Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 21h

🗳️ Georgia’s recent municipal elections reflect growing concerns about democratic backsliding and political polarization.

GMF's Elene Kintsurashvili examines the EU’s muted response and the dangerous normalization of repression at Europe’s doorstep.

📖 Read the full piece:

From Ballots to Control

Georgia’s October 4, 2025 municipal elections laid bare the extent of the country’s democratic decline. What should have been a routine local vote instead confirmed the consolidation of one-party…

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 22h

🛡️ Her return to GMF exemplifies the power of transatlantic leadership cultivated through the MMF network. From Bucharest to Brussels to Washington, our alumni continue to shape the future of democracy and security.

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 22h

Minister Țoiu joined us for a high-level roundtable on Black Sea Security and Strategic Insights from Russian Hybrid Operations, offering a critical perspective on Romania’s evolving role in countering hybrid threats and advancing regional resilience.

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 22h

🎓 GMF was proud to welcome back Her Excellency Oana Țoiu, Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, to GMF—not only as a leading voice on European security, but also as an alumna of our Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF) program.

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 1d

🌍 Europe’s green industrial policy is at a crossroads. In her latest piece, GMF’s Julia Trehu explores how the EU can balance decarbonization, competitiveness, and economic security in a shifting global landscape.

📘 Read the full article:

A Green Industrial Policy for an Era of Economic Security

The European Commission is seeking input to update its 2023 Economic Security Strategy amid global trade turbulence and ongoing negotiations arising from the EU-US tariff and trade accord reached in…

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 1d

💡 For GMF fellows, this is more than a seminar — it’s a chance to reignite connections, expand your impact, and lead the next chapter of transatlantic collaboration.

German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 1d

...this three-day gathering is a powerful moment to reconnect, collaborate, and shape solutions to global challenges. From public policy to tech innovation, participants are sharing best practices and building a culture of sustainable transatlantic cooperation.

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 1d

🌐 Happening now: The 2025 Marshall Seminar is in full swing — bringing together GMF fellows and transatlantic leaders to explore bold ideas for the future of our enduring partnership.

With the theme “Evolving the Enduring Transatlantic Partnership for the 21st Century,” ...

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 1d

“Right now, Russia is testing just how protected Europe is. Is the European shift to harder power and defense real? Are the Europeans developing actual capabilities to stop Russia? And what is the US appetite for having Europe’s back?" explained GMF's Kristine Berzina.

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Analysis: Europe worries it’s already at war — and America hasn’t noticed | CNN Politics

“We are not at war, but we are no longer at peace either.”

edition.cnn.com

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 1d

🇺🇦 Ukraine’s EU path is at a turning point.

🇪🇺 On October 15 at GMF's Brussels office, experts & officials will gather to assess reform progress, EU readiness, and the next steps in Ukraine’s accession journey.

➡️ Learn more about the event here: www.gmfus.org/event/sustai...

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 2d

🛡️ This timely conversation focused on great power competition in the High North, Russia’s evolving posture, and the strategic importance of the GIUK gap in NATO’s deterrence and defense strategy.

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 2d

🌎 Today, the German Marshall Fund of the United States hosted Prime Minister Aksel V. Johannesen of the Faroe Islands for a private roundtable discussion moderated by GMF Fellow Sophie Arts and with welcome remarks by GMF’s Senior Vice President Dan Kliman at our Washington, DC headquarters.

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 2d

🇫🇷 France is turning presence into permanence in the Black Sea.

From leading NATO’s Mission Aigle in Romania to expanding defense ties with Moldova and supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction, France is stepping up as a long-term security provider in the region.

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France’s Shift to Long-Term Engagement in the Black Sea

Historically, France’s policies in the Black Sea region were more of a side effect of its EU enlargement, Russia, or Middle East policies. Its engagement was more ad hoc than calculated. But, after…

www.gmfus.org

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 2d

Russia’s hybrid warfare is escalating—and Romania is stepping up.

Today, GMF hosted 🇷🇴 FM Oana Țoiu, Ambassador Muraru & senior officials for a roundtable on Black Sea security and resilience with GMF President @AdeHoopScheffer.

Transatlantic unity is key. 🛡️🇺🇸🇪🇺

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 3d

Czechia ≠ Hungary. Babiš’s win doesn’t mean Orbán-style illiberalism is coming. Checks, coalitions, and EU ties keep things balanced.

➡️ Read Zsuzsanna Végh’s take via GMF: buff.ly/6Sxv5UA

Czechia Is No Hungary

The Czech parliamentary election brought a stronger than anticipated comeback for Andrej Babiš’ populist ANO. Having secured a clear plurality in the October 3–4 election—34.5 % of the vote, and…

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Reposted by German Marshall Fund

Universität Duisburg-Essen @unidue.bsky.social · 4d

2/2 Am 19. November spricht sie über sicherheitspolitische Zeitenwende(n) und die Folgen für Deutschland und Europa. Die Anmeldung läuft. www.uni-due.de/2025-10-07-s... #Sicherheitspolitik

Portraitfoto von Dr. Claudia Major. Text: Mercator-Professur 2025. Dr. Claudia Major. Politik- und Sozialwissenschaftlerin

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 4d

“They’re really powerful tools. They give the president a lot of flexibility in the scope of what he can define as national security," explained GMF expert Penny Naas when speaking about the president's application of the national security label to product-specific levies.

➡️ buff.ly/s3d0AaU

buff.ly

German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 4d

“They’re really powerful tools. They give the president a lot of flexibility in the scope of what he can define as national security," explained GMF expert Penny Naas when speaking about the president's application of the national security label to product-specific levies.

➡️https://buff.ly/s3d0AaU

Home - Financial Times

News, analysis and opinion from the Financial Times on the latest in markets, economics and politics

FT.com

German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 5d

"Mr. Babis’s return to power would reflect an increasing polarization of voters who seesaw between illiberal populists and pro-Western democratic values, especially in Eastern Europe."

GMF Expert @danielhegedus.bsky.social featured in the New York Times:

Andrej Babis Likely to Return as Czech Prime Minister After Parliamentary Win

The party of Andrej Babis, a billionaire and a skeptic of military support to Ukraine, prevailed in parliamentary elections by focusing on the economy.

www.nytimes.com

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 5d

🇯🇵 Sanae Takaichi’s election as leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on October 4, 2025, positions her to become the country’s first female prime minister.

➡️ www.gmfus.org/news/japans-...

Japan’s Iron Lady?

Sanae Takaichi’s election as leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on October 4, 2025, positions her to become the country’s first female prime minister. Although she narrowly lost…

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 5d

🇦🇺🇯🇵 While the lion’s share of Indo-Pacific geopolitical attention is captured by the maneuvering of nuclear-armed great powers, Australia and Japan have been steadily deepening their bilateral security partnership.

➡️ Read GMF expert Robert McKinnon's analysis:

Looking to Each Other

While the lion’s share of Indo-Pacific geopolitical attention is captured by the maneuvering of nuclear-armed great powers, Australia and Japan have been steadily deepening their bilateral security…

www.gmfus.org

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 5d

“France will increasingly be seen as unreliable and unyielding — giving Germany and others more influence and leadership at this crucial time for Europe,” explained GMF Expert Georgina Wright.

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Macron running out of options as government resigns — live updates

France’s fifth government in three years collapses less than a day after being appointed.

www.politico.eu

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 5d

❓What has changed since the Hamas attack on Israel two years ago?

Six GMF experts dive into the shifts that the world has seen since the attack

🆕 Read the full compendium here:

The Long Global Shadow of October 7

Hamas’ attack on Israel two years ago and the events unfolding in its wake have reverberated beyond the Middle East. The war in Gaza; the spillover into Houthi attacks in the Red Sea; escalation of…

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German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 5d

🇮🇳🇪🇺🇺🇸 The 27th India Trilateral Forum, organized by GMF and the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, begins today.

🛡️This edition will focus on security, defense, and defense-industrial collaboration, exploring new opportunities to strengthen partnerships between the US, India, and Europe.

German Marshall Fund @gmfus.bsky.social · 6d

🧠 How can the US and EU better cooperate on the integration of AI tools into the military?

Read an analysis by GMF's Sharinee Jagtiani: www.gmfus.org/news/diverge...

From Divergence to Cooperation

The adoption of AI as a force multiplier in military contexts (“military AI”) has spurred a new era of defense innovation. In July 2025, the United States unveiled its AI Action Plan, a strategic…

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