Henning Hoff

This must be taking place in an alternative reality; or there are only few Republican voters left.

Japan Doubles Down on “Plan A” vis-à-vis America Faced with a Trump administration that is treating allies as free-riders, the Japanese are trying to prove their indispensability—for a lack of other options.

Faced with a Trump administration that is treating allies as free-riders, the Japanese are trying to prove their indispensability—due to a lack of other options, writes @dgap.org's Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff.

ip-quarterly.com/en/japan-dou...

Nothing says “we are liberating you from a bad regime to give you a better life” like bombing desalination plants and oil refineries

Memorable story by @benjudah.bsky.social. The last sentence is for the ages foglioeuropeo.ilfoglio.it/en/the-truth...

Six Days of War, 10 Rationales The administration has laid out a buffet of reasons for Operation Epic Fury—take your pick.

www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

How the EU Is Contesting Russia’s Sphere of Influence in the South Caucasus The European Union doesn’t think of itself as a geopolitical power in the South Caucasus. But its policies there are constraining Russia in ways that matter strategically—regardless of Brussels’ inten...

NEW: The European Union doesn’t think of itself as a geopolitical power in the South Caucasus. But its policies there are constraining Russia in ways that matter strategically—regardless of Brussels’ intentions.

ip-quarterly.com/en/how-eu-co...

And since distrust in Ukraine is (for now) slightly bigger than trust, let’s be clear: Beyond any doubt it is run by a democrat and worthy of Germany‘s trust.

Germans seem trust countries run by democrats, distrust those run by strongmen/autocrats. I’d call this progress.

As my brilliant colleague @joachimstaron.bsky.social told me today: It’s no wonder Tarantino doesn’t make movies anymore. Trump‘s reality tops his cinematic fiction. First, “We had some possible successors on a list, but we killed them all.“ And now this.

Good stuff. Far-sighted British-German cooperation has never been more needed than right now.

Hasn’t Clacton suffered enough as it is?

Merz, Trump und der Abschied von der regelbasierten Ordnung Keine deutschen Belehrungen mehr: Seit den Angriffen der USA und Israels auf den Iran scheint Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz das Völkerrecht weniger wichtig zu sein. Steckt eine neue Strategie dahinter?

Deutsche Welle @deutschewelle.dw.com asked me to comment on Chancellor Friedrich Merz‘ Washington visit (in German) www.dw.com/de/merz-trum...

A Nightmare for the Gulf States—and Europe? The brunt of Iran’s response to the Israeli-American attacks has been directed at the Arab Gulf states. As a result, their business model is in danger. The Europeans may also feel the consequences.

NEW: The brunt of Iran’s response to the Israeli-American attacks has been directed at the Arab Gulf states, threatening the “Gulf Brand”—which will likely have knock-on effects for Europe.

ip-quarterly.com/en/nightmare...

Franco-German Cooperation on Nuclear Deterrence Needs to Start Now The nuclear question is the key one for European defense integration. The good news is that the Europeans seem ready to tackle it.

Yesterday, Macron announced a revolution in French nuclear deterrence, paving the way for its Europeanization. @josephdeweck.bsky.social and his co-authors predicted as much last week and explained why it’s a key piece in European defense

ip-quarterly.com/en/franco-ge...

A dozen are 12, right?

New €1m Government meeting room will protect communications with world leaders, says Martin Facility to be approved to provide ‘Nato proof’ space for discussions with foreign governments

Another straw in the wind that Ireland beginning to take security and defence more seriously.

www.irishtimes.com/politics/oir...

Congratulations! Looking forward to reading it.

Good! And know, as @nicolange.bsky.social has suggested, let’s start building a military presence in Ukraine based on Art 42.2 TEU together with the UK and other “willing“ parties

“… may“?

Germany’s China Shock For a long time, Germany’s political and business elites have chosen to ignore the economic threat emanating from Xi Jinping’s China. It’s now time to confront it.

As Merz travels to Beijing today, @tbenner.bsky.social, @jhensing.bsky.social & Florian Klumpp argue that Germany’s political and business elites need to finally confront the economic threat emanating from Xi Jinping’s China.

ip-quarterly.com/en/germanys-...

Franco-German Cooperation on Nuclear Deterrence Needs to Start Now The nuclear question is the key one for European defense integration. The good news is that the Europeans seem ready to tackle it.

Franco-German cooperation on nuclear deterrence needs to start now. The good news? Merz and Macron have indicated that they are ready.

New from @shahinvallee.bsky.social, @josephdeweck.bsky.social, Elias Ricken, and Jacob Ross: ip-quarterly.com/en/franco-ge...

Information for Applicants - Young Königswinter Conference We now accept applications for the next Young Königswinter Conference, which will take place in Berlin from 29 July- 2 August, 2026. The… Weiterlesen

Young Königswinter, which I co-chair, brings together smart & innovative Brits & Germans aged 25-30. This year's takes place in Berlin July 29-Aug 2. Keen to get widest voices & backgrounds.
Deadline: March 22.
Info & applics:
ykw.debrige.de/.../02/20/in...
Do pass on. It's an amazing event

Trump, July 19: "All three nuclear sites in Iran were completely destroyed and/or OBLITERATED. It would take years to bring them back into service."

Witkoff, Sunday: "They're probably a week away from having industrial-grade bomb-making material."

Always nice to be back…

Geostrategic Refresh: Europe in a New World Britain and Germany should forge a military partnership to shape the arc from Greenland to the Black Sea.

In our IPQ special issue @james-rogers.bsky.social of @congeostrategy.bsky.social explains why much closer British-German military cooperation provides a strong strategic answer to Europe‘s security situation. Do read it here:

ip-quarterly.com/en/geostrate...

As defence chiefs, we warn you today about Russia, and say this rearmament is not warmongering | Richard Knighton and Carsten Breuer Our security is more uncertain than in decades. But by working together, and by showing strength, Britain, Germany and the rest of Europe can preserve peace, say defence chiefs Richard Knighton and Ca...

Remarkable intervention yesterday by the British and German CoDs writing in The Guardian and Die Welt: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Americans Oppose Ceding the Donbas to Russia Amid Push for Peace Deal They are also divided on the United States’ participation in Europe’s “Coalition of the Willing” to defend a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Four years into the Russia-Ukraine war, territorial concessions remain a key sticking point in negotiations to end the conflict. Where do Americans stand?

New Council-@ipsosus.bsky.social polling finds the US public firmly opposes granting Moscow control of territory beyond Crimea. #[bit.ly/3OcxrBm

Does the Decline of US Soft Power Matter? While European publics have a very unfavorable view of Trump’s America, the same is not necessarily true of the rest of the world.

In our @munsecconf.bsky.social special issue, Anne-Marie Slaughter asks if the decline of US soft power really matters.

ip-quarterly.com/en/does-decl...

“We Have to Go Back to the Idea of a Core Europe” Washington’s behavior on the global stage at the beginning of 2026 has increased doubts about the Trump administration’s reliability, MSC chairman Wolfgang Ischinger warns.

"It’s a slippery slope. A foreign policy only based on power and the pursuit of hardcore interests, while abandoning the values part, would be leading us in the wrong direction. The key question is: How can Europe work to restore a rules-based international order?"

ip-quarterly.com/en/we-have-g...