Giuseppe Spatafora

Stacked bar chart titled "US Foreign Military Sales" showing annual major arms sales (in $ billions) by region from 2017 to 2025. The y-axis ranges from 0 to 160 billion dollars. Each bar is divided by region: Europe (largest share in yellow), Indo-Pacific (light green), MENA (green), Americas (blue), Africa and Central Asia (smallest segments at the top). Europe and the Indo-Pacific account for the largest portions in most years. Source: Major Arms Sales (via FMS) Notification Tracker 2026

⚙️ In 2025, Europe remained a major buyer of US weapons, but purchases fell significantly from 2024, suggesting early signs of reduced reliance.

Individual EU countries, however, still top the rankings. Read more in @gspataf95.bsky.social's scrollytelling analysis: iss.europa.eu/publications...

#MSC was better than last year for Europe, but many now openly say that trust in🇺🇸 is down. We have entered the age of low trust - which doesn't mean open tensions all the time, but a different benchmark

🧵/ Our February European Political Monthly survey once again finds attitudes to the USA hitting new lows

Net favourability of the USA in...
🇩🇪 -56 (down 5 from Jan)
🇫🇷 -52 (down 18)
🇮🇹 -43 (down 5)
🇪🇸 -41 (down 4)
🇬🇧 -41 (down 7)
🇵🇱 -5 (new)

yougov.co.uk/internationa...

A good & reasonable speech by Colby, if light on detail of US posture changes & timeline. But quite something to give a speech in Seoul and not mention North Korea once, only to follow it up by giving a speech at NATO which omits any mention of Russia.
www.war.gov/News/Speeche...

I'm not going to the @munsecconf.bsky.social - but the 2026 #MSCreport is featuring @euiss.bsky.social CP "Low Trust: Navigating Transatlantic Relations under Trump 2.0" as part of its recommended reading list: securityconference.org/assets/02_Do...

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

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

The Foreign Policy-First President? Donald Trump’s second term has defied expectations of isolationism. This interactive publication uses data and visuals to map the main axes of US foreign policy under Trump 2.0: military intervention,...

For more interactive data, see here: www.iss.europa.eu/publications... @ec.europa.eu @eudiplomacy.bsky.social

📌 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀
• Trump 2.0 is likely to remain interventionist
• Trump’s ‘peace agenda’ is now US policy
• Tariffs are here to stay…
• …but will troops stay? That remains less clear
• Defence-industrial relations will test the transatlantic partnership

🇪🇺 purchases of 🇺🇸 weapons are concentrated in a few areas - air defences, C3, and missiles.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 — 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄
Despite threats of abandonment, the number of 🇺🇸 forces in Europe has not changed over the past year.
Also, 🇪🇺remain the main purchasers of US weapons, though purchases have fallen.

📦📉 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿
The main components of trade deals under Trump 2.0:
• Reduction of US tariffs in exchange for market access
• Cooperation on economic security
• Foreign commitments to “𝗕𝘂𝘆 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻”

🤝💼 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲–𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘂𝘀
Trump claimed to have ended eight wars in 2025, but in many cases his role remains unclear or contested.
Peace deals signed under Trump 2.0 often include a strong business or economic components.

And the focus was not just the Western Hemisphere...

⚔️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁
In 2025, the US carried out 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟰𝟬𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀, a much higher rate than previous admins - including Trump 1.0.

The Foreign Policy-First President? Donald Trump’s second term has defied expectations of isolationism. This interactive publication uses data and visuals to map the main axes of US foreign policy under Trump 2.0: military intervention,...

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...

💡 @gspataf95.bsky.social opens the panel discussion with policy-makers and practitioners connecting the survey results to the EU's strategic priorities. 🧵

Read below the results of our latest collaboration w. @eui-eu.bsky.social @eui-schuman.bsky.social @vanghel.bsky.social @erik-jones.bsky.social

Europe's Greenland challenge: With Trump eyeing island, limited EU seeks way to protect it Experts warn any military attempt to acquire island would have severe political consequences, violate international law - Anadolu Ajansı

#Greenland: a stronger European presence in the region is necessary, not only to deter Russian or Chinese influence but also to reinforce the principle that allied territories will be defended against all threats. Giuseppe Spatafora for Anadolu ⤵️

After Maduro: The future of Venezuela and the Caribbean The US ousting of Maduro generates new uncertainties for Venezuela and the Caribbean. Several pathways could lead to regional instability, with direct consequences for European interests and partners....

Venezuela’s crisis won’t stay within its borders. Pressure is already felt in Colombia & Cuba, while US strikes on coca crops, fentanyl labs or criminal hubs across the region are now plausible, explains @gspataf95.bsky.social.
🔗 ow.ly/f4ws50XSWXI

America’s Strategic Alliance with Denmark and NATO A statement by 14 former officials in Democratic and Republican Administrations—including four NATO Ambassadors, 3 Assistant Secretaries of State for Europe, and 3 NSC Senior Directors

Joint statement by 4 former officials in Democratic and Republican Administrations—including four NATO Ambassadors, 3 Assistant Secretaries of State for Europe, and 3 NSC Senior Directors.

Excellent opening in particular.

In #Greenland all US goals can be attained through cooperation with Denmark & Europe. This must be visible in deeds, not just words, explains @gspataf95.bsky.social in Defense News.

🔗 www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

A lot has been said about the next 🇺🇸 foreign policy moves after the seizing of Maduro.

But what could be the consequences of Maduro's ousting for the Caribbean region? And why does this directly affect Europe?

My latest @euiss.bsky.social commentary:

Raid américain au Venezuela : les Européens tétanisés face à l’agressivité de Donald Trump RÉCIT - Le Danemark et ses alliés prennent très au sérieux les menaces du président américain sur le Groenland, réaffirmées après son spectaculaire coup de force au Venezuela.

Les Européens doivent gérer une hiérarchie de menaces en parant au plus pressé : d’abord la Russie, puis la Chine et, enfin, commencer à appréhender la transition des États-Unis du statut d’allié à celui d’adversaire, voire de menace, explique @gspataf95.bsky.social. www.lefigaro.fr/internationa...

The Americas have become the laboratory of Trump 2.0’s foreign policy: tariffs, aid cuts, military deployments & claims on Greenland. Europe should respond by becoming an active player in the region and challenge the Monroe Doctrine, argues @gspataf95.bsky.social 🔗 ow.ly/7W7550XbpcO

Linking Africa & South America, the South Atlantic is fast becoming a pivotal arena where security risks, economic opportunities & global competition converge. The EU must step up strategically to avoid losing influence, argue Rossella Marangio & @gspataf95.bsky.social.
🔗 ow.ly/aj3z50XHpc3

As the gap between national sovereignty and regional collaboration widens, @gspataf95.bsky.social flags the high risk of US withdrawal from Europe.

More in #F24Debate ➡️ f24.my/6GOp

In Russia talks, NATO allies fear Trump is doing his ‘own thing’ In negotiations over Ukraine, European officials say President Trump’s team has positioned the U.S. as an independent arbiter rather than the leading voice of NATO.

"European leaders must adjust to a new reality in which US interests don’t necessarily match theirs".
@gspataf95.bsky.social speaks to the Washington Post as NATO allies worry Washington is charting its own course on the peace talks. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

We are in the age of low trust