Agree this is the right approach

EU capitals beginning to define what EU defence initiatives could/should be financed by more common borrowing

V imp. Senior EU officials believe moving the debate away from abstract calls for more €bn to concrete initiatives will help move politics along on €bond for defence

In this episode of #TheWorldUnpacked podcast with Sophia Besch, Isaac B. Kardon discusses what would happen around Lai Ching-te’s inauguration speech, rising tensions in the #SouthChinaSea , and the geopolitics of #China ’s maritime disputes. ow.ly/TCpw50RQN3a via Carnegie China

In today's #MustRead , Sophia Besch and FP4A Advisory Board member Dan Baer propose an expanded and reinvigorated Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (E-PINE) to enhance regional cooperation and transatlantic security.

Read more at Carnegie Endowment ⬇️carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2024/…

With Sweden and Finland's accession to NATO comes a debate about which Joint Force Command should be responsible for these new allies. Dan Baer & Sophia Besch discuss the current debate and its implications for the security system at large.

Watch here: bit.ly/3yqctH3

Sophia Besch and Dan Baer's article pushes back against current criticism of the relevancy of Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe, arguing that the forum presents the U.S. with an opportunity to show “flexible multilateralism in action.”

More here: bit.ly/3QU5RqP

Perfect service piece by Tara and Sophie here!

Delighted to join my Carnegie Endowment colleague Sophia Besch for this lively discussion on China’s South China Sea strategy and a range of related issues, including Taiwan (paper with Jennifer Kavanagh) and on Chinese security cooperation (paper with Sheena Chestnut Greitens)!

What is the European pillar of NATO?!

Good question! 👍

Earlier this week I sat down with Max Bergmann, Sophia Besch & Mathieu Droin to discuss it.

You can watch it again here: csis.org/events/strengt… CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program CSIS

We had an interesting discussion with Max Bergmann Mathieu Droin Sean Monaghan this morning - you can watch here:

#NEW : Join us virtually on Monday morning at 10am for a discussion between Max Bergmann Sophia Besch Sean Monaghan & Mathieu Droin on the relevance of the European pillar of NATO & the challenges to making it stronger ahead of the NATO Summit!
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csis.org/events/strengt…

file under 'NATO is a good deal for Americans'

Not your grandmother’s burden-sharing. The idea that 2% (or 3) would still be a golden ticket in DC under President Trump is an illusion. As long as it plays domestically to berate Europeans, he will. Spending more won’t keep the US in (but, crucially, might keep Russia out).

I joined Sophia Besch to discuss the U.S. supplemental, impacts for Ukrainian forces, ongoing Russian offensives, and what it means for the war in Ukraine this summer. Have a listen 🎧

Really glad I got to have this conversation with the excellent Dara Massicot. We talk about what Ukraine needs now that the aid package has passed, about Russia's plan for the summer, US strategy, and what Europeans can do now. It's a sobering but important listen ⬇️

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Come for Macron's speech on Europe, stay for the Polish FM on Ukraine, QMV, enlargement and relationship with Germany/France ↘️

Framed usefully in the context of a European pillar in NATO. Defense industrial policy and procurement quotas notwithstanding, Macron is reaching out a hand to Berlin - will Scholz take it? Or at least counter? German deafening silence on Europe has to end.