One more week, one more round of news & analysis from us at #STAND. Did you pick up German in the meantime? It's no Star Wars, so I know you have. Listen to @julianasuess.bsky.social & me unpack Trump’s “Golden Dome” for @swp-berlin.org podcast: ambitions, risks & why it's likely wishful thinking.

Germany’s forces, the Zapad exercise, UK & F-35As, French spaceplane, Iran’s nuclear programs, Ukraine’s deep strikes & NPT in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

🎧Ein paar Gedanken von @liviuhorovitz.bsky.social und mir zu Trumps "Golden Dome" im @swp-berlin.org Podcast Was genau die Ambitionen und Hürden sind, welche Risiken/Gefahren das Projekt birgt und warum das Ganze momentan nach strategischem Wunschdenken aussieht, gibt es hier zu hören:

US-Präsident Trump will für die USA einen Raketen-Schutzschild. Der »Golden Dome« soll 175 Milliarden Dollar kosten. Was hinter diesem Projekt steckt, erklären @liviuhorovitz.bsky.social & @julianasuess.bsky.social @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social im SWP-Podcast 🎧 www.swp-berlin.org/publikation/...

US & European security, Iran’s nuclear program, Europe’s defense posture, Russia’s nukes & Belarus, UN & space, and more in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

A timely new article by @alexsorg.bsky.social looks at the reasons for why Russia might have positioned nuclear weapons in Belarus. As he puts it, it is "potentially the first new foreign nuclear-weapons deployment by any state since 1974." www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Autumn is here, but most nuclear newsmakers still seem stuck at the beach — a slow week, but with a few interesting twists. If you're not yet buried in briefs and Zooms, it might be worth a glance. Aperol Spritz optional, but recommended, to remember long-gone summer.🏖️

A new French-German strategic dialogue, Germany-Norway space cooperation, GPS jamming, China's capabilities & arms control in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

On your way back to real life? Train delayed? Airport a sauna? Wedged in a backseat next to sleeping kids? Or is the trip back from summer just feeling like re-entry without heat shields? Our #STAND @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social update on #nuclear & #space might help stabilize your orbit - a bit.

Arms control; long-range fires & Ukraine; Iran’s nuclear program; Starship, Soyuz-5 & China's rockets; DPRK's secret base & more in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

Still lingering at the beach, but missing the thrill of nuclear deterrence debates? 🏖️➡️☢️😜 Nothing better than diving into these analyses we curated @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social #STAND.

Ukraine’s Flamingo, Russia-Ukraine-US interactions, Golden Dome, US & Pakistan’s postures, coercive diplomacy, nuclear taboo & more in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

What better way to survive this scorching day - while nervously wondering what Donald and Volodya are cooking up in Alaska - than by diving into our #STAND @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social picks on space, nukes & other cheerful topics? ☀️🚀💥

Golden Dome; US Army & space; Russia’s moratorium, nuclear doctrine & Burevestnik; Germany & long-range fires; China & LUA & more in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

If you're hiding from your kids during a blissful beach vacation — you're safe here, we at #STAND @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social got you covered with a host of fascinating nuclear & space stories this week. If not, finish your coffee and get back to that paper you should've submitted ages ago!

The UK & space, Russia’s electronic warfare, US-Russian nuclear rhetoric, Golden Dome, US’ new precision strike missile & more in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

As satellites shape everything from GPS to global security, space is becoming the next geopolitical frontier. @julianasuess.bsky.social from @swp-berlin.org unpacks in this interview what’s at stake for space security & international cooperation. Listen here: www.astro-politics.org/expert-inter...

Even the nuclear & space worlds are off to the beach - so here are just a few bite-sized blasts you can enjoy with a cocktail in hand.

New START, AUKUS, mobile nukes storages, Iran’s nuclear program, US & DPRK, X-37B spaceplane, US in space & nuclear risks in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

I've listened to Tom Lehrer—and made my students cringe at his political incorrectness—for twenty years. He died a few days ago. Somehow, I suspect he’d find it funny to know he outlived the journalist who prewrote his obituary. "So long, Mom / I'm off to drop the bomb / So don't wait up for me."

Think tankers always oscillate between "imaginative" (aka wild) prescriptions & "astute" (hopefully not completely wrong) predictions. This year, I was repeatedly told that I lacked imagination & would surely be wrong. As I read this, I sip my cocktail & am... content. bsky.app/profile/swp-...

Summer⛵, sun😎, and ideally a beach🏖️—with a cocktail🍹 in one hand and 37 unread tabs📑 in the other. The perfect time to ignore the stuff you swore you'd get to in January & read more interesting nuclear news!

Deterrence in Europe, Iran’s nuclear program, US & space, Russia’s view of UK & French arsenals & conventional deterrence of China in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

”For the first time since at least 2008, U.S. nuclear weapons have reportedly returned to British soil, with multiple sources indicating that a number of B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs were transferred this week to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.“

French–UK nuclear cooperation; Russia's cyberattacks, Baltic Sea intimidation & nuclear sites; Iran’s program; US deterrence, & more in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

Auf dem Nato-Gipfel konnte ein Eklat mit US-Präsident Trump vermieden werden. Doch die transatlantischen Beziehungen bleiben fragil. Ein SWP-Aktuell von @pfuhrhop.bsky.social @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social über Chancen und Herausforderungen nach dem Treffen. www.swp-berlin.org/publikation/...

Lancaster House 2.0's on nukes: "nuclear forces are independent [but] can be coordinated [...] across policy, capability & operations," so we'll create a steering group to strengthen "ability to make coordinated decisions in peace time and in crisis" & expand "cooperation on nuclear research"

Readings for another hot week. Some shameless #STAND self-promotion; bunch of stuff on Iran; interesting things on space; and some real beach reading. All going well with Mojitos & Caipirinhas🥤, wherever you might find yourself 🏢/🏖️.

Germany & nuclear deterrence, Iran’s nuclear program, rules-based space & a hypothetical scenario of nuclear attack on the US in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

Of course you should learn German! But if you happen to think otherwise, here is my modest attempt to think through various scenarios of US extended nuclear deterrence - in English.

»"There is no extreme threat to Europe that would not prompt a response by both nations,” the UK added. “As such, any adversary threatening the vital interests of Britain or France could be confronted by the strength of the nuclear forces of both nations.”«

Why did Margaret Thatcher oppose German reunification 35 years ago? Yes, she disliked the Germans - but her deeper fear was socialism creeping into Britain through the Brussels backdoor, driven by an increasingly dominant Germany. Probably my best research. Let me know if you’d like a copy.

»Deutschland braucht keinen Zugriff auf Atomwaffen Dritter – und wird ihn auch nicht erhalten,« habe ich dem @tagesspiegel.de erzählt. Oder: Dr Nukleare Spaßbremse schreckt jede noch so wilde Diskussion zuverlässig ab.

One more week, one more batch of nuclear & space readings from us @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social #STAND. These go well with a cold beer on a sunny beach. Or, if you're stuck in a sweltering office, welcome to the (our) club, keep reading & carry on!

Eurodeterrent, Germany & UK’s defense pact, Estonia & F-35A, US & Iran, nuclear arsenals of US, Russia & China, space & sole purpose in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

1/8 Later this year from @mitpress.bsky.social in @belfercenter.bsky.social's Studies in International Security book series-- Atomic Backfires: When Nuclear Policies Fail. This is a sobering edited volume on how efforts to reduce nuclear weapons dangers may sometimes wind up exacerbating them.

Sabine Fischer ist eine der besten Kennerinnen Russlands und der Ukraine. Ihr Essay in der heutigen FAZ bestätigt das - sie mahnt, Europa müsse stärker der Ukraine beistehen, auch gegen Präsident Trump.

Weil die Debatte über europäische+deutsche Atomwaffen gerade wieder hochkocht: hier eine Einordnung von @liviuhorovitz.bsky.social & mir, welche Optionen überhaupt existieren. Und warum nat. Alleingänge gefährliche, anti-europäische Fehlentscheidungen wären. internationalepolitik.de/de/ueberlebe...

Before you head to the beach, here are some more readings to add to your stack. There's quite a bit on Iran, as well as some Eurodeterrence analyses (shameless STAND self-promotion). They all go well with cocktails🍹!

European nuclear deterrence, US military strikes on Iran & Iran’s nuclear program, France’s space program & the new nuclear age in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

Always wondered when Trump would a) start threatening individual EU countries with tariffs b) start mxing the debates on security gurantuees and trade pressure Guess the answer is now:

Nukleare Abschreckung: bleibt sie stabil, worauf muss sich Europa einstellen? Zweifel an der Verlässlichkeit der🇺🇸, 🇷🇺nukleare Drohungen, Ende der Rüstungskontrolle. Wie sieht die Zukunft der Abschreckung in Europa aus?Was können Frankreich&UK? Unsere Analyse👇 internationalepolitik.de/de/ueberlebe...

Dank an meinem exzellenten Ko-Autor @liviuhorovitz.bsky.social fürs gemeinsame Nachdenken über Europas Handlungsmöglichkeiten in der nuklearen Unordnung. (wir erklären auch, warum die deutsche u. die EU-Bombe keine Option sind, die 🇫🇷 & 🇬🇧 Option schwierig ist -und was die Europäer jetzt tun sollten)

🎧As the NATO summit kicks off today, listen to @pfuhrhop.bsky.social in conversation with @olyaoliker.bsky.social from @crisisgroup.org. They discuss expectations for the summit, Europe's role in NATO, the potential role of Ukraine and the future of transatlantic defence cooperation.

Wie verlässlich ist der US-Atomschutzschirm für Europa noch? Im neuen SWP-Aktuell skizziert @liviuhorovitz.bsky.social drei Szenarien zur erweiterten nuklearen Abschreckung, von Vertrauenskrise bis vollständiger Abkehr, die zeigen, warum einfache Antworten nicht genügen.

When multipolarity does arrive, it won’t look like this.

One more week, a flurry of events in the #nuclear world, and another #STAND stack of readings. I'm rather certain this time nobody will argue they do not go well with a strong black coffee ☕.

Israel & Iran; UK’s nuclear deterrent; Moscow & escalation in the Middle East; & nuclear & conventional deterrence in Europe in this week’s STAND newsletter, a project by @swp-intsecurity.bsky.social, on recent news & analyses to better #underSTAND #nuclear #space #deterrence & #threats 1/10

How to deal with Europe's nuclear dilemma? @liviuhorovitz.bsky.social and I analysed it for @brookings.edu in a series on European security👇 Delighted to team up with @sophiabesch.bsky.social @constelz.bsky.social Thomas Wright who also contributed to this collection!