Ben Tonra
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bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra
@bentonra.bsky.social
3.8K followers 840 following 1.7K posts

Professor of International Relations at UCD Dublin; Dundrum Methodist Church; Royal Irish Academy; Azure Forum, IDSA and Gym Dad. Mix of Mayo, Kerry, West Virginia and suburban Maryland.

Videos
Political science 84%
Sociology 11%
Posts Replies Media Videos

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 5h
Delighted to welcome @northeasternu.bsky.social to @ucddublin.bsky.social today for our workshop on transnational collaboration on human rights, nature restoration, quiet skies and peace.

Tomorrow’s public session at MOLI

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 8h
Ireland - “an international liability”

Reference to Ireland’s Blanche Dubois defence policy - relying on the kindness of neighbours.

on.ft.com/49F90VY
How Ireland became the weak spot in Europe’s defences
With few ships and limited intelligence-sharing, some say the country cannot hope to protect itself or its infrastructure
on.ft.com

Reposted by Edgar Morgenroth, Mary Corcoran, Ben Tonra

rikefranke.bsky.social
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 18h
“Without sovereignty - military, health, financial and digital - we can no longer guarantee the rule of law.”

This is likely to increasingly become a topic.

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 19h
100 Irish websites for all your Christmas presents: Shopping guide for the festive season

www.irishtimes.com/your-money/2...
100 Irish websites for all your Christmas presents: Shopping guide for the festive season
A curated, all-Irish roundup of the best places to shop for gifts — online and on time
www.irishtimes.com

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 19h
Do you think he sold his soul - or is there some kind of lease-back arrangement? 😉

Reposted by Ben Tonra

donnachadcu.bsky.social
Donnacha Ó Beacháin @donnachadcu.bsky.social · 19h
In Berlin today for event organised by @libmod.de & @bertelsmannst.bsky.social discussing how EU states can better support Ukraine’s EU integration - even amid war.

Pleased that my briefing on Ireland’s approach forms part of the wider document.

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 20h
These two leading contenders for GOP 2028. Place your bets carefully and plan accordingly.
savchenkoua.bsky.social Savchenko Volodymyr @savchenkoua.bsky.social · 1d
🇺🇸🇺🇦 The Economist writes about the disagreements between Rubio and Vance over the Ukraine peace plan.

It was Vance who pushed the initial hardline plan, calling Zelenskyy to lay out the terms.

Rubio, meanwhile, "tried hard to get things back on track by finding an agreement with the Ukrainians." "

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 20h
I’m sure it’s a function of headline writers (?) but this is an unmitigated garbage sentence.
foreignpolicy.com Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 20h
Trump’s peace overtures, however imperfect, are the only option that actually could achieve a better outcome than the status quo, argues Emma Ashford.
Trump’s Russia-Ukraine Peace Plan Is a Step Forward
For Europe, continued war is perhaps not entirely unwelcome.
foreignpolicy.com

Reposted by Ben Tonra

foreignpolicy.com
Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 20h
Trump’s peace overtures, however imperfect, are the only option that actually could achieve a better outcome than the status quo, argues Emma Ashford.
Trump’s Russia-Ukraine Peace Plan Is a Step Forward
For Europe, continued war is perhaps not entirely unwelcome.
foreignpolicy.com

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d
Sometimes the level of toxic parochialism in Irish politics even surprises me.

Reposted by Ben Tonra

independent.ie
Irish Independent @independent.ie · 1d
‘For God’s sake!’ – Micheál Martin hits back at ‘cheap’ criticism of his foreign travel from inside Fianna Fáil www.independent.ie/irish-news/p...
‘For God’s sake!’ – Micheál Martin hits back at ‘cheap’ criticism of his foreign travel from inside Fianna Fáil
The Taoiseach has rounded on domestic critics of his world travel and leadership performance as he flies home tonight from Angola, a day early.
www.independent.ie

Reposted by Ben Tonra

irishtimes.com
The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 1d
Micheál Martin defends his foreign travel as vital to Ireland’s international engagement
Micheál Martin defends his foreign travel as vital to Ireland’s international engagement
The Taoiseach has travelled to Angola from South Africa where he attended the G20 summit at the weekend
www.irishtimes.com

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d
US as a European adversary: lesson #14
abenewman.bsky.social Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 1d
People scratching their heads about Thiel and Greenland but that is because stuck in an old model of international politics. This is neoroyalism rather than westphalia.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d
He’s a peach alright

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d
Principled, steadfast and serious.

Wondering aloud whether Ireland could/would endorse?

Answers on a postcard please.

Reposted by Ben Tonra, Nicolai von Ondarza

carolinedegruyter.bsky.social
Caroline de Gruyter @carolinedegruyter.bsky.social · 1d
Once the most sceptical among Europeans, now the nordics take the lead
www.regjeringen.no/en/whats-new...
Joint Statement by the Leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight
We – the leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight – spoke with President Zelenskyy today. We have from the outset of Russia’s war of aggression stood by Ukraine’s side and we will continue to do so. Our res...
www.regjeringen.no

Reposted by Richard S.J. Tol, Edgar Morgenroth, Ben Tonra

urikikaski.bsky.social
OSINT Intuit™ @urikikaski.bsky.social · 1d
BREAKING - Lavrov Admits What Washington Won’t: The 28-Point Plan Was Russia’s All Along

The White House is now scrambling to contain the fallout from its disastrous handling of the 28-Point “Peace Plan,” a document that now appears to have come through a Kremlin-influenced ...

#OSINT
1/14

Reposted by Ben Tonra

fhayesmccoy.bsky.social
Felicity Hayes-McCoy @fhayesmccoy.bsky.social · 1d
Great to see so many friends, including @anniewestdotcom.bsky.social , included on this list of websites

#shoplocal #supportsmallbusinesses #Irish #Christmas #shopping #spéirgorm #speirghorm

www.irishtimes.com/your-money/2...
100 Irish websites for all your Christmas presents: Shopping guide for the festive season
A curated, all-Irish roundup of the best places to shop for gifts — online and on time
www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by Edgar Morgenroth, Ben Tonra

ecfr.eu
ECFR @ecfr.eu · 1d
Moscow is aiming for the political destruction of NATO and the EU. By eroding trust between member states, sowing economic instability and undermining democratic institutions, it seeks to fragment European unity, writes Nicu Popescu @ecfreuropeansec.bsky.social
https://bit.ly/47X57dA
Europe’s two wars: The danger of the comfort zone
Europe’s focus on Ukraine’s perilous “kill zone” obscures a second front: a hybrid war into the continent’s “comfort zone”. Europeans must confront this second assault with clarity and cohesion…
bit.ly

Reposted by Ben Tonra

savchenkoua.bsky.social
Savchenko Volodymyr @savchenkoua.bsky.social · 1d
🇺🇸🇺🇦 The Economist writes about the disagreements between Rubio and Vance over the Ukraine peace plan.

It was Vance who pushed the initial hardline plan, calling Zelenskyy to lay out the terms.

Rubio, meanwhile, "tried hard to get things back on track by finding an agreement with the Ukrainians." "

Reposted by Edgar Morgenroth, Ben Tonra

euwatch.live
EUwatch 🇪🇺 @euwatch.live · 1d
Europe Must Abandon Appeasement and Confront Trump’s Hostile America
Europe Must Abandon Appeasement and Confront Trump's Hostile America
The failure of European leaders' strategy of accommodation proves that Trump's United States has become an adversary, not an ally, demanding a fundamental shift in EU policy.
www.socialeurope.eu

Reposted by Elizabeth Saunders, Ben Tonra

abenewman.bsky.social
Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 1d
People scratching their heads about Thiel and Greenland but that is because stuck in an old model of international politics. This is neoroyalism rather than westphalia.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d
Gaza, Ukraine… and countless less covered crises and conflicts. The international system is not working. Meanwhile existential challenges on the horizon- AI and climate change.

Leadership lacking

Potential is there

Work to be done.
ineiversen.bsky.social Ïne Back Ïversen @ineiversen.bsky.social · 1d
💔Ternopil. A father gently rocking the coffin carrying his child.

Today, his wife and two children were all laid to rest.

They were among the 33 victims killed in the massive russian attack Nov.18th.

The father is the only survivor from their home.

Never forgive.
Never forget. 🕯️

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d
What lies behind the ‘Russian Peace Plan’ initially pitched by Washington…. See below.

Is Rubio an adult in the room? We’ll soon see.
kateinkharkiv.bsky.social Kate from Kharkiv @kateinkharkiv.bsky.social · 1d
The post is from Alexander Dugin in telegram, the Kremlin's chief ideologue, a self-proclaimed "intellectual," a prominent russian nazi, and a happy father.

​The post was written today.

Reposted by Ben Tonra

ineiversen.bsky.social
Ïne Back Ïversen @ineiversen.bsky.social · 1d
💔Ternopil. A father gently rocking the coffin carrying his child.

Today, his wife and two children were all laid to rest.

They were among the 33 victims killed in the massive russian attack Nov.18th.

The father is the only survivor from their home.

Never forgive.
Never forget. 🕯️

Reposted by Peter Thorne, Steve Peers, Edgar Morgenroth , and 2 more

djfrancois.bsky.social
DJ Francois @djfrancois.bsky.social · 1d
what a surprise, majority of fash "Ireland is full" posts on shitter are from outside Ireland

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Ben Tonra

maks23.bsky.social
MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 @maks23.bsky.social · 1d
❗️🇪🇺🇺🇦 The full text of the EU plan to end the war in Ukraine is published by The Telegraph

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d
Best quick summary of Russian aka US ‘peace’ plan
donnachadcu.bsky.social Donnacha Ó Beacháin @donnachadcu.bsky.social · 1d
I spoke with Pat Kenny about the Kremlin wish list wrapped in a Trump ultimatum

Ukraine loses land, security, sovereignty
Russia is rewarded and indemnified
Europe is cut out of its own security architecture
And Trump seeks to profit from it all

www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/we-...
We dissect Trump’s twenty eight point peace plan for Ukraine
Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor Politics, School of Law and Government, DCU and Author of Unfinished Empire joined Pat this morning to dissect Trump’s twenty eight point peace plan for Ukraine.
www.goloudplayer.com

Reposted by Ben Tonra

donnachadcu.bsky.social
Donnacha Ó Beacháin @donnachadcu.bsky.social · 1d
I spoke with Pat Kenny about the Kremlin wish list wrapped in a Trump ultimatum

Ukraine loses land, security, sovereignty
Russia is rewarded and indemnified
Europe is cut out of its own security architecture
And Trump seeks to profit from it all

www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/we-...
We dissect Trump’s twenty eight point peace plan for Ukraine
Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor Politics, School of Law and Government, DCU and Author of Unfinished Empire joined Pat this morning to dissect Trump’s twenty eight point peace plan for Ukraine.
www.goloudplayer.com

Reposted by Ben Tonra

deanbuckley.bsky.social
Dean Buckley @deanbuckley.bsky.social · 1d
if I were someone earnestly interested in improving Ireland's security without eroding our neutrality, I'd make giving the intelligence services a legislative basis – and effective oversight – my number one priority, not abolishing the Triple Lock

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...
No strategy, ad hoc structures, mutual distrust: welcome to Ireland’s intelligence service
Ireland lacks single dedicated intelligence agency and Cabinet-level committee responsible for national security
www.irishtimes.com