Sophia Besch

"If Europe is as serious about preventing Ukraine’s defeat as it now appears to be, a coordinated long-term strategy will do more to help Kyiv...than its current practice of lurching from one aid package to another."

Read the latest from @sophiabesch.bsky.social 🔽

New piece out this morning:

Fortress Ukraine How a coalition of the willing can rearm Kyiv without Washington.

New @foreignaffairs.com piece out today with Eric Ciaramella on the future of Fortress Ukraine. Gift link here: www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/fort...

As divisions over Greenland grow, Europe examines its options Donald Trump’s tariff threats force Europeans to count their arrows

Thank you, that’s very kind. I found your analysis on Europe‘s options extremely helpful. www.economist.com/europe/2026/...

That’s very kind, thank you

Rebalancing the Transatlantic Defense-Industrial Relationship: Regional Pragmatism in Northeastern Europe Facing acute threats, states in Northeastern Europe are pioneering a pragmatic model of defense-industrial cooperation that offers lessons for managing transatlantic dependencies in an era of uncertai...

Leestip voor de zondag: @sophiabesch.bsky.social
bespreekt in haar paper wat Europa kan doen om de afhankelijkheid van VS te beperken qua defensie, waarbij EU/NAVO vooral faciliterende rol heeft en verder alles in blokken wordt uitgevoerd.

carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

Sobering analysis of transatlantic woes by @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @jyshapiro.bsky.social and some sage advice re alternatives. But, do European status-quo elites have the courage to face, let alone abandon, an abusive relationship?

Taking the Pulse: What Issue Is Europe Ignoring at Its Peril in 2026? 2026 has started in crisis, as the actions of unpredictable leaders shape an increasingly volatile global environment. To shift from crisis response to strategic foresight, what under-the-radar issues...

"Europe’s biggest underpriced risk is financial dependence on the United States" I argue for @carnegieeurope.bsky.social.

Great set of 'blind spots' with @cerianbond.bsky.social, @sophiabesch.bsky.social @dimitarh.bsky.social @jakubjanda.bsky.social @alanderminna.bsky.social and more

Unpacking Europe's Deterrence Dilemmas The debate on the future of European deterrence has intensified, as NATO allies seek to balance three key aims. Going forward, they will need to cooperate more deeply to craft a coherent strategy for ...

🆕 | The debate on European nuclear deterrence has intensified, with NATO allies balancing three key aims.

They will need to cooperate more deeply to craft a coherent strategy for confronting new threats, argue @sophiabesch.bsky.social & @jamiekwong.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...

Wer Trump umarmt, braucht ein starkes Rückgrat Die Europäer haben im vergangenen Jahr den Fokus darauf gelegt, dem US-Präsidenten zu schmeicheln.

New from @sophiabesch.bsky.social and myself: internationalepolitik.de/de/wer-trump...

It was great to sit down with @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @dannbaer to discuss the state of things. Watch this space as more will come!

YouTube video by Carnegie Endowment The New Geopolitics of Subsea Cables

Subsea cables carry 95% of the world’s data but are largely invisible in global policy debates. @ibkardon.bsky.social, Jane Munga, and @sophiabesch.bsky.social discuss the geopolitics, economics, and risks surrounding undersea data infrastructure on #TheWorldUnpacked: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJIq...

YouTube video by UK in a Changing Europe UKICE Lunch Hour: European Security after the NATO summit

🎯discussion on European security today @sophiabesch.bsky.social w/ unvarnished truth on the 🇺🇸 view of Europe @nathalietocci.bsky.social novel/provocative points & @georginaewright.bsky.social's advice: every ally needs its own PA strategy for more defense spending

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Izb...

same. endless toxic relationship material.

I’m fine. I've always preferred marriage analogies.

UKICE Lunch Hour: European security after the NATO summit - UK in a changing Europe Join us online the week after the NATO summit to hear our experts analyse the prospects for defence and security policy in the UK and the EU.

On Tuesday, global leaders will converge on the Hague for the NATO summit

Join our online panel as they discuss the summit and whether UK & EU defence policy is fit for purpose

With @nathalietocci.bsky.social, @sophiabesch.bsky.social & @georginaewright.bsky.social

After years framing the transatlantic defense relationship in parental terms ("kicking the teen out of the basement") none of you get to complain about "daddy" now.

I very much enjoyed taking part in this event on Gaullist strategic thinking and current debates over European strategic autonomy at the French embassy with the great Julian Jackson and the terrific Léonie Allard, @sophiabesch.bsky.social @michaelshurkin.bsky.social and Aaron MacLean (1/2)

How must Europe reorganize its conventional defense? The objective should not be to compensate like-for-like the role that the United States is currently playing in European defense.

New piece out for @brookings.edu this week: www.brookings.edu/articles/how...

Should Europeans develop an independent nuclear deterrent? The biggest challenge today is shaping developments so that Europe does not fall into a "deterrence gap" as a result of U.S. repositioning.

No easy way out on Europe’s nuclear dilemmas, yet plenty to do, @claudmajor.bsky.social & I conclude. Are we too hopeful & unambitious? Tell us! Thanks to @constelz.bsky.social @brookings.edu for the initiative & opportunity. Look also at the great papers by @sophiabesch.bsky.social & Thomas Wright.

UKICE Lunch Hour: European security after the NATO summit - UK in a changing Europe Join us online the week after the NATO summit to hear our experts analyse the prospects for defence and security policy in the UK and the EU.

Next week's NATO summit comes at a critical moment

Join our online panel as they discuss the summit and whether UK & EU defence policy is fit for purpose

With @nathalietocci.bsky.social, @sophiabesch.bsky.social, @georginaewright.bsky.social & @anandmenon.bsky.social

ukandeu.ac.uk/events/ukice...

Kritik ohne Konsequenzen: Überfällige Schritte für eine friedenspolitische Rolle Deutschlands im Israel-Gaza Krieg - PRIF BLOG Die Kritik am israelischen Vorgehen in Gaza wird plötzlich auch in der deutschen Politik deutlich. Doch fehlt bislang ein wirklicher Politikwechsel. Stärkerer diplomatischer Druck auf Israel, regional...

Es ist gut, dass die deutsche Politik plötzlich deutliche Worte zur israelischen Kriegsführung in Gaza findet. Diesen Worten müssen Taten folgen. Die bisherige deutsche Politik ist das Gegenteil einer interessengeleiteten Außenpolitik. Mit drei @prif.org-Kolleginnen:👉 blog.prif.org/2025/05/28/k...

Europe Needs a New Way to Cooperate How to fill the gaps created by the EU and NATO’s shortcomings.

“The two main alliances of European states, the European Union and NATO, are too often paralyzed,” write @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @richardyoungs.bsky.social. To prepare for a new, more challenging era, Europe must embrace a different regional order.

Finally, SAFE - the €150bn loan initiative for defence - is not mentioned in the SDP itself, but in the agenda for future EU-UK relations.

The SDP as such will enable the UK to participate in EU common procurement, whereas a future, deeper agreement will be required for UK defence industry.

Thank you!

Europe Needs a New Way to Cooperate How to fill the gaps created by the EU and NATO’s shortcomings.

Great piece from @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @richardyoungs.bsky.social on the limitations of coalitions of the willing and the need for a new—institutionalized yet flexible—format for intra-European cooperation.

bit.ly/3RSsqwg

Merz Brings Germany Back to the Table The new chancellor has moved quickly to fix years of foreign policy dysfunction in Berlin.

What does yesterday's drama mean for Merz's chancellery? What to expect on Ukraine, USA, EU, China, Defense? Can he deliver on Zeitenwende? New piece for @foreignpolicy.com with @lianafix.bsky.social
- Gift link: foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/07/f...

Europe Needs a New Way to Cooperate How to fill the gaps created by the EU and NATO’s shortcomings.

This is an ambitious and interesting proposal for a new order of cooperation in Europe, especially on security and defense, from @sophiabesch.bsky.social and Richard Young.

Thank you!!

Brilliant piece by @sophiabesch.bsky.social and @richardyoungs.bsky.social - sums up basically everything about the tectonic shifts and cooperation in the European security order.