Rachel Rizzo
rachelrizzo.bsky.social
Rachel Rizzo
@rachelrizzo.bsky.social
Senior Fellow @ the Atlantic Council's Europe Center. Based in DC but often elsewhere. Utahn at heart.
On my upcoming move to New Delhi (more on that soon!), what happens when our expectations clash with reality, and whether a city can ever reciprocate the love we feel for it. 👇🏼

open.substack.com/pub/rachelri...
Will Delhi Love Me Back?
And other musings on expectations
open.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
Earlier this week, @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social, @lianafix.bsky.social, @elenalaz.bsky.social, @rachelrizzo.bsky.social, and @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social discussed how the war in Ukraine has reshaped European geopolitics, global power dynamics, and the future of warfare. brnw.ch/21wWUZB
October 24, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Grrrr Professional**
Most of the time I write about foreign policy. Sometimes I write about Washington, DC and the relentless progressional climb to nowhere.

open.substack.com/pub/rachelri...
DC: the City of Fractal Success
On the professional climb to nowhere
open.substack.com
September 26, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Most of the time I write about foreign policy. Sometimes I write about Washington, DC and the relentless progressional climb to nowhere.

open.substack.com/pub/rachelri...
DC: the City of Fractal Success
On the professional climb to nowhere
open.substack.com
September 26, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Thrilled to contribute to a new report on the state of the Transatlantic relationship for ORF. In my chapter, "An American Perspective on the Transatlantic Partnership," I highlight a few likely outcomes for US-European relations given the Trump Administration's current approach. 👇
September 22, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
@rachelrizzo.bsky.social delivers strategic clarity to BBC's global audience on U.S.-Ukraine policy & Germany's weapons decision. Principled, evidence-based analysis our complex world demands. 🇺🇸🇺🇦​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ #ProudlyTruman
www.linkedin.com/posts/rachel...
It was a pleasure to join Geeta Guru-murthy on the BBC this evening to… | Rachel Rizzo
It was a pleasure to join Geeta Guru-murthy on the BBC this evening to discuss the U.S. approach to Russia’s war in Ukraine, how the U.S. administration might turn up the pressure on Putin, and what G...
www.linkedin.com
May 29, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
“They get along, she and Elon Musk get along. I think that means she can speak a Trumpian sort of language that many other European leaders simply can’t,” @rachelrizzo.bsky.social tells @politico.com.
Europe watches warily as Meloni meets with Trump
Italy’s leader wouldn’t be the EU’s first choice to negotiate with Trump. But she might be its only choice.
www.politico.com
April 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
My thoughts to @politico.com ahead of Meloni’s visit to Washington 👇🏼
“They get along, she and Elon Musk get along. I think that means she can speak a Trumpian sort of language that many other European leaders simply can’t,” @rachelrizzo.bsky.social tells @politico.com.
Europe watches warily as Meloni meets with Trump
Italy’s leader wouldn’t be the EU’s first choice to negotiate with Trump. But she might be its only choice.
www.politico.com
April 16, 2025 at 11:53 PM
I’m leaving my tenth (!!) trip to India with my mind and heart full. the consistent quality of the Raisina Dialogue never ceases to amaze me. As the Trump Administration drastically shifts U.S. foreign policy, this really feels like a huge moment for in India…
March 25, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
Conference selfie at Raisina dialogue. With Maha Yahya @carnegiemec.bsky.social, @rachelrizzo.bsky.social, Kristina Kausch @gmfus.bsky.social, Manuel Muniz, Romana Vlahutin and of course my NATO bestie Benedetta Berti
March 19, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Thanks to the Observer Research Foundation for letting me contribute a piece to this year’s Raisina Edit, a collection of essays based on pillars of the 2025 Raisina Dialogue. In it, I talk about how Trump will reshape Transatlanticism under new rules & expectations
www.orfonline.org/expert-speak...
Europe and Trump 2.0: An era of insular geopolitics?
Trump’s second term is reshaping US-European relations, shifting security burdens, challenging NATO commitments, and pressuring Europe on defense spending and China policy.
www.orfonline.org
March 17, 2025 at 7:21 AM
In June 2024, I wrote this piece with Michael Benhamou for Defense One: “Europeanize NATO to save it.” We lay out a 25-year plan to shift much of Europe’s continental security to the Europeans themselves. Obviously that timeline has been moved WAY up…

www.defenseone.com/ideas/2024/0...
Europeanize NATO to save it
If the alliance is to reach its century mark, the transatlantic partners must shift much of the responsibility of continental security to Europeans themselves.
www.defenseone.com
March 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
With US joining Russia to block UN Ukraine vote it is even more important to understand where Germany will go. Come join us tomorrow at 12:30 to debrief on the German election w/ @rachelrizzo.bsky.social @johannaroth.bsky.social @majidsattar.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.com/e/panel-on-t...
Panel on the Outcomes of the German Elections
A conversation with regional experts on the recent German Elections.
www.eventbrite.com
February 24, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
Interested in German politics and in DC? Please come to debrief the election on Tuesday Feb 25 12:30 with an amazing panel:
@rachelrizzo.bsky.social
@johannaroth.bsky.social
@majidsattar.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.com/e/panel-on-t...
Panel on the Outcomes of the German Elections
A conversation with Johanna Roth from Zeit Online and Majid Sattar from the Frankfurter Allgemeine on the recent German Elections.
www.eventbrite.com
February 18, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
@rachelrizzo.bsky.social 100% correct that we have to remember that Trump doesn't see Putin as a fundamental threat to European security or US interests. As such, curbing the threat from Russia is unlikely to be part of his "peace" plan.

www.politico.com/news/2025/01...
Europe is cautiously optimistic about Trump’s Ukraine comments
The new president is eager to strike a deal on Ukraine. Greenland and tariffs are causing more heartburn.
www.politico.com
January 27, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
NPR's Ruth Sherlock on the Musk/Starlink in Italy story (feat. @rachelrizzo.bsky.social).

I suspect, however, that one important factor in the Meloni government's decision is an attempt sidestep US pressure on Italy's anemic (1.5% of GDP) defense spending.

www.npr.org/transcripts/...
Why a deal between Space X and the Italian government has become so controversial
In Italy, questions swirl around a possible deal between Elon Musk's Space X company and the far-right government.
www.npr.org
January 14, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Can Donald Trump actually buy Greenland? And, uh, what does Greenland think about this? We answer these questions and more in our @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social #Greenland primer!

www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-at...
Everything you need to know about Trump’s Greenland gambit
The incoming US president is adamant in his desire to acquire Greenland for the United States, which has angered Denmark and other US allies.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
January 8, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
Four years ago on Christmas Eve we said goodbye to our Beans. In her memory, Team Beans continues to fight for babies and toddlers battling brain cancer.

Please consider donating to cancer research in her memory at:

danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?fr_i...
December 24, 2024 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
🇩🇪 One might assume that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz losing a vote of confidence this week signals political paralysis ahead.

“But that assessment fails to look deeper at the politics in Berlin,” explain Jorn Fleck and @rachelrizzo.bsky.social:
Scholz’s no-confidence vote isn’t the start of political dysfunction. It’s Germany’s way out of it.
One might assume that the German chancellor losing a vote of confidence this week signals political paralysis ahead, but look deeper.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
December 19, 2024 at 3:01 PM
Off to #Warsaw for Central Europe Week hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center!

Do they have eggnog there?? I hope so.
December 9, 2024 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
Happy Thanksgiving from Cape Town, South Africa! No turkey but a lot of other meat and fixins, amazing wine, and pumpkin desserts. We highly recommend Chef’s Warehouse Merchant Bar & Grill, on Bree St. 🍷🥩 @rachelrizzo.bsky.social
November 28, 2024 at 10:56 PM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
The pardoned White House turkeys were just indicted by the Manhattan district attorney
November 26, 2024 at 5:55 PM
Hi from Cape Town! Any restaurant recs? 🇿🇦
November 26, 2024 at 6:24 AM
Reposted by Rachel Rizzo
Threads blew a 3-1 lead
November 21, 2024 at 9:09 PM