Rita Durão
@ritadurao.bsky.social
PhD candidate in International Relations at NOVA University of Lisbon, PT • Researcher IPRI • Area studies, focus on security of East Asia, North Korea, nuclear weapons and identity politics • Also interested in EU foreign and security policy to the region
Reposted by Rita Durão
"Komeito, the Liberal Democratic Party’s long-time junior coalition partner, said Friday it plans to leave the ruling camp, parting ways with the LDP and new President Sanae Takaichi after the LDP failed to accept the party’s proposal on political donations."
Komeito announces split with LDP, clouding Takaichi's bid for PM
Komeito’s decision to end the 26-year partnership with the LDP means the ruling party will need to court opposition parties to vote Takaichi in as prime minister.
www.japantimes.co.jp
October 10, 2025 at 6:56 AM
"Komeito, the Liberal Democratic Party’s long-time junior coalition partner, said Friday it plans to leave the ruling camp, parting ways with the LDP and new President Sanae Takaichi after the LDP failed to accept the party’s proposal on political donations."
Reposted by Rita Durão
Ishiba, bowing to the inevitable, announced his intention to resign on Sunday afternoon. Where does the LDP go from here?
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Ishiba quits
What happens now?
open.substack.com
September 7, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Ishiba, bowing to the inevitable, announced his intention to resign on Sunday afternoon. Where does the LDP go from here?
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Reposted by Rita Durão
"After news of the Georgia arrests, South Korea’s largest newspaper, the right-leaning Chosun Ilbo, ran a story with the headline: “After Investing in ‘Trump MAGA,’ What Came Back Was the Arrest of 300 Koreans.”
www.wsj.com/us-news/u-s-...
www.wsj.com/us-news/u-s-...
Hundreds Arrested in Immigration Raid at Hyundai Site in Georgia
South Korea said it had expressed concerns to the U.S. about the raid and that it was trying to secure the release of its citizens.
www.wsj.com
September 6, 2025 at 12:34 AM
"After news of the Georgia arrests, South Korea’s largest newspaper, the right-leaning Chosun Ilbo, ran a story with the headline: “After Investing in ‘Trump MAGA,’ What Came Back Was the Arrest of 300 Koreans.”
www.wsj.com/us-news/u-s-...
www.wsj.com/us-news/u-s-...
Reposted by Rita Durão
New podcast from Sinica about "What Does China Want?" -- a great discussion that fleshes out our new paper challenging the DC consensus on a China threat. With @zenobiachan.bsky.social and Jackie Wong. @kaiserkuo.bsky.social Thanks for having us!
www.sinicapodcast.com/p/what-does-...
www.sinicapodcast.com/p/what-does-...
What Does China Want? The Authors of a New Paper Challenge the DC Consensus
This week on Sinica, I chat with Dave Kang (USC), Zenobia Chan (Georgetown), and Jackie Wong (American University in Sharjah, UAE) about their new paper in International Security titled "What Does Chi...
www.sinicapodcast.com
September 2, 2025 at 8:51 PM
New podcast from Sinica about "What Does China Want?" -- a great discussion that fleshes out our new paper challenging the DC consensus on a China threat. With @zenobiachan.bsky.social and Jackie Wong. @kaiserkuo.bsky.social Thanks for having us!
www.sinicapodcast.com/p/what-does-...
www.sinicapodcast.com/p/what-does-...
Reposted by Rita Durão
South Korea grants first NGOs green light to make contact with North Koreans english.hani.co.kr/arti/english...
South Korea grants first NGOs green light to make contact with North Koreans
The move undoes a de facto ban on civilian exchanges under Yoon, and is part of a larger approach by the new Lee administration to ease tensions and restore dialogue with North Korea
english.hani.co.kr
June 26, 2025 at 9:29 PM
South Korea grants first NGOs green light to make contact with North Koreans english.hani.co.kr/arti/english...
Reposted by Rita Durão
Reposted by Rita Durão
“Everyone has memory-holed the 2017 nuke crisis with North Korea, but Trump would have 100% dragged America into World War III at that time if not for the fact that North Korea already had nukes. Iran does not have nukes, so guess how this is gonna go...” www.un-diplomatic.com/p/trumps-war...
Trump’s War With Iran Would’ve Happened With North Korea...
On the lessons from the 2017 nuclear crisis that the world seems to have memory--holed.
www.un-diplomatic.com
June 19, 2025 at 9:26 PM
“Everyone has memory-holed the 2017 nuke crisis with North Korea, but Trump would have 100% dragged America into World War III at that time if not for the fact that North Korea already had nukes. Iran does not have nukes, so guess how this is gonna go...” www.un-diplomatic.com/p/trumps-war...
Reposted by Rita Durão
BREAKING: South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-myung gave his inaugural address after taking office Wednesday, saying he’ll pursue dialogue with North Korea while bolstering a trilateral partnership with the United States and Japan.
South Korea’s President Lee Jae-myung says he’ll bolster US-Japan ties and pursue talks with North
South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-myung says he’ll pursue dialogue with North Korea while bolstering a trilateral partnership with the U.S. and Japan.
bit.ly
June 4, 2025 at 2:50 AM
BREAKING: South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-myung gave his inaugural address after taking office Wednesday, saying he’ll pursue dialogue with North Korea while bolstering a trilateral partnership with the United States and Japan.
Reposted by Rita Durão
This week, 🇪🇺President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu called for a new "Pax Europaea" in which Europe declares independence.
But her bold words obscure a sad truth: she is following, not leading, in Europe's sovereignty struggle. And she is driven by fear.
My take:
But her bold words obscure a sad truth: she is following, not leading, in Europe's sovereignty struggle. And she is driven by fear.
My take:
Despite her new tone, VDL is still afraid to criticise America by name
President von der Leyen says the EU's main focus must now be "building an independent Europe" and "casting off our shackles". But she won't name who Europe must become independent from.
davekeating.substack.com
June 1, 2025 at 8:24 AM
This week, 🇪🇺President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu called for a new "Pax Europaea" in which Europe declares independence.
But her bold words obscure a sad truth: she is following, not leading, in Europe's sovereignty struggle. And she is driven by fear.
My take:
But her bold words obscure a sad truth: she is following, not leading, in Europe's sovereignty struggle. And she is driven by fear.
My take:
Reposted by Rita Durão
“Immanuel Wallerstein bemoans that we are in the early phases of 50 years of tumult and cataclysmic violence. But what emerges on the other side of our disorder is anyone’s guess. It depends on us” www.un-diplomatic.com/p/america-mi...
America Might Be A Self-Destructive Project
I’ve been reading a book by Immanuel Wallerstein called The Decline of American Power.
www.un-diplomatic.com
May 27, 2025 at 10:25 PM
“Immanuel Wallerstein bemoans that we are in the early phases of 50 years of tumult and cataclysmic violence. But what emerges on the other side of our disorder is anyone’s guess. It depends on us” www.un-diplomatic.com/p/america-mi...
A sad day for democracy in Portugal and Europe. It feels like only a matter of time before they make a push for power. There’s plenty of blame to go around (media has enabled them from the start), but more importantly, we need to come together to discuss strategies to fight off this global movement.
May 28, 2025 at 11:56 PM
A sad day for democracy in Portugal and Europe. It feels like only a matter of time before they make a push for power. There’s plenty of blame to go around (media has enabled them from the start), but more importantly, we need to come together to discuss strategies to fight off this global movement.
Reposted by Rita Durão
This should terrify every European who believes in democracy and the rule of law.
The US state department, whose soldiers occupy bases on European soil across the continent, is effectively calling on its "civilisational allies" (the far-right) in Europe to turf out centrist governments.
The US state department, whose soldiers occupy bases on European soil across the continent, is effectively calling on its "civilisational allies" (the far-right) in Europe to turf out centrist governments.
The Need for Civilizational Allies in Europe
Author: Samuel Samson
statedept.substack.com
May 28, 2025 at 1:11 PM
This should terrify every European who believes in democracy and the rule of law.
The US state department, whose soldiers occupy bases on European soil across the continent, is effectively calling on its "civilisational allies" (the far-right) in Europe to turf out centrist governments.
The US state department, whose soldiers occupy bases on European soil across the continent, is effectively calling on its "civilisational allies" (the far-right) in Europe to turf out centrist governments.
Reposted by Rita Durão
In 15 minutes, the verdict in Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial will be announced. In the 2017, the judge read the decision for about 20 minutes before delivering the final verdict. Thus, the outcome of Yoon’s impeachment is likely to be revealed between 11:20 and 11:30 a.m. Korea Standard Time.
April 4, 2025 at 1:47 AM
In 15 minutes, the verdict in Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial will be announced. In the 2017, the judge read the decision for about 20 minutes before delivering the final verdict. Thus, the outcome of Yoon’s impeachment is likely to be revealed between 11:20 and 11:30 a.m. Korea Standard Time.
Reposted by Rita Durão
With reports that Ishiba distributed some potentially unlawful gifts to junior LDP lawmakers, Ishiba’s week has gone from bad to worse.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Ishiba's bad week continues
Or, beware a prime minister bearing gifts
open.substack.com
March 13, 2025 at 9:27 PM
With reports that Ishiba distributed some potentially unlawful gifts to junior LDP lawmakers, Ishiba’s week has gone from bad to worse.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Reposted by Rita Durão
Thanks for having me on the podcast -- a great chance to talk about East Asian history, what's universal and inevitable, and what may not be as universal as we think. I hope I was provocative, but not "crazy man" provocative! @jordanschneider.bsky.social
www.chinatalk.media/p/asias-grea...
www.chinatalk.media/p/asias-grea...
Asia's Great Power Wars
Lessons from Imperial History for Today
www.chinatalk.media
February 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Thanks for having me on the podcast -- a great chance to talk about East Asian history, what's universal and inevitable, and what may not be as universal as we think. I hope I was provocative, but not "crazy man" provocative! @jordanschneider.bsky.social
www.chinatalk.media/p/asias-grea...
www.chinatalk.media/p/asias-grea...
Reposted by Rita Durão
Van Jackson and Michael Brenes argue that great-power competition with China is misguided and vastly underestimates the costs and risks that geopolitical rivalry poses to economic prosperity, the quality of democracy, and, ultimately, global stability.
January 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Van Jackson and Michael Brenes argue that great-power competition with China is misguided and vastly underestimates the costs and risks that geopolitical rivalry poses to economic prosperity, the quality of democracy, and, ultimately, global stability.
Reposted by Rita Durão
“You could say Bridge Colby is an offensive realist...the worldview that says all great-powers only seek security through conquest and power hoarding...But my god, nobody actually thinks offensive realism is a legitimate or valid way of seeing the world.” www.un-diplomatic.com/p/hans-morge...
Hans Morgenthau Wouldn’t Recognize Elbridge Colby
Drop Site News—ran a piece critically profiling Elbridge Colby, a well-known MAGA foreign policy thinker with very hawkish views on China.
www.un-diplomatic.com
January 7, 2025 at 11:15 PM
“You could say Bridge Colby is an offensive realist...the worldview that says all great-powers only seek security through conquest and power hoarding...But my god, nobody actually thinks offensive realism is a legitimate or valid way of seeing the world.” www.un-diplomatic.com/p/hans-morge...
Reposted by Rita Durão
A pleasure to join @vanjackson.bsky.social’s Un-Diplomatic Podcast to break down prospects for war and peace in Europe and Asia as Trump returns: www.undiplomaticpodcast.com/episodes/214
Live! Stephen Wertheim on War and Peace in Europe and Asia Ep. 214 | The Un-Diplomatic Podcast
Stephen Wertheim joins as a guest in the Un-Diplomatic Podcast’s special livestream edition. He discusses two of his latest pieces, in the Financial Times and Global Asia magazine respectively. The ch...
www.undiplomaticpodcast.com
January 6, 2025 at 5:57 PM
A pleasure to join @vanjackson.bsky.social’s Un-Diplomatic Podcast to break down prospects for war and peace in Europe and Asia as Trump returns: www.undiplomaticpodcast.com/episodes/214
Reposted by Rita Durão
In @financialtimes.com, I argue that the United States has not underwritten European security — not really — for decades now. No matter what happens next, European defense depends on Europeans themselves.
Read paywall free: on.ft.com/4iSWlkf
Read paywall free: on.ft.com/4iSWlkf
It’s time for Europe’s magical thinking on defence to end
Europeans need to acknowledge that they can no longer rely on the US security guarantee
on.ft.com
December 30, 2024 at 2:29 PM
In @financialtimes.com, I argue that the United States has not underwritten European security — not really — for decades now. No matter what happens next, European defense depends on Europeans themselves.
Read paywall free: on.ft.com/4iSWlkf
Read paywall free: on.ft.com/4iSWlkf
Reposted by Rita Durão
Wild times in South Korea as it impeaches acting President Han Duck-Soo. Just when we thought we’d had enough historic events this year - Korea keeps it going. Next in line is the finance minister. Let’s see if he’ll be willing to appoint the constitutional court justices.
South Korea’s parliament votes to impeach acting leader Han Duck-soo, weeks after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s suspension over a martial law decree
South Korea’s Parliament Passes Vote to Impeach Acting President
South Korea’s parliament voted to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo, dealing another blow to a government already reeling after President Yoon Suk Yeol was suspended less than two weeks ago for hi...
www.bloomberg.com
December 27, 2024 at 8:25 AM
Wild times in South Korea as it impeaches acting President Han Duck-Soo. Just when we thought we’d had enough historic events this year - Korea keeps it going. Next in line is the finance minister. Let’s see if he’ll be willing to appoint the constitutional court justices.
Reposted by Rita Durão
With Colby heading back to the Pentagon, here's what I wrote on his "Japan should spend 3% of its GDP on defense" idea.
👇🏻
👇🏻
Why Japan will not spend three percent of GDP on defense
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Why Japan will not spend three percent of GDP on defense
On Elbridge Colby's advice for Japan
open.substack.com
December 22, 2024 at 11:38 PM
With Colby heading back to the Pentagon, here's what I wrote on his "Japan should spend 3% of its GDP on defense" idea.
👇🏻
👇🏻
Reposted by Rita Durão
Important development for 🇰🇷🇰🇵 watchers:
Colby argues US should shift focus from NK to China.
So, he urges South Korea to take more responsibility for its defense, even exploring nuclear options.
And he views DPRK denuclearization as unlikely, prefers arms control to denuke.
Colby argues US should shift focus from NK to China.
So, he urges South Korea to take more responsibility for its defense, even exploring nuclear options.
And he views DPRK denuclearization as unlikely, prefers arms control to denuke.
December 22, 2024 at 10:39 PM
Important development for 🇰🇷🇰🇵 watchers:
Colby argues US should shift focus from NK to China.
So, he urges South Korea to take more responsibility for its defense, even exploring nuclear options.
And he views DPRK denuclearization as unlikely, prefers arms control to denuke.
Colby argues US should shift focus from NK to China.
So, he urges South Korea to take more responsibility for its defense, even exploring nuclear options.
And he views DPRK denuclearization as unlikely, prefers arms control to denuke.
Reposted by Rita Durão
Why did Sweden join NATO? This new article in JIRD argues that non-alignment clashed with deeper identity constructs after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Finland's NATO bid. Joining NATO helped resolve the clash, thus restoring ontological security for many Swedes. tinyurl.com/yjnxdj3x
Changing identity to remain oneself: ontological security and the Swedish decision on joining NATO - Journal of International Relations and Development
Why, despite its longstanding identity as a non-aligned country, did Sweden apply for NATO membership in May 2022? Did this decision not fundamentally challenge Swedish ontological security? Conversel...
tinyurl.com
December 20, 2024 at 7:33 AM
Why did Sweden join NATO? This new article in JIRD argues that non-alignment clashed with deeper identity constructs after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Finland's NATO bid. Joining NATO helped resolve the clash, thus restoring ontological security for many Swedes. tinyurl.com/yjnxdj3x
Reposted by Rita Durão
New: European Union leaders will avoid directly calling out China over Russia’s war in Ukraine at a major summit this week, according to a draft statement
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
EU leaders avoid direct accusation over Chinese role in Russia’s war in Ukraine
A draft statement suggests leaders from the bloc’s 27 members will not accuse Beijing of crossing a major red line.
www.scmp.com
December 18, 2024 at 11:55 AM
New: European Union leaders will avoid directly calling out China over Russia’s war in Ukraine at a major summit this week, according to a draft statement
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
It’s a wrap for the KOREA-EU-NATO NextGen Program 2024! Huge thanks to all the experts from around the EU, US, and Korea for sharing their knowledge on the Korean Peninsula and East Asian security. Also grateful for the opportunity to present my own work and receive important feedback.
December 18, 2024 at 10:22 PM
It’s a wrap for the KOREA-EU-NATO NextGen Program 2024! Huge thanks to all the experts from around the EU, US, and Korea for sharing their knowledge on the Korean Peninsula and East Asian security. Also grateful for the opportunity to present my own work and receive important feedback.