Michael Ingoldsby
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mikeingoldsby.bsky.social
Michael Ingoldsby
@mikeingoldsby.bsky.social
🇨🇦 🇺🇦 | Scribbler of thoughts | History and policy | Pragmatist | Fmr political advisor | Live in Ottawa but grew up in Southwestern Ontario
substack.com/michaelingoldsby
A lot of useful guiding principles here to help Canada navigate the next 4 years.
We said “as long as it takes,” and well, it's gonna take a bit longer. Europe doesn’t need to back down now, not for Putin, not for Trump, not for anyone else who tests us. We can step up and stand firm. Here’s how:🧵1/8
February 27, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Question for #cdnpoli - how do we prepare ourselves for this era?
WATCH: "We are in a new era… where international relations aren’t going to be determined by rules… they're going to be determined by strong men."

Former MI6 boss Sir Alex Younger on Trump, Putin and changes to global diplomacy.

#Newsnight

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FocQITpJnaQ
Former MI6 boss on Trump, Putin and a 'new era' for international relations
YouTube video by BBC Newsnight
www.youtube.com
February 25, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Michael Ingoldsby
🇩🇰 Denmark today increases the defence budget with 50bn DKK (6.7bn EUR) plus 10bn DKK (1.3bn EUR) extra per year until 2033 going 2.4% of GDP in 2024 to 3.2% in 2025. As discussed probably 50bn more is needed for acquisition.
February 19, 2025 at 3:42 PM
“This is not just about increasing defense spending as a GDP ratio…it’s about people realizing they need to defend their own home.” - Zelensky
February 19, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Thought experiment for Canadian officials. If 2 yrs from now, US has sold out Ukraine, lifted Russian sanctions, pulled out of NATO, put tariffs on all imports to US, and increased its threats to our sovereignty - what long-term policy shifts will you wish Canada had begun in Feb 25?
February 19, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Trump repeating Putin’s anti-Ukraine talking points, Rubio blinded by Russia’s false promises of business opportunities, and Russia increasing their negotiating demands daily.

Looks increasingly like Trump will sell out Ukraine and Europe in his rush to be seen as a deal maker.
Trump is simply repeating a Putin talking point here. Russia has insisted on intervening in basic issues of Ukrainian sovereignty for more than a decade. Now Trump is doing Putin’s PR work, making unsustainable arguments for an unjustifiable invasion.
www.axios.com/2025/02/18/t...
Trump levels stunning criticisms against Zelensky after Russia talks
Trump's comments about Ukraine's domestic politics will likely put more pressure on Zelensky ahead of possible negotiations to end the war.
www.axios.com
February 19, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Appathurai, the NATO official, warned that the U.S. and its allies needed to adopt a wartime mindset “across society” in response.
“Russia believes it is in conflict with what it calls ‘the collective West,’ and is acting accordingly, up to and including threatening us with nuclear attack and building up its military,” - NATO Dep. Asst. Sec Gen
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Exclusive | A New Spy Unit Is Leading Russia’s Shadow War Against the West
The Department of Special Tasks has brought together veterans of the Kremlin’s most daring clandestine operations to carry out assassination attempts and sabotage overseas.
www.wsj.com
February 15, 2025 at 1:02 PM
“Russia believes it is in conflict with what it calls ‘the collective West,’ and is acting accordingly, up to and including threatening us with nuclear attack and building up its military,” - NATO Dep. Asst. Sec Gen
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Exclusive | A New Spy Unit Is Leading Russia’s Shadow War Against the West
The Department of Special Tasks has brought together veterans of the Kremlin’s most daring clandestine operations to carry out assassination attempts and sabotage overseas.
www.wsj.com
February 15, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Trump & co. want to bolster the authoritarian right globally.

Vance’s message to EU here is clear: fall in line or else.
on.ft.com/41e7G7A JD Vance hits out at Europe’s ‘threat from within’
JD Vance hits out at Europe’s ‘threat from within’
US vice-president’s confrontational speech meets with furious response
on.ft.com
February 15, 2025 at 2:23 AM
A very helpful contribution. Temptation for current leaders is to tell Canadians that government can protect us from all the economic harm Trump can do. They shouldn’t because government can’t. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t fight like hell. But better to level with us so we can be prepared.
February 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM