Ben Coates
@bencoates1.bsky.social
Author - 'THE INVENTION OF AMSTERDAM' out now! (https://amzn.to/2QJx3bh). Writer, aid worker, speechwriter, recovering Tory. Columnist @ADnl; articles NYT, Telegraph, New Statesman, Groene Amsterdammer etc. Buy my new book, it’s good!
How can a certain Secretary General possibly keep claiming Trump is great for NATO?
It's wild that the PM of a NATO member feels compelled to put out a statement like this vis-à-vis the US government.
January 4, 2026 at 9:07 PM
How can a certain Secretary General possibly keep claiming Trump is great for NATO?
Early contender for best prediction of the year
Maybe it’s the nine beers talking but I think 2026 will be fine
Trump’s base are turning on him, Democrats will win the mid terms.
France and Germany a bit more stable, and centrist government on the way in NL
And Prime Minister Wes Streeting set to crush Farage
I think we’ll be ok
Happy New Year!
Trump’s base are turning on him, Democrats will win the mid terms.
France and Germany a bit more stable, and centrist government on the way in NL
And Prime Minister Wes Streeting set to crush Farage
I think we’ll be ok
Happy New Year!
a man in a suit and tie is giving a thumbs up while wearing a top hat
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is giving a thumbs up while wearing a top hat
media.tenor.com
January 4, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Early contender for best prediction of the year
Reposted by Ben Coates
This makes Merkel's indignation about the NSA revelations painfully hypocritical and heuchlerisch (almost everything sounds better in German).
wait...the BND? our BND?!
like THE BND?!
are we sure?? not being rude but...are we sure tho????
like THE BND?!
are we sure?? not being rude but...are we sure tho????
Germany’s foreign intelligence agency (BND) intercepted phone conversations of former President Barack Obama while he was aboard Air Force One over several years. The interceptions exploited vulnerabilities in the aircraft’s encryption and known frequencies.
www.zeit.de/politik/ausl...
www.zeit.de/politik/ausl...
January 4, 2026 at 7:10 PM
This makes Merkel's indignation about the NSA revelations painfully hypocritical and heuchlerisch (almost everything sounds better in German).
In 1884 European governments famously met in Berlin to divide up control of Africa between the great powers, without consulting the subjects involved. There’s a bleak irony in it now happening to us.
bsky.app/profile/slow...
bsky.app/profile/slow...
January 4, 2026 at 4:39 PM
In 1884 European governments famously met in Berlin to divide up control of Africa between the great powers, without consulting the subjects involved. There’s a bleak irony in it now happening to us.
bsky.app/profile/slow...
bsky.app/profile/slow...
It’s good to see a handful of people making stronger condemnations of Trump’s reckless warmongering. However these would perhaps carry a bit more weight if they were not first published on a platform - X - which is a wholly-owned MAGA subsidiary and in-house magazine for neo-Nazis
Strong statement from (probable next Dutch PM) Jetten:
“Maduro was a cruel dictator.… Many Venezuelans will be relieved …
At the same time: this is not the way. The bombing of Caracas, the capture of Maduro … directly contradicts international law. A precedent with major risks… the EU must step up”
“Maduro was a cruel dictator.… Many Venezuelans will be relieved …
At the same time: this is not the way. The bombing of Caracas, the capture of Maduro … directly contradicts international law. A precedent with major risks… the EU must step up”
January 4, 2026 at 3:19 PM
It’s good to see a handful of people making stronger condemnations of Trump’s reckless warmongering. However these would perhaps carry a bit more weight if they were not first published on a platform - X - which is a wholly-owned MAGA subsidiary and in-house magazine for neo-Nazis
Reposted by Ben Coates
Plausible
16 hours in, my guess this was all intended basically as a coup to put VP Delcy Rodriguez in power (likely without her knowledge but 🤷).
At least for democracy & human rights, that might be even worse than the "opening shots in a war" scenario.
All speculation, but let me explain:
At least for democracy & human rights, that might be even worse than the "opening shots in a war" scenario.
All speculation, but let me explain:
January 4, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Plausible
A lot of otherwise quite impressive centrist leaders - Starmer, but also Macron, Merz, Rutte, vd Leyen - are debasing themselves by failing to call out trump.
It’s wise to avoid unnecessarily pissing off the world’s most powerful toddler. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a doormat
It’s wise to avoid unnecessarily pissing off the world’s most powerful toddler. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a doormat
The relationship with Donald Trump has killed the Starmer brand. Starmer came to office promising to respect voters, tell hard truths and prioritise substance over slogans and soundbites. By refusing to step out of line from Trumpian fantasy, he undermines each of those commitments.
January 4, 2026 at 12:45 PM
A lot of otherwise quite impressive centrist leaders - Starmer, but also Macron, Merz, Rutte, vd Leyen - are debasing themselves by failing to call out trump.
It’s wise to avoid unnecessarily pissing off the world’s most powerful toddler. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a doormat
It’s wise to avoid unnecessarily pissing off the world’s most powerful toddler. But that doesn’t mean you have to be a doormat
I know the situations aren’t directly comparable but still - the contrast between obsessive coverage of US strikes in Venezuela and complete disinterest in US strikes in Nigeria is really something
January 4, 2026 at 10:35 AM
I know the situations aren’t directly comparable but still - the contrast between obsessive coverage of US strikes in Venezuela and complete disinterest in US strikes in Nigeria is really something
Wilders continues his progression from somewhat plausible national leader to full-time MAGA troll, in English, more worried about maximizing his American likes than about actual Dutch citizens in Dutch territory next to Venezuela
January 4, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Wilders continues his progression from somewhat plausible national leader to full-time MAGA troll, in English, more worried about maximizing his American likes than about actual Dutch citizens in Dutch territory next to Venezuela
the unthinkable - a US invasion of another NATO member state - looks increasingly plausible
From the wife of a Trump advisor following the Venezuela invasion.
Sick.
Sharing here bc it illustrates the mindset.
Sick.
Sharing here bc it illustrates the mindset.
January 4, 2026 at 9:12 AM
the unthinkable - a US invasion of another NATO member state - looks increasingly plausible
I’m not an expert but used to work on energy policy and 2 things it’s good to know are:
1. the oil price is currently low
2. Venezuelan oil is quite bad quality and not v attractive at this price
So while Trump has invaded partly for the oil he has- predictably -done it in the dumbest possible way
1. the oil price is currently low
2. Venezuelan oil is quite bad quality and not v attractive at this price
So while Trump has invaded partly for the oil he has- predictably -done it in the dumbest possible way
January 4, 2026 at 8:39 AM
I’m not an expert but used to work on energy policy and 2 things it’s good to know are:
1. the oil price is currently low
2. Venezuelan oil is quite bad quality and not v attractive at this price
So while Trump has invaded partly for the oil he has- predictably -done it in the dumbest possible way
1. the oil price is currently low
2. Venezuelan oil is quite bad quality and not v attractive at this price
So while Trump has invaded partly for the oil he has- predictably -done it in the dumbest possible way
In 2019 Trump’s former Russia adviser Fiona Hill testified to the intelligence committee that there had been moves towards a secret agreement where Trump would take Venezuelan and in exchange Russia would be given free reign to take Ukraine
impeachmentpapers.dp.la/Text/body13_...
impeachmentpapers.dp.la/Text/body13_...
January 3, 2026 at 6:43 PM
In 2019 Trump’s former Russia adviser Fiona Hill testified to the intelligence committee that there had been moves towards a secret agreement where Trump would take Venezuelan and in exchange Russia would be given free reign to take Ukraine
impeachmentpapers.dp.la/Text/body13_...
impeachmentpapers.dp.la/Text/body13_...
day 3 of 2026 and Le Pen is already doing a better job of defending the international order than Starmer, Rutte, von der Leyen, Kallas and Schoof put together
January 3, 2026 at 6:30 PM
day 3 of 2026 and Le Pen is already doing a better job of defending the international order than Starmer, Rutte, von der Leyen, Kallas and Schoof put together
Reposted by Ben Coates
I’m not sure the world has ever seen a leader who was simultaneously so cruel and so terribly, terribly dumb
Trump posts footage of the Maduro raid set to "Fortunate Son" -- a protest song about the Vietnam War draft
January 3, 2026 at 4:58 PM
I’m not sure the world has ever seen a leader who was simultaneously so cruel and so terribly, terribly dumb
Reposted by Ben Coates
in other news, the Groene Hart is looking lovely today
January 3, 2026 at 11:09 AM
in other news, the Groene Hart is looking lovely today
Reposted by Ben Coates
It's an absolute disgrace. You have to ask yourself: what do they think the point is of all this tiptoeing?
Everyone can see the US is turning on Europe anyway. So don't be deferential. Stand for what you pretend to stand for.
Everyone can see the US is turning on Europe anyway. So don't be deferential. Stand for what you pretend to stand for.
January 3, 2026 at 4:03 PM
It's an absolute disgrace. You have to ask yourself: what do they think the point is of all this tiptoeing?
Everyone can see the US is turning on Europe anyway. So don't be deferential. Stand for what you pretend to stand for.
Everyone can see the US is turning on Europe anyway. So don't be deferential. Stand for what you pretend to stand for.
Trump’s fun new war is adjacent to 🇳🇱 territory in the Caribbean. In a normal competent world you’d assume the Dutch pm was notified in advance, evacuation plans in place, extra military assets deployed etc.
but we do not have a normal sane government- either in the US or NL
bsky.app/profile/domo...
but we do not have a normal sane government- either in the US or NL
bsky.app/profile/domo...
De bommen vallen op amper 200 km van ons land. De oversteek van Venezuela naar naaste buur 'Koninkrijk der Nederlanden' bedraagt maar 25km. Het wordt eens tijd dat we onze koppen uit het zand gaan halen. Waar is de premier?
January 3, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Trump’s fun new war is adjacent to 🇳🇱 territory in the Caribbean. In a normal competent world you’d assume the Dutch pm was notified in advance, evacuation plans in place, extra military assets deployed etc.
but we do not have a normal sane government- either in the US or NL
bsky.app/profile/domo...
but we do not have a normal sane government- either in the US or NL
bsky.app/profile/domo...
As a staunch European I honestly find it humiliating, how EU leaders talk endlessly about strategic autonomy and bold defence and democratic values and then when the moment comes to actually stand up for those things, they always - always! - react like a kitten in a thunderstorm
I have spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and our Ambassador in Caracas. The EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela.
The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. (1/2)
The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. (1/2)
January 3, 2026 at 1:09 PM
As a staunch European I honestly find it humiliating, how EU leaders talk endlessly about strategic autonomy and bold defence and democratic values and then when the moment comes to actually stand up for those things, they always - always! - react like a kitten in a thunderstorm
in other news, the Groene Hart is looking lovely today
January 3, 2026 at 11:09 AM
in other news, the Groene Hart is looking lovely today
Reposted by Ben Coates
A defining moment for Europe. If it endorses/fails to condemn this flagrant breach of international law, it will have surrendered its core justification for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
JUST IN: Trump says the U.S. has captured Maduro and his wife and flown them out of the country.
January 3, 2026 at 10:17 AM
A defining moment for Europe. If it endorses/fails to condemn this flagrant breach of international law, it will have surrendered its core justification for opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Xi currently looking at Taiwan like my dog looks at a barbecue
Trump’s action has freed up world powers to do whatever they want. International law no longer counts. Only strength.
January 3, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Xi currently looking at Taiwan like my dog looks at a barbecue
Brits: I can only cycle to work in June and July, my hands get too cold the rest of the time
Dutch:
Dutch:
January 3, 2026 at 8:53 AM
Brits: I can only cycle to work in June and July, my hands get too cold the rest of the time
Dutch:
Dutch: