for domestic law is happy internationally to offer impunity to Putin & his fellow war-criminals, but it is another sad sign of US abdication from its leading role in the democratic world. Europeans must do what they can to fill the gap.

Next EU-UK Joint Committee meeting scheduled for 29 April. This is first meeting under the UK Labour Government; last meeting was 16 May 2024 when David Cameron was UK co-chair. Expected among the agenda items is EU declaration that it is content that UK... commission.europa.eu/document/dow...

Ian, thank you - and really pertinent questions. On a) Credibility of an ESC would rest on the authority that European states would be willing to ascribe to it. On b) a convo that should def be happening at the least to rehearse the nature of the challenge?

Time to dust off the idea of a European Security Council - my comment piece for @rusi.bsky.social www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

Maybe the bigger picture should be in play here…the exclusionary approach should have been dumped before the EU’s recent defence initiatives were announced… www.politico.eu/article/germ...

Thank you Ian.

📢 NEW COMMENTARY: 🖋️ By Richard Whitman Why Europe needs a common market for defence @rgwhitman.bsky.social argues that now is the time for the EU to move beyond coordination among member states and work towards a truly common European defence market. 👉 www.epc.eu/en/Publicati...

A European common market for defence bigger and broader than the EU27 is needed for Europe's security - my argument for @epc-official.bsky.social www.epc.eu/en/Publicati...

🚨 CALL FOR PAPERS - deadline tomorrow! ⏰ 👀 Just one day left to apply for this amazing opportunity with UKICE's @robfordmancs.bsky.social & @uniofmanchester.bsky.social 👇

Read the latest post of our UCL Europe Blog series on the changing geopolitical order now. @rgwhitman.bsky.social asks why it's taking so long for the European Union and the United Kingdom to agree on a formal security and defence partnership? ➡️ Read more here: ucleuropeblog.com/2025/03/26/e...

The May EU-UK summit may mark a new phase of détente between London and Brussels, but the pace of progress on an EU-UK security and defence pacy remains worryingly slow, particularly given the urgency of the security challenges Europe now faces. My thoughts for @uclei.bsky.social.

Rolling the pitch for an EU-UK foreign, security and defence policy agreement - www.politico.eu/article/eu-u...

Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine. We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the agressor. Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.

With Trump continuing to make headlines over Ukraine, have a read of @kkwapinska.bsky.social’s excellent analysis on the ‘peace talks’ & potential consequences of Trump's strategy towards Europe👇 ukandeu.ac.uk/the-uk-us-se...

UK public response to Trump admin stance on Ukraine takes shape - www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4...

Thanks to @congeostrategy.bsky.social to the chance to join their line of thinkers to tackle their weekly #BigAsk - 'What should Britain's relationship with the EU look like?

Reposting this by @rgwhitman.bsky.social and I on the UK-EU defence and security pact. Still relevant as there hasn't been any substantial progress in the last 6 months... rusi.org/explore-our-...

EU majors in a surrealist approach to supporting Ukraine - EU devours Russian gas at record speed despite cutoff www.politico.eu/article/eu-d...

Other than 🇺🇸, which 3 countries will define 2025? We asked 8 experts in today’s #BigAsk ✍️ Dr Hillary Briffa, Patrick Horgan OBE, Dr Timothy Less, @japarker29.bsky.social, @james-rogers.bsky.social, @mannvirdee.bsky.social, Dr Victoria Vdovychenko, @rgwhitman.bsky.social#BigAsk #BritainsWorld

🇧🇷 ‘2025 will be a significant year for Brazil, which will be at the centre of major diplomatic events,’ writes @rgwhitman.bsky.social, @kent.ac.uk #BritainsWorld #BigAsk

Very grateful for the support 🙏🏾

My new paper on the JEF and it's contribution to European security is out now, ahead of the Leaders' meeting in Tallinn next month...

ICYMI - very big deal - www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/11...

Pleasure to chair @maxbergmann.bsky.social @jteurope.bsky.social @oanalungescu.bsky.social @mariiazolk.bsky.social today @rusi.bsky.social talking all things Trump, 🇺🇦 and Euro Security. Watch the full event here: youtu.be/TDZPfy_GLMs?...

Short answer: No. Freezing Ukraine’s NATO membership would not bring us closer to a sustainable peace. Ukraine will need credible security guarantees, NATO membership being the most effective, though not the only possible solution. Great set of answers here carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...