Daniel Keohane

Europe’s psychology of weakness It’s time the EU ditched its failing strategy of “react, hope, repeat.”

By @euiss.bsky.social director @sbeverts.bsky.social well worth a read for anyone interested in EU foreign policy:

Eoin is always worth reading. The security arrangements for a new Ireland are just one more thing many Republicans and nationalists don’t seem prepared for

Nicely provocative piece, and worth reflecting on. A United Ireland, for example, can’t expect to ignore British and other European - or US! - security concerns. That was a big reason for the 1800 Acts of Union in the first place…

This is a very good piece @bentonra.bsky.social - well worth reading for anyone interested in Irish foreign policy.

Ireland is perhaps the European state that has benefitted most from transatlantic strategic harmony, what should Ireland do when there is an increasing transatlantic disharmony?

Would UK be better off without Brexit? Ministers may be tempted to use it as an excuse for tax rises, but there’s far more to it than that

Fair-minded discussion by @tomcalver.bsky.social on the Brexit impact. I'm more worried about the trade data though - goods exports volumes declining since 2019 is a big problem, and finance and transport services have significantly lagged other advanced economies.

www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

At last week's EUCO summit, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever derailed EU plans to raid frozen Russian assets to help fund Ukraine.

Privately, EU diplomats are asking: Did anyone running the meeting bother to speak to him beforehand?

🔗 www.politico.eu/article/eu-l...

Those who do learn from history are doomed to have people tell them they’re overreacting

The Dutch elections have once again been disappointingly myopic - the transatlantic fractures, European security, China, Ukraine: they barely feature.

Despite this, I'd argue the momentum is for a more centrist coalition to win out, which will want to be far more active on the global stage again.

Presidential Election 2025 (#aras25) - live results by @gavreilly

🗳️ #aras25 Count Results live, from as soon as each of the 43 constituencies start to report their results: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

After another high-level military purge, Beijing is quietly scripting the next phase of its grand strategy. (Members Only)

Listen here: warontherocks.com/ep...

Watching from afar, it is also a symptom in how much of the UK, London based media ignores parties not (yet) relevant for Westminster.

UK polls hardly ever show the strength of the SNP or PC, let alone Northern Ireland's parties.

Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America

Nationalism is a shibboleth. The challenges we face are daunting. But we are not going to overcome them by hunkering down behind of imaginary lines scrawled on a map by medieval warlords. Our problems are transnational, and the solutions are too.

Really well done explainer of the election system for the Irish Presidential elections using... smarties. Bonus points for showing why Irish election counting takes so long:

A testament to the state of affairs is that I am not sure whether this statement applies to the current UK or German debate, both of which now feature this element.

This is true. There were discussions about the likelihood of the UK curbing pre-existing EU nationals' rights especially on access to public services and benefits. I don't think they thought revoking of the right to remain was going to be an issue with UK immigration policy, but here we are.

Opinion | Russia Won’t Stop Until NATO Acts The only way to contain Putin is with a resolute show of strength.

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com

“Russia’s recent aggression toward NATO shows that Russia’s war in Ukraine is about much more than Ukraine,” the editorial board writes.

Trump: "Not perfect timing" to impose new sanctions on Russia US President Donald Trump has said that now is not the best time to impose new sanctions against Russia, as it could complicate or even derail his planned meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

'US President Donald Trump has said that now is not the best time to impose new sanctions against Russia, as it could complicate or even derail his planned meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin' www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/202... Putin-Trump: 2-0.

It is a shame this heavily Washington-influenced Politico hit job doesn't mention the *reason* Sanchez opposes the spending

He's the only 🇪🇺leader calling out Trump's extortion for what it is, and calling for independent European defence

Obviously the 🇺🇸military-industrial complex doesn't like that

Wow, même le Financial Times se prononce pour taxer les super riches en France.
Et pointe aussi l’enjeu de leur pouvoir (oligarchie), au delà de leur fortune. Il y a des choses qui commencent à basculer.

I’ve been evicted from the Pentagon, a building I’ve covered for 18 years, Nancy A. Youssef writes. I’ll keep doing my job anyway. https://theatln.tc/hBoHf5y5

NATO defence ministers meet to talk plans on tackling drone incursions NATO defence ministers are meeting to address recent drone and jet incursions in European airspace. The alliance aims to create a “drone wall” with the EU to protect member states.

Via Euronews: NATO defence ministers meet to talk plans on tackling drone incursions www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...

🕊️ After Gaza, can Trump deliver peace in Ukraine?

In her latest To the Point, @almutm.bsky.social argues that Trump’s “moment of peace” in Sharm El Sheikh offers lessons far beyond the Middle East.

🔗 www.epc.eu/publication/...

'Surprising' drop in military aid to Ukraine in recent months, report says In July and August, total military aid to Ukraine fell 43% lower than the amount received in the first half of the year, a report by the Kiel Institute finds.

🚨🚨This is bad (and surprising) news: Recent report published today by @kiel.institute suggests that military aid to Ukraine has fallen dramatically in recent months. 🧵
kyivindependent.com/military-aid...

The 'Drone Wall' is dead, long live the 'European Drone Defence Initiative':

NATO agonizes over leaky air defenses while Russian threat grows Mounting drone incursions are sparking a debate on national rules that some see as limiting NATO’s top military officer.

As Russia tests NATO air defenses, the alliance must give its top military commander the flexibility he needs. Good preview of today’s meeting of defense ministers in @politico.eu by @victorjack.bsky.social including my take on need for greater clarity in rules of engagement.

YouTube video by Vadrigar Neil Kinnock goes berserk

In 2010, an interviewer told Neil Kinnock that the Labour Party "never used to understand aspiration".

Kinnock gave an absolutely brilliant answer that should be learned by heart by every Labour MP. (0.42 to 1.22)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGhP...

When Jack Charlton encouraged lobbing high balls into the box, there were two strikers up front.

Evan is alone, and we still expect him to be a mix of Niall Quinn and Robbie Keane.

Like many things in Irish life, this is aimless, in fact careless.

And will therefore fail miserably as a result.

🇮🇪

The story for his major EU initiatives is also not great:
- Sorbonne speech/agenda (largely wiffed away)
- Conference on the Future of Europe (went nowhere)
- European Intervention Initiative (mostly dead?)
- European Political Community (alive as diplomatic speed dating)

Why can’t Ireland play the ball into Evan Ferguson’s feet?

Our whole game plan should revolve around that and him. See the last game v Armenia and how Evan finished that one pass to his feet.

He is a world class finisher, 7 goals in 22 games in a poor Irish team. Imagine if we passed to him… 🇮🇪