Or…ride a bicycle.

[Commentary] #GlobalEurope: Has Trump finally united Europe? This week’s rejection of the US president’s Hormuz request is remarkable. But the EU is still at the mercy of events, by @henryjfoy.ft.com, @chassnews.bsky.social & @barneyjopson.bsky.social | Financial Times www.ft.com/content/6ad2...

Our @financialtimes.com big read today with magnificent colleagues @chassnews.bsky.social & @barneyjopson.bsky.social

Our cover this week. www.economist.com/leaders/2026...

Biggest Nato allies reject Donald Trump’s Hormuz armada demand—European officials have highlighted that Nato is a defensive alliance and that targeting Iran and its nuclear programme was a “war of choice” by the US and Israel. www.ft.com/content/ab86... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Merz steps up scrutiny of arms procurement amid spending angst—Others warn that the war in Ukraine, where drone warfare has taken centre stage on the battlefield, has shown the need to invest in unmanned systems and… www.ft.com/content/420c... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

China’s mounting economic challenge to Europe’s largest economy is becoming impossible to ignore. How Merz chooses to handle it on his first trip to Beijing will have far-reaching implications for the EU @chassnews.bsky.social ep.ft.com/permalink/em...

‘They All Tried to Break Me’: Gisèle Pelicot Shares Her Story www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/m...

When Marco Rubio took to the stage at the @munsecconf.bsky.social , he laced his address with reassurance, but the message was full Maga. Our take w/ @henryjfoy.ft.com ‘The best we can hope for’: Rubio’s Munich unity appeal fails to woo Europe ft.com/content/9463... @financialtimes.com

Really good read....

On the Big German transatlantic heartbreak : “The transatlantic relationship has a far more emotional foundation than in the UK or in France...The Americans taught the Germans democracy. It feels like a betrayal," says Claudia Major www.ft.com/content/ef3c...

On the Big German transatlantic heartbreak : “The transatlantic relationship has a far more emotional foundation than in the UK or in France...The Americans taught the Germans democracy. It feels like a betrayal," says Claudia Major www.ft.com/content/ef3c...

In another era, Germany would be certain the US would shield a refinery supplying *90%* of greater Berlin's petrol needs from sanctions. But this is the Trump era - Gov is reviewing nationalisation (expropriation of Rosneft) as back-up plan - My dispatch: www.ft.com/content/9515...

good this. Big barrier to finding a new owner is that, as with much of Europe's refinery complex, Schwedt is old, in need of modernisation, in a falling demand market and as such is a deeply unattractive proposition. European governments need to prepare to be the refinery owner of last resort

In another era, Germany would be certain the US would shield a refinery supplying *90%* of greater Berlin's petrol needs from sanctions. But this is the Trump era - Gov is reviewing nationalisation (expropriation of Rosneft) as back-up plan - My dispatch: www.ft.com/content/9515...

Successive German governments have avoided expropriation for fear of Russian retaliation. But the cabinet of Chancellor Friedrich Merz may be faced with no other choice. @chassnews.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/9515...

Friedrich Merz under pressure to ease ‘firewall’ against Germany’s far-right—The argument inside the CDU mirrors debates across Europe, where far-right movements that were once on the fringes of politics are challenging… www.ft.com/content/8d40... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Europe’s rightwing parties squirm as Trump threatens tariffs— The reactions of rightwing politicians — many of whom previously lavished praise on the current US administration for calling out… www.ft.com/content/d41c... @chassnews.bsky.social @alicemhancock.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

It was Germany that caused TAVIAN to turn around! 💪 After inspecting documents (on the German Bight side) they concluded they were falsified. When coming into the Baltic, they rejected entry. Finally! For the first time we have seen direct action in the Baltic! Thank you Germany 🇩🇪!

My colleague @martinsandbu.ft.com is right: Europe lacks the self confidence - and countries such as Germany doesn’t trust itself. Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone www.ft.com/content/1da0...

My colleague @martinsandbu.ft.com is right: Europe lacks the self confidence - and countries such as Germany doesn’t trust itself. Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone www.ft.com/content/1da0...

Berlin in the dark: a power outage shakes Germany-The country’s ageing energy infrastructure is set to be upgraded after two decades of under-investment, but the blackout has exposed the country’s… www.ft.com/content/c91d... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Role reversal: how foot-dragging France blindsided newly assertive Berlin—The stand-off underscores a new dynamic between Europe’s two largest powers: an initiative-driven Germany and a foot-dragging France. www.ft.com/content/99d2... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

German parliament suffers suspected cyber attack during Zelenskyy’s visit on.ft.com/4ae9xOM

German Mittelstand in turmoil after breaking taboo on meeting far right—That broke a long-standing taboo in German politics, business and among unions not to talk with the AfD, which has… www.ft.com/content/9c2f... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

#EUDefence: #Berlin and #Paris discuss scrapping joint fighter to focus on air ‘combat cloud’, by Laura Pitel, @chassnews.bsky.social, Sarah White & @sylviapfeifer.bsky.social | Financial Times www.ft.com/content/e0cc...

Gerhard Schröder refuses to be Germany’s scapegoat-Schröder lost his remaining supporters when he joined the board of Russian state oil group Rosneft in 2017 and continued to make regular visits… www.ft.com/content/5bd1... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Germany’s Friedrich Merz backs protectionist measures on Chinese steel—Once a strong defender of free trade, Germany has been severely hit… www.ft.com/content/a02d... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Friedrich Merz is testing Germany’s patience— Merz is not the only leader navigating a weak economy and a fraught political climate; both the UK’s Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron are grappling with… www.ft.com/content/bc18... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Breaking News: There are no plans for President Trump to meet Vladimir Putin soon, a White House official said, a week after Trump floated the idea.

German chancellor Friedrich Merz has taken office with a bang - touring capitals and projecting newfound German assertiveness. But it has not been easy at home. Nearly six months on, I examine why in this longer read: on.ft.com/3WQ5XlS

on.ft.com/46NXmWS Germany to allow retirees to earn €2,000 a month tax-free @chassnews.bsky.social

ER doc here! This is a lie. Wait times are up because the American healthcare system is an unsustainable business model and a for-profit national healthcare system just doesn’t work. These problems will continue to get worse until we change that system. It literally has nothing to do with immigrants

Germany’s Merz backs using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine—with Donald Trump reducing US support for Kyiv and refusing to sign off on fresh sanctions against Moscow, pressure is mounting to use the frozen assets. www.ft.com/content/3ac0... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

What will DOGE look like with screwdrivers not sledgehammers, in a country that uses fax machines and cash more than other advanced economies? @chassnews.bsky.social on Germany's deregulation tsar, Karsten Wildberger. www.ft.com/content/1440...

Germany’s new deregulation chief vows to be more subtle than Elon Musk—Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made cutting red tape a cornerstone of his plan to revive the Eurozone’s largest economy. Simplifying the thicket of regulations… www.ft.com/content/1440... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

FT Exclusive: German chancellor Friedrich Merz has called on the EU to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine’s war effort, arguing the move could unlock a €140bn loan for Kyiv. on.ft.com/48jdaSL

Exclusive: German chancellor Friedrich Merz leading the charge on frozen Russian assets 👇very strong oped in the FT:

“It’s safe to say that Trump does not have a single policymaking person who knows Russia and Ukraine advising him,” said Eric Rubin, a former career diplomat who served as US ambassador to Bulgaria during Trump’s first term. @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/89f3...

EU leaders to hold call with Trump ahead of Putin meeting over Ukraine-Asked whether the UK could trust Putin in the talks, Starmer’s office said on Monday: “We never trust President Putin as far as we could throw him.” www.ft.com/content/b6a5... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

European leaders are pressing the US to ratchet up sanctions pressure on Moscow as they race to shape the outcome of a meeting between Trump and Putin that could determine the fate of Ukraine and long-term security of the continent. on.ft.com/4mc7qOE w/ @chassnews.bsky.social @paolatamma.bsky.social

Lessons from history, incl. Minsk talks with some advice for Trump from former French President François Hollande: www.ft.com/content/a701...

Donald Trump’s move on institutions ‘wrong’, says German finance minister—Speaking a few hours before meeting with his US counterpart Scott Bessent in Washington, Lars Klingbeil said… www.ft.com/content/2d91... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Germany faces €170bn budget gap despite massive borrowing—The looming cuts pose a political risk for the government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has pledged to move on… www.ft.com/content/6735... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Welcome to FT Edit! When the news is overwhelming, we bring you eight stories a day, chosen by editors, offering clarity, fresh perspectives, insight and inspiration — plus some extra treats! Explore more at www.ft.com/ftedit or, if you're reading on iOS, find us on the FT app: on.ft.com/44SHfGA

FT FILM : Germany’s spending gamble | FT Film via @FT www.ft.com/content/3967... By ⁦@DanGarrahan w the FT's Martin Wolf, @olafstorbeck.ft.com @philippasigl.bsky.social @franziskabrantner.de

FT FILM : Germany’s spending gamble | FT Film via @FT www.ft.com/content/3967... By ⁦@DanGarrahan w the FT's Martin Wolf, @olafstorbeck.ft.com @philippasigl.bsky.social @franziskabrantner.de

Exclusive interview: "There is no reason to complain any more" Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius tells Laura Pitel and me in his Bundestag office, as he urges European arms manufacturers to ramp up production. Fascinating conversation here: www.ft.com/content/a9c8...

German defence minister calls on arms makers to deliver— Even as he called for the industry to speed up, Boris Pistorius said he was seeking to improve procurement. “We need… www.ft.com/content/a9c8... @chassnews.bsky.social @financialtimes.com

Exclusive interview: "There is no reason to complain any more" Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius tells Laura Pitel and me in his Bundestag office, as he urges European arms manufacturers to ramp up production. Fascinating conversation here: www.ft.com/content/a9c8...