Ulrike Franke
@rikefranke.bsky.social
Senior Fellow at European Council on Foreign Relations. #Drone politics PhD @ox.ac.uk. Previously at, and now teaching @SciencesPo.bsky.social. Writes about all things #Germany #Defence #miltech. Podcast host at @SicherheitsPod.de & LeCollimateur
Pinned
Ulrike Franke
@rikefranke.bsky.social
· Sep 24
Ulrike Franke erklärt Sicherheitspolitik wie keine andere. Was wir von ihr lernen können
Ulrike Franke ist eine der bekanntesten Sicherheitsexperten im deutschsprachigen Raum. Sie prophezeit das Schlechte und hofft auf das Gute. Europa kann viel von ihr lernen. Ein Porträt.
www.nzz.ch
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Incredible how little attention this is getting outside Germany. "In its third full day, a ... power failure in Berlin resulting from an arson attack...tens of thousands...making do without heat, electricity, cellphone service & warm food or drinks." www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/w...
Thousands in Berlin Go Days Without Power and Cell Service After Cables Are Set on Fire
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Incredible how little attention this is getting outside Germany. "In its third full day, a ... power failure in Berlin resulting from an arson attack...tens of thousands...making do without heat, electricity, cellphone service & warm food or drinks." www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/w...
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
“Regime change as a policy tool is wrong in principle and disastrous in practice.”
“Donald Trump ran on a platform that rejected regime change and interventionism. The idea of the United States “running” or administering Venezuela, even temporarily, should set off every alarm bell in Washington.“
“Donald Trump ran on a platform that rejected regime change and interventionism. The idea of the United States “running” or administering Venezuela, even temporarily, should set off every alarm bell in Washington.“
January 6, 2026 at 8:02 AM
“Regime change as a policy tool is wrong in principle and disastrous in practice.”
“Donald Trump ran on a platform that rejected regime change and interventionism. The idea of the United States “running” or administering Venezuela, even temporarily, should set off every alarm bell in Washington.“
“Donald Trump ran on a platform that rejected regime change and interventionism. The idea of the United States “running” or administering Venezuela, even temporarily, should set off every alarm bell in Washington.“
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
! The Netherlands has suspended its cooperation with the US in counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea. It will from now on only conduct such operations inside the territorial waters of its islands there. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced this while visiting Aruba.
January 6, 2026 at 1:15 PM
! The Netherlands has suspended its cooperation with the US in counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea. It will from now on only conduct such operations inside the territorial waters of its islands there. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced this while visiting Aruba.
“Swapping American dominance of the western hemisphere for Chinese dominance of east Asia would be the deal of the century. For China.”
Venezuela and the trouble with the Donroe doctrine
Venezuela and the trouble with the Donroe doctrine
Venezuela and the trouble with the Donroe doctrine
A world order built around great power spheres of influence is a recipe for instability and conflict
giftarticle.ft.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:14 AM
“Swapping American dominance of the western hemisphere for Chinese dominance of east Asia would be the deal of the century. For China.”
Venezuela and the trouble with the Donroe doctrine
Venezuela and the trouble with the Donroe doctrine
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Now that’s some news one rarely sees when reading about military procurement: the French nuclear submarines will be delivered one year *earlier* than planned.
🇫🇷💪
actu.fr/normandie/ch...
🇫🇷💪
actu.fr/normandie/ch...
La Marine nationale vient de recevoir une excellente nouvelle pour ses sous-marins nucléaires Barracuda !
C’est une excellente nouvelle que vient de recevoir la Marine nationale concernant le calendrier de livraison de ses sous-marins nucléaires d’attaque du programme Barracuda.
actu.fr
January 5, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Now that’s some news one rarely sees when reading about military procurement: the French nuclear submarines will be delivered one year *earlier* than planned.
🇫🇷💪
actu.fr/normandie/ch...
🇫🇷💪
actu.fr/normandie/ch...
“Palantir, a technology company with close ties to the Trump administration has cemented its role analyzing data for the U.K.’s military — despite an ongoing standoff between the two governments over trade and digital regulations.”
www.politico.eu/article/pala...
www.politico.eu/article/pala...
Palantir lands biggest ever UK defense deal
The £240 million contract with the Ministry of Defence has renewed a debate about Britain’s dependence on American technology.
www.politico.eu
January 6, 2026 at 9:07 AM
“Palantir, a technology company with close ties to the Trump administration has cemented its role analyzing data for the U.K.’s military — despite an ongoing standoff between the two governments over trade and digital regulations.”
www.politico.eu/article/pala...
www.politico.eu/article/pala...
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
I've found a worse, more embarrassing sentence than "ChatGPT says..." and it's "I asked Grok"
January 6, 2026 at 8:44 AM
I've found a worse, more embarrassing sentence than "ChatGPT says..." and it's "I asked Grok"
“Precision strikes and daring raids remain valuable military tools. But they cannot become substitutes for the unglamorous, politically difficult work of building and sustaining the conventional military power necessary for great-power competition.”
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/05/v...
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/05/v...
The Venezuela Raid Is Great TV—but Won’t Win America’s Next War
Donald Trump’s obsession with quick strikes and flashy successes is bad news for military readiness.
foreignpolicy.com
January 6, 2026 at 8:49 AM
“Precision strikes and daring raids remain valuable military tools. But they cannot become substitutes for the unglamorous, politically difficult work of building and sustaining the conventional military power necessary for great-power competition.”
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/05/v...
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/05/v...
Snow is nice and all but if Paris could stop pretending that a few cm of snow is the end of the world, that would be helpful indeed.
*Written while trying to put baby to sleep because of course the crèche doesn’t open today, what was I thinking.*
*Written while trying to put baby to sleep because of course the crèche doesn’t open today, what was I thinking.*
January 6, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Snow is nice and all but if Paris could stop pretending that a few cm of snow is the end of the world, that would be helpful indeed.
*Written while trying to put baby to sleep because of course the crèche doesn’t open today, what was I thinking.*
*Written while trying to put baby to sleep because of course the crèche doesn’t open today, what was I thinking.*
“Yet the raid’s very success poses a strategic danger: It reinforces a U.S. military culture excessively focused on precision strikes and special operations raids.”
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/05/v...
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/05/v...
The Venezuela Raid Is Great TV—but Won’t Win America’s Next War
Donald Trump’s obsession with quick strikes and flashy successes is bad news for military readiness.
foreignpolicy.com
January 6, 2026 at 8:43 AM
“Yet the raid’s very success poses a strategic danger: It reinforces a U.S. military culture excessively focused on precision strikes and special operations raids.”
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/05/v...
foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/05/v...
“Ukraine’s battlefield technologies — especially drones — do not yet constitute a new way of warfare. Instead, they function mainly as substitutions for missing capabilities and have produced stalemate rather than decisive maneuver.”
A New Way of Warfare Requires More Than New Tech
When I look back at my 45 years of military service, one of the highlights of my military education was a battlefield tour I participated in during 2001
warontherocks.com
January 6, 2026 at 8:10 AM
“Ukraine’s battlefield technologies — especially drones — do not yet constitute a new way of warfare. Instead, they function mainly as substitutions for missing capabilities and have produced stalemate rather than decisive maneuver.”
Statement by the Quincy institute on the Venezuela military action. Let’s say they are not happy.
quincyinst.org/2026/01/04/q...
quincyinst.org/2026/01/04/q...
Quincy Institute Statement on US Military Action in Venezuela
The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft released the following statement in reaction to President Trump's attack on Venezuela
quincyinst.org
January 6, 2026 at 7:58 AM
Statement by the Quincy institute on the Venezuela military action. Let’s say they are not happy.
quincyinst.org/2026/01/04/q...
quincyinst.org/2026/01/04/q...
Tens of thousands of households in Berlin have no power for the last few days, following a sabotage act. It is assumed that this sabotage might have been carried out by a left-wing group (there is a letter of responsibility that is currently being assessed).
www.tagesschau.de/inland/innen...
www.tagesschau.de/inland/innen...
Stromausfall in Berlin: Was über die "Vulkangruppen" bekannt ist
Wer ist für den Stromausfall in Berlin verantwortlich? Aus Sicht der Bundesregierung ist die Authentizität des Bekennerschreibens einer "Vulkangruppe" noch "nicht abschließend geklärt". Wer sind diese...
www.tagesschau.de
January 6, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Tens of thousands of households in Berlin have no power for the last few days, following a sabotage act. It is assumed that this sabotage might have been carried out by a left-wing group (there is a letter of responsibility that is currently being assessed).
www.tagesschau.de/inland/innen...
www.tagesschau.de/inland/innen...
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
The video in the thread redacts the images, mercifully. But you can see from the prompts what is happening. This is obscene, vicious and intolerable. X and Grok should be shut down until this grotesque harassment can be stopped. Those responsible should face the full force of the law.
One example of how Grok is being used to target women. Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch being sexualised, degraded, and humiliated step-by-step by Grok. All the images accurately reflect the prompts provided.
January 5, 2026 at 7:04 PM
The video in the thread redacts the images, mercifully. But you can see from the prompts what is happening. This is obscene, vicious and intolerable. X and Grok should be shut down until this grotesque harassment can be stopped. Those responsible should face the full force of the law.
Now that’s some news one rarely sees when reading about military procurement: the French nuclear submarines will be delivered one year *earlier* than planned.
🇫🇷💪
actu.fr/normandie/ch...
🇫🇷💪
actu.fr/normandie/ch...
La Marine nationale vient de recevoir une excellente nouvelle pour ses sous-marins nucléaires Barracuda !
C’est une excellente nouvelle que vient de recevoir la Marine nationale concernant le calendrier de livraison de ses sous-marins nucléaires d’attaque du programme Barracuda.
actu.fr
January 5, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Now that’s some news one rarely sees when reading about military procurement: the French nuclear submarines will be delivered one year *earlier* than planned.
🇫🇷💪
actu.fr/normandie/ch...
🇫🇷💪
actu.fr/normandie/ch...
“In the past years,Cyprus got very close to the US, forming lots of defence relationships with them. That is going to cause tension if we're trying to create an EU that's independent of the US.We have Cyprus leading the EU presidency, and the US is building bases here. This is going to be a tension”
Cyprus’s EU presidency: seeking resilience in a new world order
Cyprus has assumed the presidency of the European Council at a volatile time for Europe, as international peace efforts struggle to end the war in Ukraine, the United States shifts its loyalties and…
www.rfi.fr
January 5, 2026 at 11:53 AM
“In the past years,Cyprus got very close to the US, forming lots of defence relationships with them. That is going to cause tension if we're trying to create an EU that's independent of the US.We have Cyprus leading the EU presidency, and the US is building bases here. This is going to be a tension”
The US has loads of military installations in Europe. It likes to pretend this is for Europe’s protection, but this is only partly true. Ramstein, as mentioned here by the Greens’FP expert is a good example. If the US decides to attack Greenland, throwing out US mil installations should be discussed
Deutschland muss jetzt schnell sagen, welchen Preis die USA zahlen werden, sollten sie wirklich versuchen Grönland einzunehmen.
(Selbstverständlich hinter den Kulissen.)
Konsequenzen müssen angedroht werden. Alles muss auf den Tisch. Ramstein gehört ganz oben auf den Stapel.
(Selbstverständlich hinter den Kulissen.)
Konsequenzen müssen angedroht werden. Alles muss auf den Tisch. Ramstein gehört ganz oben auf den Stapel.
January 5, 2026 at 10:54 AM
The US has loads of military installations in Europe. It likes to pretend this is for Europe’s protection, but this is only partly true. Ramstein, as mentioned here by the Greens’FP expert is a good example. If the US decides to attack Greenland, throwing out US mil installations should be discussed
“Not only does Europe’s submission make Trump look strong, increasing the appeal of imitating his nationalistic policies at home, but it also takes away the original rationale for European integration: that a united Europe can more effectively represent its interests.”
How Europe Lost
Can the continent escape its Trump trap?
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 4, 2026 at 7:33 PM
“Not only does Europe’s submission make Trump look strong, increasing the appeal of imitating his nationalistic policies at home, but it also takes away the original rationale for European integration: that a united Europe can more effectively represent its interests.”
Recommended reading from 2023, newly relevant in these times. Only that now, the US has joined the Grossraum-thinking
www.zeit.de/2023/49/carl...
www.zeit.de/2023/49/carl...
Carl Schmitt: Die Rückkehr des Großraums
Der Nazi-Jurist Carl Schmitt entwarf 1939 eine multipolare Weltordnung. Mit Blick auf Russland und China sind seine Gedanken mittlerweile wieder erschreckend aktuell.
www.zeit.de
January 4, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Recommended reading from 2023, newly relevant in these times. Only that now, the US has joined the Grossraum-thinking
www.zeit.de/2023/49/carl...
www.zeit.de/2023/49/carl...
I told myself I would start into the new year with no open tabs. The deadline is tomorrow.
So tonight, I am reading…
😂😭
So tonight, I am reading…
😂😭
January 4, 2026 at 6:13 PM
I told myself I would start into the new year with no open tabs. The deadline is tomorrow.
So tonight, I am reading…
😂😭
So tonight, I am reading…
😂😭
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Yes, hello? I don’t think 2026 is working properly. I’d like to cancel my free 5 day trial please.
January 4, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Yes, hello? I don’t think 2026 is working properly. I’d like to cancel my free 5 day trial please.
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
“My biggest regret is being too reassuring, wanting to believe that American politics had returned to normal.” - Amanda Sloat, Senior Director for Europe in the National Security Council under President Biden.
time.com/7340472/trum...
time.com/7340472/trum...
A Letter to Europe for 2026
Stop waiting for America to return. The world has changed and its time to strengthen your own hand, writes Amanda Sloat.
time.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:49 AM
“My biggest regret is being too reassuring, wanting to believe that American politics had returned to normal.” - Amanda Sloat, Senior Director for Europe in the National Security Council under President Biden.
time.com/7340472/trum...
time.com/7340472/trum...
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Wer unsere Fähigkeit - oder Unfähigkeit - zur Vorhersage quasi live überprüfen will, dem seien die ersten 20min unserer Jahresendfolge ans Herzen gelegt, in der wir ua diskutieren, ob die USA wohl in Venezuela einmarschieren wird
podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/s...
podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/s...
#102 Blick in die Zukunft: Die große Vorausschau zum Jahresende | Buchempfehlungen
Podcast Episode · Sicherheitshalber · 20/12/2025 · 2h 1m
podcasts.apple.com
January 3, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Wer unsere Fähigkeit - oder Unfähigkeit - zur Vorhersage quasi live überprüfen will, dem seien die ersten 20min unserer Jahresendfolge ans Herzen gelegt, in der wir ua diskutieren, ob die USA wohl in Venezuela einmarschieren wird
podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/s...
podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/s...
Mr drone becomes Ukrainian defence minister.
January 3, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Mr drone becomes Ukrainian defence minister.
!!!!!!!
Unbelievably bleak to see journalists quoting an LLM bot's output as if it's an agent capable of making statements that mean something.
January 3, 2026 at 9:10 AM
!!!!!!!