Kristi Raik
@kristiraik.bsky.social
Director, International Centre for Defence and Security in Tallinn. Adjunct Professor, University of Turku. Feeling home in Estonia, Finland and at sea.
Trump lies without caring about facts, just pretending he can create reality by his statements (e.g. "Russia wants peace" - yeah, Putin says it and I say it, so it must be true and if peace doesn't come about, it is somebody else's fault).
Guess who is a stronger negotiator. /2
Guess who is a stronger negotiator. /2
August 12, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Trump lies without caring about facts, just pretending he can create reality by his statements (e.g. "Russia wants peace" - yeah, Putin says it and I say it, so it must be true and if peace doesn't come about, it is somebody else's fault).
Guess who is a stronger negotiator. /2
Guess who is a stronger negotiator. /2
One more week to go!
July 28, 2025 at 2:01 PM
One more week to go!
Many in the first group like to talk about European strategic autonomy, but it is the second group that is making a real effort to reduce Europe’s dependence on the U.S.
July 2, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Many in the first group like to talk about European strategic autonomy, but it is the second group that is making a real effort to reduce Europe’s dependence on the U.S.
Some of the keen supporters of autonomy still resist the need for much higher defence spending, as if Europe could become independent simply by detaching itself from the US, while lacking the necessary means to defend itself against threats that have only become more severe. END
June 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Some of the keen supporters of autonomy still resist the need for much higher defence spending, as if Europe could become independent simply by detaching itself from the US, while lacking the necessary means to defend itself against threats that have only become more severe. END
However, moving towards 5% defence spending is also about Europe gradually becoming less dependent on the US. To reduce dependency, Europe MUST spend more on defence (of course, also spend smartly).
June 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM
However, moving towards 5% defence spending is also about Europe gradually becoming less dependent on the US. To reduce dependency, Europe MUST spend more on defence (of course, also spend smartly).
Trump wants Europeans to spend 5% of GDP on defence – so, getting to this commitment at the upcoming NATO summit is about pleasing Trump and keeping the Americans engaged in Europe. (btw Trump doesn’t like to speak about why this level of defence spending is necessary – what is the threat?)
June 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Trump wants Europeans to spend 5% of GDP on defence – so, getting to this commitment at the upcoming NATO summit is about pleasing Trump and keeping the Americans engaged in Europe. (btw Trump doesn’t like to speak about why this level of defence spending is necessary – what is the threat?)
Now the shared threat perception is stronger, probably stronger than ever when it comes to Russia as a long-term threat to all Europe. But I’m afraid it is still not sufficiently strong to have a coherent approach to the US.
June 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Now the shared threat perception is stronger, probably stronger than ever when it comes to Russia as a long-term threat to all Europe. But I’m afraid it is still not sufficiently strong to have a coherent approach to the US.
The deeper problem was that Europe lacked a common threat perception – against what/whom should we be able to defend ourselves (more) autonomously? The Russian threat was often excluded from the debate and replaced by unrealistic ideas about negotiating a revised European security order with Russia.
June 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM
The deeper problem was that Europe lacked a common threat perception – against what/whom should we be able to defend ourselves (more) autonomously? The Russian threat was often excluded from the debate and replaced by unrealistic ideas about negotiating a revised European security order with Russia.
In reality, Europe lacks the capacity to be autonomous. Building it up – above all, the lacking military means – will take years.
When the debate on strategic autonomy became active during Trump’s first term, the biggest proponents of the term failed to present a credible idea of what it takes.
When the debate on strategic autonomy became active during Trump’s first term, the biggest proponents of the term failed to present a credible idea of what it takes.
June 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM
In reality, Europe lacks the capacity to be autonomous. Building it up – above all, the lacking military means – will take years.
When the debate on strategic autonomy became active during Trump’s first term, the biggest proponents of the term failed to present a credible idea of what it takes.
When the debate on strategic autonomy became active during Trump’s first term, the biggest proponents of the term failed to present a credible idea of what it takes.