alina
@ramshackle78.bsky.social
EM doc. Politics nerd 🇷🇴🇬🇧🇫🇷
European at core
Into military stuff nowadays, out of necessity
European at core
Into military stuff nowadays, out of necessity
Bingo
Oui la dette entame la souveraineté 🇫🇷 et il est bon de le rappeler quand on parle d'endettement européen. Donc le rappel est dur mais vrai. Par contre, les reproches sur les investissements de défense et les conseils de réduction de nos dépenses sociales, on s'en passera venu d'un ministre non-FR.
February 16, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Bingo
Whilst there is a substantive fair critique in here, this will only make it much much harder for Macron to deliver what Germany wants.
Strategically this is incredibly dumb
The same critique could have been made in a way that actually helps Macron deliver
www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
Strategically this is incredibly dumb
The same critique could have been made in a way that actually helps Macron deliver
www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
L’Allemagne juge « insuffisants » les efforts de la France pour augmenter les dépenses de défense et l’appelle à « faire des économies », notamment dans le social
Evoquant l’objectif affiché des pays de l’OTAN d’atteindre au moins 5 % de leur PIB pour leurs dépenses de sécurité d’ici à 2035, le ministre des affaires étrangères allemand a jugé qu’il y avait « de...
www.lemonde.fr
February 16, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Whilst there is a substantive fair critique in here, this will only make it much much harder for Macron to deliver what Germany wants.
Strategically this is incredibly dumb
The same critique could have been made in a way that actually helps Macron deliver
www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
Strategically this is incredibly dumb
The same critique could have been made in a way that actually helps Macron deliver
www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
My fantasy delivery mechanism for this is Macron at Council, Mette Frederiksen COM and somebody who is like Kubilius as EVP Defence/Industry (i.e EU Pentagon chief in Max's framing).
Thus European rhetoric is pointing toward taking back control of defense. But that is not materializing in a revolution in military affairs. Europe is spending more (yay!). But it can't spend its way to military coherence. More here: www.foreignaffairs.com/europe/europ...
Europe Needs an Army
Only collective defense can protect the continent.
www.foreignaffairs.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:58 AM
My fantasy delivery mechanism for this is Macron at Council, Mette Frederiksen COM and somebody who is like Kubilius as EVP Defence/Industry (i.e EU Pentagon chief in Max's framing).
Reposted by alina
Ignore them for weeks until the public outcry becomes so overwhelming that you're forced to order a largely toothless regulator to launch a multi-week investigation with no actual consequences while continuing to use the platform the images were posted all-over as it poisons society?
Go off, king.
Go off, king.
UK PM STARMER: WHAT WE DID WITH GROK OVER SEXUALISED IMAGES, WE MUST DO IT WITH ALL AI CHATBOTS
February 16, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Ignore them for weeks until the public outcry becomes so overwhelming that you're forced to order a largely toothless regulator to launch a multi-week investigation with no actual consequences while continuing to use the platform the images were posted all-over as it poisons society?
Go off, king.
Go off, king.
This is fine, totally fine 🤦♀️
“The former General Manager of defense contractor L3Harris’s cyber subsidiary Trenchant, Peter Williams, sold eight zero-day exploit kits to 🇷🇺 Russia, according to a court filing last week.“
He pleaded guilty.
www.theregister.com/2026/02/15/e...
He pleaded guilty.
www.theregister.com/2026/02/15/e...
Infosec exec sold eight zero-day exploit kits to Russia: DoJ
Infosec in Brief: PLUS: Fake ransomware group exposed; EC blesses Google's big Wiz deal; Alleged sewage hacker cuffed; And more
www.theregister.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:47 AM
This is fine, totally fine 🤦♀️
If you wanted to know succinctly how Germany sees things, this FA essay by Merz is as good as any: NATO first but European spine (NATO benefits both US and EU), de-risk all dependencies, industrial policy as national security policy, no need to fear big 🇩🇪
www.foreignaffairs.com/europe/how-a...
www.foreignaffairs.com/europe/how-a...
How to Avert the Tragedy of Great-Power Politics
Germany knows the costs of a world governed by power alone.
www.foreignaffairs.com
February 16, 2026 at 10:01 AM
If you wanted to know succinctly how Germany sees things, this FA essay by Merz is as good as any: NATO first but European spine (NATO benefits both US and EU), de-risk all dependencies, industrial policy as national security policy, no need to fear big 🇩🇪
www.foreignaffairs.com/europe/how-a...
www.foreignaffairs.com/europe/how-a...
This is a good 'where we're at in Europe' report. It's actually about 2026 but by taking stock of 2025
www.cer.eu/about/annual...
www.cer.eu/about/annual...
Europe’s future: Grounds for hope? - Annual report 2025
The CER's annual report features an essay which analyses the many problems the EU faces, but concludes that it is not doomed.
www.cer.eu
February 16, 2026 at 9:49 AM
This is a good 'where we're at in Europe' report. It's actually about 2026 but by taking stock of 2025
www.cer.eu/about/annual...
www.cer.eu/about/annual...
That would be 3% by the end of THIS parliament as opposed to status quo of 3% by the end of next parliament
This is govt having no choice but to...though let's see if this is PR and Treasury buries it
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This is govt having no choice but to...though let's see if this is PR and Treasury buries it
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK government considering increase in defence spending
The prime minister is considering meeting a 3% defence-spending target five years earlier than planned, the BBC learns.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 9:04 AM
That would be 3% by the end of THIS parliament as opposed to status quo of 3% by the end of next parliament
This is govt having no choice but to...though let's see if this is PR and Treasury buries it
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This is govt having no choice but to...though let's see if this is PR and Treasury buries it
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Developing a European C-17 equivalent would be €12-18bn (max 20) and this should be common 🇪🇺 money. And then for a fleet of 70+ you get at €200-300mil per aircraft.
* pooled capacity = 24
* national (but available for common surge): 🇫🇷12, 🇩🇪12, 🇮🇹 8, 🇵🇱8, nordics (🇸🇪🇳🇴🇫🇮) 8
+avoid A400M debacles
* pooled capacity = 24
* national (but available for common surge): 🇫🇷12, 🇩🇪12, 🇮🇹 8, 🇵🇱8, nordics (🇸🇪🇳🇴🇫🇮) 8
+avoid A400M debacles
Instead of fighting stupidly for primacy with Dassault in FCAS/SCAF (where it's not the specialist), Airbus should focus instead on fielding a European strategic lift aircraft.
Strategic lift capability is one of those enablers that keeps us needing the Americans
Strategic lift capability is one of those enablers that keeps us needing the Americans
February 16, 2026 at 6:49 AM
Developing a European C-17 equivalent would be €12-18bn (max 20) and this should be common 🇪🇺 money. And then for a fleet of 70+ you get at €200-300mil per aircraft.
* pooled capacity = 24
* national (but available for common surge): 🇫🇷12, 🇩🇪12, 🇮🇹 8, 🇵🇱8, nordics (🇸🇪🇳🇴🇫🇮) 8
+avoid A400M debacles
* pooled capacity = 24
* national (but available for common surge): 🇫🇷12, 🇩🇪12, 🇮🇹 8, 🇵🇱8, nordics (🇸🇪🇳🇴🇫🇮) 8
+avoid A400M debacles
Newly reinvigorated North Korea is also ramping up re-armament.
North Korea's new Congress to reset arms goals as gaps seen in 2021 plan reut.rs/4kXlhst
North Korea's new Congress to reset arms goals as gaps seen in 2021 plan
North Korea is set to unveil new weapons development goals at its Ninth Party Congress this month, amid assessments that Pyongyang has checked off only part of a sweeping list of capabilities that leader Kim Jong Un targeted at its 2021 Congress.
reut.rs
February 16, 2026 at 6:25 AM
Newly reinvigorated North Korea is also ramping up re-armament.
SciencePo did a survey in 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇮🇹 🇬🇧 and Meloni's total dominance of Politics in Italy is very clear. Objectively there's not that much more that she's achieved vs her counterparts but she's more in sync I guess with where population is
@dralbertazziuk.bsky.social
www.sciencespo.fr/cevipof/site...
@dralbertazziuk.bsky.social
www.sciencespo.fr/cevipof/site...
February 16, 2026 at 2:51 AM
SciencePo did a survey in 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇮🇹 🇬🇧 and Meloni's total dominance of Politics in Italy is very clear. Objectively there's not that much more that she's achieved vs her counterparts but she's more in sync I guess with where population is
@dralbertazziuk.bsky.social
www.sciencespo.fr/cevipof/site...
@dralbertazziuk.bsky.social
www.sciencespo.fr/cevipof/site...
Reposted by alina
Propaganda during WWI and WWII in fact
February 15, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Propaganda during WWI and WWII in fact
Seeing as it's got only a few crumbs of hard power left
The UK is particularly poorly placed to trade soft power levers for hard power though.
February 16, 2026 at 1:33 AM
Seeing as it's got only a few crumbs of hard power left
Lindsey Graham contribution to the discourse
February 16, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Lindsey Graham contribution to the discourse
Reposted by alina
France correctly approaching the exposure of an international pedophile ring as a prosecutorial problem; not taking the American route of doing damage control for the elite.
French prosecutors are reviewing the Epstein files and ties to French nationals to determine any criminal wrongdoing.
Epstein Files Prompt New Investigation By France Authorities
French prosecutors are reviewing the Epstein files and ties to French nationals to determine any criminal wrongdoing.
www.forbes.com
February 15, 2026 at 4:51 AM
France correctly approaching the exposure of an international pedophile ring as a prosecutorial problem; not taking the American route of doing damage control for the elite.
No doubt Kelly, the astronaut, reminds the mediocre Hegseth or all the superiors that didn't give him the time of day
Hegseth Vows to Keep up Kelly Retribution Crusade talkingpointsmemo.com/the-weekende...
Hegseth Vows to Keep up Kelly Retribution Crusade
Hello it’s the weekend. This is The Weekender ☕️ After a federal...
talkingpointsmemo.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM
No doubt Kelly, the astronaut, reminds the mediocre Hegseth or all the superiors that didn't give him the time of day
Reposted by alina
It is true Reform’s first 15% who backed them in 2024 are more true believers, v high support for Farage, more ideologically motivated. But their second 15% the group who have got them to 30% contain more Kylies and Eves who are just as rational in their analysis as other groups of voters.
February 15, 2026 at 1:53 PM
It is true Reform’s first 15% who backed them in 2024 are more true believers, v high support for Farage, more ideologically motivated. But their second 15% the group who have got them to 30% contain more Kylies and Eves who are just as rational in their analysis as other groups of voters.
Instead of fighting stupidly for primacy with Dassault in FCAS/SCAF (where it's not the specialist), Airbus should focus instead on fielding a European strategic lift aircraft.
Strategic lift capability is one of those enablers that keeps us needing the Americans
Strategic lift capability is one of those enablers that keeps us needing the Americans
February 15, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Instead of fighting stupidly for primacy with Dassault in FCAS/SCAF (where it's not the specialist), Airbus should focus instead on fielding a European strategic lift aircraft.
Strategic lift capability is one of those enablers that keeps us needing the Americans
Strategic lift capability is one of those enablers that keeps us needing the Americans
Reposted by alina
I was very pleased to sign this letter, alongside an extremely impressive range of vastly more distinguished people
📮 Full text of the letter calling on the Government to engage with the growing risks First Past the Post now presents
✍️ Signatories include leading academics, political scientists and constitutional experts - including a former Chief Executive of the UK Electoral Commission
👇 Read it in full
✍️ Signatories include leading academics, political scientists and constitutional experts - including a former Chief Executive of the UK Electoral Commission
👇 Read it in full
February 15, 2026 at 12:36 PM
I was very pleased to sign this letter, alongside an extremely impressive range of vastly more distinguished people
February 15, 2026 at 12:23 PM
In anticipation of Macron's speech on the 27th on the nuclear deterrent, worth reading three recent papers
@nukestrat.bsky.social of the Nuclear Notebook
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@nukestrat.bsky.social of the Nuclear Notebook
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
February 15, 2026 at 11:42 AM
In anticipation of Macron's speech on the 27th on the nuclear deterrent, worth reading three recent papers
@nukestrat.bsky.social of the Nuclear Notebook
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@nukestrat.bsky.social of the Nuclear Notebook
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....