Abi Watson
@abiwatson.bsky.social
Work at GPPi on remote warfare, stabilisation, security sector reform and digital threats to elections.
Reposted by Abi Watson
Der #Bundestag zieht nach: Neuer Unterausschuss für u.a. strategische Vorausschau 🥰
Hier nachlesen, warum es so etwas braucht: internationalepolitik.de/en/wider-die...
@internationalepolitik.de @gppi.bsky.social
Hier nachlesen, warum es so etwas braucht: internationalepolitik.de/en/wider-die...
@internationalepolitik.de @gppi.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Der #Bundestag zieht nach: Neuer Unterausschuss für u.a. strategische Vorausschau 🥰
Hier nachlesen, warum es so etwas braucht: internationalepolitik.de/en/wider-die...
@internationalepolitik.de @gppi.bsky.social
Hier nachlesen, warum es so etwas braucht: internationalepolitik.de/en/wider-die...
@internationalepolitik.de @gppi.bsky.social
Reposted by Abi Watson
BREAKING: Heroic police officers save public from this terrifying terrorist who was holding a sign the government doesn’t like x
October 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
BREAKING: Heroic police officers save public from this terrifying terrorist who was holding a sign the government doesn’t like x
Reposted by Abi Watson
The success of the far right is not only measured in votes and seats but in its impact on rhetoric, policy and ideology. The fact that a (nominally) social democratic head of government with a huge majority choses to say and do this is maybe the biggest success of the far right in Europe yet.
September 26, 2025 at 7:29 AM
The success of the far right is not only measured in votes and seats but in its impact on rhetoric, policy and ideology. The fact that a (nominally) social democratic head of government with a huge majority choses to say and do this is maybe the biggest success of the far right in Europe yet.
Reposted by Abi Watson
This is very good. Very well pitched and sensibly placed.
PM Keir Starmer's commentary on patriotism vs racism and populism can be read here
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3678572...
www.thesun.co.uk/news/3678572...
September 21, 2025 at 10:31 AM
This is very good. Very well pitched and sensibly placed.
Reposted by Abi Watson
⚡️ The next episode of Ideas of…Energy is here! ⚡️
Doris Segets joins us to talk about #Energy and #Science.
Don’t miss it!
1 Oct, 7pm, Chausseestraße 111, 10115 Berlin
Sign up: 👉 tinyurl.com/ycbhzvaa
In cooperation with @dezernatzukunft.bsky.social & @gppi.bsky.social
Doris Segets joins us to talk about #Energy and #Science.
Don’t miss it!
1 Oct, 7pm, Chausseestraße 111, 10115 Berlin
Sign up: 👉 tinyurl.com/ycbhzvaa
In cooperation with @dezernatzukunft.bsky.social & @gppi.bsky.social
September 10, 2025 at 11:39 AM
⚡️ The next episode of Ideas of…Energy is here! ⚡️
Doris Segets joins us to talk about #Energy and #Science.
Don’t miss it!
1 Oct, 7pm, Chausseestraße 111, 10115 Berlin
Sign up: 👉 tinyurl.com/ycbhzvaa
In cooperation with @dezernatzukunft.bsky.social & @gppi.bsky.social
Doris Segets joins us to talk about #Energy and #Science.
Don’t miss it!
1 Oct, 7pm, Chausseestraße 111, 10115 Berlin
Sign up: 👉 tinyurl.com/ycbhzvaa
In cooperation with @dezernatzukunft.bsky.social & @gppi.bsky.social
Reposted by Abi Watson
BREAKING:
At UN, UK's foreign minister says his country intends to recognize Palestine as a state, following in French footsteps
At UN, UK's foreign minister says his country intends to recognize Palestine as a state, following in French footsteps
July 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
BREAKING:
At UN, UK's foreign minister says his country intends to recognize Palestine as a state, following in French footsteps
At UN, UK's foreign minister says his country intends to recognize Palestine as a state, following in French footsteps
Reposted by Abi Watson
📅 Save the dates! We're pleased to announce upcoming events in our 🔥"Ideas of... Energy" series, which explores the ideas we hold about energy and its role in current domestic and foreign policy.
@freieuniversitaet.bsky.social @dezernatzukunft.bsky.social
@freieuniversitaet.bsky.social @dezernatzukunft.bsky.social
July 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM
📅 Save the dates! We're pleased to announce upcoming events in our 🔥"Ideas of... Energy" series, which explores the ideas we hold about energy and its role in current domestic and foreign policy.
@freieuniversitaet.bsky.social @dezernatzukunft.bsky.social
@freieuniversitaet.bsky.social @dezernatzukunft.bsky.social
Reposted by Abi Watson
Saferworld agrees! The UK should be stepping up its support to #conflictprevention, reduction and resolution.
Read more here: bit.ly/442UzGr #InvestInPeace
Read more here: bit.ly/442UzGr #InvestInPeace
This morning, myself & @LordMcConnell joined 60+ leaders—including 20 MPs, ex-Defence & Development Secretaries, former MI5 & Army chiefs, faith leaders & academics—urging the PM to fund peacebuilding. As a former Royal Marine & aid worker, I know it saves lives. #InvestInPeace
June 17, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Saferworld agrees! The UK should be stepping up its support to #conflictprevention, reduction and resolution.
Read more here: bit.ly/442UzGr #InvestInPeace
Read more here: bit.ly/442UzGr #InvestInPeace
Reposted by Abi Watson
📣 Kneecap statement repost from X:
April 25, 2025 at 4:52 PM
📣 Kneecap statement repost from X:
Reposted by Abi Watson
SAVE THE DATE for a discussion on "Economic Security & Critical Tech in Trump 2.0" with @jankaoertel.bsky.social (@ecfr.eu), Geoffrey Gertz (CNAS) & @jhensing.bsky.social (GPPi) as part of @baks.bund.de's #DFS2025:
🗓 May 7 | 🕒 15:00–16:00 CEST | 📍 Online
🔗 Register: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
🗓 May 7 | 🕒 15:00–16:00 CEST | 📍 Online
🔗 Register: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Event Registration: #DFS2025 Economic Security and Critical Tech in Trump 2.0
Event Timing: May 7th, 2025 at 3pm CET
Event Address: Online, via Zoom
Contact us at jhensing@gppi.net
docs.google.com
April 17, 2025 at 1:59 PM
SAVE THE DATE for a discussion on "Economic Security & Critical Tech in Trump 2.0" with @jankaoertel.bsky.social (@ecfr.eu), Geoffrey Gertz (CNAS) & @jhensing.bsky.social (GPPi) as part of @baks.bund.de's #DFS2025:
🗓 May 7 | 🕒 15:00–16:00 CEST | 📍 Online
🔗 Register: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
🗓 May 7 | 🕒 15:00–16:00 CEST | 📍 Online
🔗 Register: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Abi Watson
📩 Did you see us in your inbox? Catch up on GPPi's latest newsletter for a curated selection of highlights from our work on humanitarian action, peace & security, strategic foresight, data & tech politics & more.
mailchi.mp/gppi/future-...
Not subscribed yet? Sign up now: gppi.net/subscribe
mailchi.mp/gppi/future-...
Not subscribed yet? Sign up now: gppi.net/subscribe
April 9, 2025 at 10:59 AM
📩 Did you see us in your inbox? Catch up on GPPi's latest newsletter for a curated selection of highlights from our work on humanitarian action, peace & security, strategic foresight, data & tech politics & more.
mailchi.mp/gppi/future-...
Not subscribed yet? Sign up now: gppi.net/subscribe
mailchi.mp/gppi/future-...
Not subscribed yet? Sign up now: gppi.net/subscribe
Reposted by Abi Watson
GPPi's @tbenner.bsky.social thinks Germany should "invest in maintaining nuclear latency."
To the @financialtimes.com he said: "Both the far left & far right in France are very anti-German & there would be a risk they would not honour a kind of nuclear sharing arrangement... And then what?”
Read👇
To the @financialtimes.com he said: "Both the far left & far right in France are very anti-German & there would be a risk they would not honour a kind of nuclear sharing arrangement... And then what?”
Read👇
March 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
GPPi's @tbenner.bsky.social thinks Germany should "invest in maintaining nuclear latency."
To the @financialtimes.com he said: "Both the far left & far right in France are very anti-German & there would be a risk they would not honour a kind of nuclear sharing arrangement... And then what?”
Read👇
To the @financialtimes.com he said: "Both the far left & far right in France are very anti-German & there would be a risk they would not honour a kind of nuclear sharing arrangement... And then what?”
Read👇
Reposted by Abi Watson
USIP is not a government agency. This is theft.
In addition to appointing Cavanaugh as the acting president of USIP, Rubio and Hegseth’s “resolution” directs him to “transfer USIP’s assets, including USIP’s real property and rights thereof, and including all assets recently received from the Endowment, to the General Services Administration..”
March 31, 2025 at 6:07 PM
USIP is not a government agency. This is theft.
Reposted by Abi Watson
Inject this in my veins.
EVERY deployment this happened to us.
EVERY deployment this happened to us.
Or how SOF can conduct a raid in an AO where the conventional guys have to deal with the consequences (like rioting) half-way through a 7 month deployment, and try to regain trust with the people. Not that I would know anything about that.
March 31, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Inject this in my veins.
EVERY deployment this happened to us.
EVERY deployment this happened to us.
„This pervasive presence of special operations veterans and advocates within the administration reinforces the idea that elite forces are the primary solution to complex security challenges, overshadowing broader strategic and diplomatic considerations.“
Some things never change …
Some things never change …
An extensive air campaign in Yemen, air strikes in Iraq and Somalia, and U.S. troops still deployed to Syria despite an end to the civil war. Why has an administration that is made up of so many figures critical of “forever war” continuing “forever war” unabated? I have a theory.
The Triumph of the Operator
GWOT, Signalgate, and the Cult of the Operator making National Security Policy
secretaryrofdefenserock.substack.com
March 31, 2025 at 6:09 PM
„This pervasive presence of special operations veterans and advocates within the administration reinforces the idea that elite forces are the primary solution to complex security challenges, overshadowing broader strategic and diplomatic considerations.“
Some things never change …
Some things never change …
Reposted by Abi Watson
Humanitarian assistance creates incentives. Don’t ignore them, work with them!
This is a finding from the inter-agency humanitarian evaluation of the drought response in Somalia in 2022-2024 conducted by GPPi.
📄Read the full evaluation report at gppi.net/somalia
This is a finding from the inter-agency humanitarian evaluation of the drought response in Somalia in 2022-2024 conducted by GPPi.
📄Read the full evaluation report at gppi.net/somalia
March 31, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Humanitarian assistance creates incentives. Don’t ignore them, work with them!
This is a finding from the inter-agency humanitarian evaluation of the drought response in Somalia in 2022-2024 conducted by GPPi.
📄Read the full evaluation report at gppi.net/somalia
This is a finding from the inter-agency humanitarian evaluation of the drought response in Somalia in 2022-2024 conducted by GPPi.
📄Read the full evaluation report at gppi.net/somalia
Reposted by Abi Watson
The US & #Russia are set to continue talks today in Riyadh. What's the role of third-party mediators like #SaudiArabia in the war against #Ukraine? I had an in-depth look at past & future engagement of Brazil, China, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa & Turkey. Key findings👇 gppi.net/2025/03/19/o...
Outcome Neutral?
gppi.net
March 24, 2025 at 9:49 AM
The US & #Russia are set to continue talks today in Riyadh. What's the role of third-party mediators like #SaudiArabia in the war against #Ukraine? I had an in-depth look at past & future engagement of Brazil, China, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa & Turkey. Key findings👇 gppi.net/2025/03/19/o...
Reposted by Abi Watson
‼️It is not too late to put fragility & conflict back on the EU’s list of priorities.
GPPi's @abiwatson.bsky.social & @julianbergmann.bsky.social from @idos-research.bsky.social call on the EU to develop a more strategic, well-funded approach to fragility & conflict 👇
gppi.net/2025/03/25/t...
GPPi's @abiwatson.bsky.social & @julianbergmann.bsky.social from @idos-research.bsky.social call on the EU to develop a more strategic, well-funded approach to fragility & conflict 👇
gppi.net/2025/03/25/t...
Time to Strengthen EU Engagement in Fragile States
As negotiations for the next EU funding cycle approach, there needs to be a clear policy discussion about how engaging in fragile and conflict-affected states is in the interest of Europeans.
gppi.net
March 26, 2025 at 11:45 AM
‼️It is not too late to put fragility & conflict back on the EU’s list of priorities.
GPPi's @abiwatson.bsky.social & @julianbergmann.bsky.social from @idos-research.bsky.social call on the EU to develop a more strategic, well-funded approach to fragility & conflict 👇
gppi.net/2025/03/25/t...
GPPi's @abiwatson.bsky.social & @julianbergmann.bsky.social from @idos-research.bsky.social call on the EU to develop a more strategic, well-funded approach to fragility & conflict 👇
gppi.net/2025/03/25/t...
Reposted by Abi Watson
For months, Canada has faced Trump’s unpredictability, hefty tariffs & talk of becoming the "51st state." With the EU facing similar pressures, we were pleased to host @rolandparis.bsky.social to discuss what 🇪🇺 can learn from 🇨🇦 about dealing with a predatory president.
@stiftungmercator.bsky.social
@stiftungmercator.bsky.social
March 25, 2025 at 11:16 AM
For months, Canada has faced Trump’s unpredictability, hefty tariffs & talk of becoming the "51st state." With the EU facing similar pressures, we were pleased to host @rolandparis.bsky.social to discuss what 🇪🇺 can learn from 🇨🇦 about dealing with a predatory president.
@stiftungmercator.bsky.social
@stiftungmercator.bsky.social
Reposted by Abi Watson
🎶🤓🎻 Next week, catch GPPi's @balnik.bsky.social at the Philharmonic State Orchestra of Hamburg! As part of a Science Slam, he’ll discuss “War and Post-War Societies from a Feminist Perspective,” accompanied by live performances.
🎟️ Get your ticket: www.staatsorchester-hamburg.de/de/spielplan...
🎟️ Get your ticket: www.staatsorchester-hamburg.de/de/spielplan...
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg - Stück
www.staatsorchester-hamburg.de
March 21, 2025 at 8:52 AM
🎶🤓🎻 Next week, catch GPPi's @balnik.bsky.social at the Philharmonic State Orchestra of Hamburg! As part of a Science Slam, he’ll discuss “War and Post-War Societies from a Feminist Perspective,” accompanied by live performances.
🎟️ Get your ticket: www.staatsorchester-hamburg.de/de/spielplan...
🎟️ Get your ticket: www.staatsorchester-hamburg.de/de/spielplan...
Reposted by Abi Watson
Heute morgen durfte ich auf SWR Kultur den EU-Gipfel einordnen. Uns fehlt nahezu alles, damit sich Europa im Ernstfall ohne die USA verteidigen könnte -- aber es ist dumm, parallel zum militärischen Wiederaufbau unsere Soft-Power-Instrumente zu kürzen.Das Gegenteil wäre gut. gppi.net/2025/03/14/e...
Europe in the Turtle Trap
It would be an irresponsible bet to act as if every major future threat will be one against which militaries alone can protect us. For the EU, broadening the debt break to include “external security” ...
gppi.net
March 20, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Heute morgen durfte ich auf SWR Kultur den EU-Gipfel einordnen. Uns fehlt nahezu alles, damit sich Europa im Ernstfall ohne die USA verteidigen könnte -- aber es ist dumm, parallel zum militärischen Wiederaufbau unsere Soft-Power-Instrumente zu kürzen.Das Gegenteil wäre gut. gppi.net/2025/03/14/e...
Reposted by Abi Watson
On German morning radio discussing today’s EU summit, GPPi’s @rotmann.net echoed a key argument from his recent piece with @abiwatson.bsky.social: The cupboard is bare. Without the US, the EU cannot defend itself — it needs to rearm. But undermining its soft power tools would be a strategic mistake.
Heute morgen durfte ich auf SWR Kultur den EU-Gipfel einordnen. Uns fehlt nahezu alles, damit sich Europa im Ernstfall ohne die USA verteidigen könnte -- aber es ist dumm, parallel zum militärischen Wiederaufbau unsere Soft-Power-Instrumente zu kürzen.Das Gegenteil wäre gut. gppi.net/2025/03/14/e...
Europe in the Turtle Trap
It would be an irresponsible bet to act as if every major future threat will be one against which militaries alone can protect us. For the EU, broadening the debt break to include “external security” ...
gppi.net
March 20, 2025 at 11:40 AM
On German morning radio discussing today’s EU summit, GPPi’s @rotmann.net echoed a key argument from his recent piece with @abiwatson.bsky.social: The cupboard is bare. Without the US, the EU cannot defend itself — it needs to rearm. But undermining its soft power tools would be a strategic mistake.
Reposted by Abi Watson
Today, the EC laid out a plan to raise €800b through loans/debt for defense. "Like a turtle, the EU risks building a thick shell against military threats but leaving its underbelly exposed to things military force can't defend against." @rotmann.net & @abiwatson.bsky.social👉 gppi.net/2025/03/14/e...
Europe in the Turtle Trap
It would be an irresponsible bet to act as if every major future threat will be one against which militaries alone can protect us. For the EU, broadening the debt break to include “external security” ...
gppi.net
March 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Today, the EC laid out a plan to raise €800b through loans/debt for defense. "Like a turtle, the EU risks building a thick shell against military threats but leaving its underbelly exposed to things military force can't defend against." @rotmann.net & @abiwatson.bsky.social👉 gppi.net/2025/03/14/e...
Reposted by Abi Watson
Last week, GPPi, the Robert Bosch Academy & @chaberlin.org hosted a vital conversation on Germany’s humanitarian aid in the new legislative period. Amid unprecedented challenges to the global humanitarian system, humanitarians and policymakers came together to discuss the path forward.
📸 Anita Back
📸 Anita Back
March 18, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Last week, GPPi, the Robert Bosch Academy & @chaberlin.org hosted a vital conversation on Germany’s humanitarian aid in the new legislative period. Amid unprecedented challenges to the global humanitarian system, humanitarians and policymakers came together to discuss the path forward.
📸 Anita Back
📸 Anita Back
Reposted by Abi Watson
As EU leaders moves to exempt defense from its debt rules, they risk running into a turtle trap: in pulling cash from soft power tools, we risk building a shiny hard shell that leaves our soft underbellies exposed to all the threats against which military tools are useless.
gppi.net/2025/03/14/e...
gppi.net/2025/03/14/e...
Europe in the Turtle Trap
It would be an irresponsible bet to act as if every major future threat will be one against which militaries alone can protect us. For the EU, broadening the debt break to include “external security” ...
gppi.net
March 14, 2025 at 10:18 AM
As EU leaders moves to exempt defense from its debt rules, they risk running into a turtle trap: in pulling cash from soft power tools, we risk building a shiny hard shell that leaves our soft underbellies exposed to all the threats against which military tools are useless.
gppi.net/2025/03/14/e...
gppi.net/2025/03/14/e...