Lawrence Freedman

@ldfreedman.bsky.social

52K followers 120 following 530 posts

Emeritus Professor of War Studies King's College London. Latest Book Command: The Politics of Military Operations from Korea to Ukraine. Substack Comment is Freed https://samf.substack.com/

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Sir Lawrence David Freedman, is a British academic, historian and author specialising in foreign policy, international relations and strategy. He has been described as the "dean of British strategic studies" and was a member of the Iraq Inquiry. He is an Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London. .. more

Political science 82%

Sociology 6%

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Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 15h

As it says £ or free trial.

Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 16h

New post on how Trump is failing to run Venezuela even as he moves on to Greenland. How does one deal with a president that regularly makes untrue assertions and delusional boasts that affect real places and people? (£/free trial), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...?

From Venezuela to Greenland

On the challenges of managing Trump

open.substack.com

Reposted by Lawrence Freedman, Amir Attaran

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 1d

Oops.

“US citizens in Venezuela should leave the country immediately…

“There are reports of groups of armed militias, known as colectivos, setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for evidence of US citizenship or support for the United States.”

UPDATE FOR U.S. CITIZENS ABROAD
SECURITY ALERT
VENEZUELA
STATE

Reposted by Lawrence Freedman

Alex Thomas @alexgathomas.bsky.social · 1d

Who else to talk to about the last week but @ldfreedman.bsky.social

Podcast here with him, @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @hannahkeenan.bsky.social and me

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

Donald Trumps Starmer’s New Year Plans

Podcast Episode · Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government · 09/01/2026 · 37m

podcasts.apple.com

Reposted by Lawrence Freedman

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 3d

Absolutely magisterial interview with John Bew by @samfr.bsky.social and @ldfreedman.bsky.social. In a highly competitive field the most interesting thing I've read on Comment is Freed, on everything from the style of four administrations to our foreign policy challenges:

Interview with John Bew - adviser to four Prime Ministers

On Whitehall, Ukraine, Trump and the global challenges facing Britain

samf.substack.com

Reposted by Paul Nightingale, James Cameron

Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 3d

Sam and I interviewed John Bew, foreign policy advisor to 4 prime ministers, to discuss his experiences at No 10 and the direction of UK foreign policy, including dealing with Trump. (Free), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/i...?

Interview with John Bew - adviser to four Prime Ministers

On Whitehall, Ukraine, Trump and the global challenges facing Britain

open.substack.com

Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 5d

Sam offers his new year's predictions. What to watch out for politically in the UK, US and Europe, covering elections, court judgements and presidential health. (£/free trial - but we currently have 25% off for new subscribers for first year). samf.substack.com/p/2026-the-p...

2026: The Preview

Anyone trying to make grand predictions about the future of the world risks looking extremely daft.

samf.substack.com

Reposted by Lawrence Freedman

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 5d

New post just out:

"2026: The Preview"

I take a look at what's coming up in politics next year in the UK, US, and around the world.

Elections, leadership contests, critical court judgements.... and also highlight some trends to watch out for.

(£/free trial)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/2...

2026: The Preview

Anyone trying to make grand predictions about the future of the world risks looking extremely daft.

open.substack.com

Reposted by Lawrence Freedman

Gaby Hinsliff @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social · 7d

Three useful takes if interested in Venezuela: @ldfreedman.bsky.social on Substack samf.substack.com/p/trump-madu... ; @edwardluce.bsky.social for the FT www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/artic... ; Mark Almond in MoS www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/artic...
(everyone else, carry on having a normal sunday)

Why China and oil fuel Trump's push to capture Maduro: MARK ALMOND

MARK ALMOND: Trump has long boasted of the eight conflicts around the world he is supposed to have resolved, but his assault on Venezuela is a devastating demonstration of raw American power.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 8d

I've just updated my previous post on the military intervention in Venezuela. I was right to be sceptical of Trump's claims that VP Delcy Rodríguez was prepared to hand over the country and its oil field to US - as she has now made clear. (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/trump-madu...

Trump, Maduro and the Panama Precedent

Once again the US has undertaken a military operation that was effectively executed in support of an uncertain political objective.

samf.substack.com

Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 8d

As was the Queen

Reposted by Lawrence Freedman

Eric Lipton NYT @ericlipton.nytimes.com · 8d

www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01...

Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, in an address to the nation, “the masks had fallen off, revealing only one objective: regime change in Venezuela. This regime change would also allow for the seizure of our energy, mineral, and natural resources."

Update from Jack Nicas

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Lawrence Freedman

Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 8d

First thoughts on events in Venezuela - with a look back at exactly 35 years ago when something similar happened in Panama. Another bold first military move with little idea about the second, except Trump claims that the aftermath is already sorted. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...?

Trump, Maduro and the Panama Precedent

Once again the US has undertaken a military operation that was effectively executed in support of an uncertain political objective.

open.substack.com

Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 8d

This is so weird

Reposted by Lawrence Freedman, Matthew Bunn

Ryan Evans @ryanevans.bsky.social · 8d

A ten-part thread on misreading Trump:

A number of thoughtful observers argued Trump would not pursue regime change in Venezuela. From the outset I argued that he would on the podcast and in private conversation.

Reposted by Lawrence Freedman

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 9d

It's our fourth anniversary at Comment is Freed today and we have a special offer to celebrate.

25% off for your first year.

We don't do these often so if you've been thinking of signing up now is the time

samf.substack.com/p/fourth-ann...

Fourth Anniversary Offer: get 25% off for your first year

Plus what we'll be writing about in 2026

samf.substack.com

Reposted by Lawrence Freedman, Nick Pearce

Ryan Evans @ryanevans.bsky.social · 10d

Reading this deeply reported article by Adam Entous on the US approach to Ukraine and Russia was painful for me as an American. I will provide some of my thoughts later on here. This is probably the most important piece of journalism in 2025 on foreign policy.

The Separation: Inside the Unraveling U.S.-Ukraine Partnership

As President Trump sought a peace deal and Vladimir V. Putin sought victory, factions in the White House and Pentagon bled the Ukrainian war effort.

www.nytimes.com

Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 12d

Guest post from former adviser Henry de Zoete on how to get things done in government, but good advice for operating in any large organisation. (£/free trial). samf.substack.com/p/advice-for...