Armida van Rij
@armida.bsky.social
Senior Research Fellow @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social. Ex-Chatham House & King's College London. European security, defence & politics.
🔗 https://www.cer.eu/personnel/armida-van-rij
🔗 https://www.cer.eu/personnel/armida-van-rij
Pinned
Armida van Rij
@armida.bsky.social
· Dec 5
Trump, Silicon Valley, and Europe’s Far-right - International Centre for Defence and Security
A new transatlantic alliance is forming. The old partnership was based on advancing liberal democracy, upholding the rules-based international order, and a security contract between the US and Europe....
icds.ee
And a deeper dive into the ties between Silicon Valley libertarians, MAGA, US Big Tech and the European far right and what it means for European security, and how the EU should respond (hint: the answer is not to deregulate tech).
icds.ee/en/trump_sil...
icds.ee/en/trump_sil...
Ondanks het onderwerp, toch bijzonder om dit interview aan @nrc.nl te mogen geven. We hebben het over de toekomst van de NAVO, de rol van Europa op het wereldtoneel, en waarom meegaan met de gedachtegang van Trump Europa verder ondermijnt.
Dank @arnolddegroot.bsky.social.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Dank @arnolddegroot.bsky.social.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Opinie | ‘We moeten onze defensie-industrie opschalen, dat kan niet door Amerikaanse wapens te blijven kopen’
Opinie-interview: Europa kende crisis na crisis -financiële crisis, corona, invasie van Rusland. Dus er is niet veel capaciteit om vooruit te denken, ziet Armida van Rij. Toch is dat noodzakelijk, om ...
www.nrc.nl
January 21, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Ondanks het onderwerp, toch bijzonder om dit interview aan @nrc.nl te mogen geven. We hebben het over de toekomst van de NAVO, de rol van Europa op het wereldtoneel, en waarom meegaan met de gedachtegang van Trump Europa verder ondermijnt.
Dank @arnolddegroot.bsky.social.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Dank @arnolddegroot.bsky.social.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Reposted by Armida van Rij
Attn news commentators: Trump saying he could use force to obtain Greenland but won’t is not Trump saying he won’t use force to obtain Greenland. It is Trump using force as a threat to obtain Greenland. That is why he mentions it.
January 21, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Attn news commentators: Trump saying he could use force to obtain Greenland but won’t is not Trump saying he won’t use force to obtain Greenland. It is Trump using force as a threat to obtain Greenland. That is why he mentions it.
Reposted by Armida van Rij
"We gaan nu mee in de retoriek van Trump, met zijn analyse van de veiligheidssituatie rond Groenland. Trump heeft het steeds over Russische en Chinese boten die rond de kust van Groenland zijn – die zijn er niet." Ik interviewde @armida.bsky.social voor @nrc.nl Opinie: www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Opinie | ‘We moeten onze defensie-industrie opschalen, dat kan niet door Amerikaanse wapens te blijven kopen’
Opinie-interview: Europa kende crisis na crisis -financiële crisis, corona, invasie van Rusland. Dus er is niet veel capaciteit om vooruit te denken, ziet Armida van Rij. Toch is dat noodzakelijk, om ...
www.nrc.nl
January 21, 2026 at 10:46 AM
"We gaan nu mee in de retoriek van Trump, met zijn analyse van de veiligheidssituatie rond Groenland. Trump heeft het steeds over Russische en Chinese boten die rond de kust van Groenland zijn – die zijn er niet." Ik interviewde @armida.bsky.social voor @nrc.nl Opinie: www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Trump coming for the North Sea next: "The UK sits on the North Sea, sits on all that oil, and they don't do anything with it. They don't allow the oil companies to drill."
January 21, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Trump coming for the North Sea next: "The UK sits on the North Sea, sits on all that oil, and they don't do anything with it. They don't allow the oil companies to drill."
Reposted by Armida van Rij
Europe faces a pincer attack from White House ideologues backed by Silicon Valley and its far-right proxies. My op-ed for @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Europe faces a pincer attack from White House ideologues backed by Silicon Valley and its far-right proxies | Armida va Rij
US tech bosses are exerting leverage on EU regulators via Trump and Vance. But Europe isn’t powerless, and it isn’t alone, says the Centre for European Reform’s Armida van Rij
www.theguardian.com
January 8, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Europe faces a pincer attack from White House ideologues backed by Silicon Valley and its far-right proxies. My op-ed for @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
A strong episode overall thanks to @rynning.bsky.social's analysis, but this final part on minilateralism is especially important.
The new energy put towards these formats show something is broken within NATO. They are not used to reinforce the alliance, but to push pol agendas through other means.
The new energy put towards these formats show something is broken within NATO. They are not used to reinforce the alliance, but to push pol agendas through other means.
"The US is acting outside of NATO in all respects, be it Ukraine, Russia, the Arctic, they're not using NATO," @rynning.bsky.social tells @armida.bsky.social in the latest episode of the #CERpodcast.
Listen here: buff.ly/ZiqRiAP
Listen here: buff.ly/ZiqRiAP
January 19, 2026 at 4:02 PM
A strong episode overall thanks to @rynning.bsky.social's analysis, but this final part on minilateralism is especially important.
The new energy put towards these formats show something is broken within NATO. They are not used to reinforce the alliance, but to push pol agendas through other means.
The new energy put towards these formats show something is broken within NATO. They are not used to reinforce the alliance, but to push pol agendas through other means.
The past few days have underlined why it's problematic to go along with Trump's rationale - it assumes a basis of reason which is not there. My comments to the Washington Post www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
January 18, 2026 at 3:26 PM
The past few days have underlined why it's problematic to go along with Trump's rationale - it assumes a basis of reason which is not there. My comments to the Washington Post www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Armida van Rij
Good moment to repost my paper from last year, mapping the cards Europe could play in response to US coercion.
Most of them could be played via the anti-coercion instrument. Digital services charges and (de facto) export controls are the keys.
ecfr.eu/publication/...
Most of them could be played via the anti-coercion instrument. Digital services charges and (de facto) export controls are the keys.
ecfr.eu/publication/...
Brussels hold’em: European cards against Trumpian coercion – European Council on Foreign Relations
Faced with an aggressive United States, Europe has more leverage than it realises. Across trade, technology, infrastructure, finance and people-to-people relati
ecfr.eu
January 18, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Good moment to repost my paper from last year, mapping the cards Europe could play in response to US coercion.
Most of them could be played via the anti-coercion instrument. Digital services charges and (de facto) export controls are the keys.
ecfr.eu/publication/...
Most of them could be played via the anti-coercion instrument. Digital services charges and (de facto) export controls are the keys.
ecfr.eu/publication/...
Reposted by Armida van Rij
Natos trovärdighet sätts på spel när USA ifrågasätter en allierads suveränitet, varnar forskaren @armida.bsky.social.
buff.ly/nWO76SX
buff.ly/nWO76SX
Trumps krav på Grönland hotar Nato i grunden, säger expert inför avgörande möte
Natos trovärdighet sätts på spel när USA ifrågasätter en allierads suveränitet, varnar forskaren Armida van Rij.
yle.fi
January 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM
Natos trovärdighet sätts på spel när USA ifrågasätter en allierads suveränitet, varnar forskaren @armida.bsky.social.
buff.ly/nWO76SX
buff.ly/nWO76SX
Reposted by Armida van Rij
Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/
January 18, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/
Reposted by Armida van Rij
"What possible scenarios can you see for a US takeover of #Greenland, whether that is political, economic or through military coercion?” @armida.bsky.social asked @rynning.bsky.social in the latest #CERpodcast 'Unpacking Europe' episode.
Full episode here: buff.ly/jLyY2SW
Full episode here: buff.ly/jLyY2SW
January 16, 2026 at 1:01 PM
"What possible scenarios can you see for a US takeover of #Greenland, whether that is political, economic or through military coercion?” @armida.bsky.social asked @rynning.bsky.social in the latest #CERpodcast 'Unpacking Europe' episode.
Full episode here: buff.ly/jLyY2SW
Full episode here: buff.ly/jLyY2SW
Reposted by Armida van Rij
🎙️ Listen to our new #CERpodcast ‘Unpacking Europe’ on the implications of the latest #Greenland crisis for the future direction of the #NATO alliance with @armida.bsky.social & @rynning.bsky.social. 🎙️
Listen here: buff.ly/3nsjpU4
Listen here: buff.ly/3nsjpU4
January 15, 2026 at 10:01 AM
🎙️ Listen to our new #CERpodcast ‘Unpacking Europe’ on the implications of the latest #Greenland crisis for the future direction of the #NATO alliance with @armida.bsky.social & @rynning.bsky.social. 🎙️
Listen here: buff.ly/3nsjpU4
Listen here: buff.ly/3nsjpU4
Reposted by Armida van Rij
For as long as Europe is limited by the military capabilities it can deploy independently of the US, security dependence will cloud any course of action or response to US policy that European leaders can consider wrote @armida.bsky.social in @theguardian.com.
January 15, 2026 at 12:01 PM
For as long as Europe is limited by the military capabilities it can deploy independently of the US, security dependence will cloud any course of action or response to US policy that European leaders can consider wrote @armida.bsky.social in @theguardian.com.
Reposted by Armida van Rij
The operation in Venezuela escalates the seriousness of the Trump administration’s threats to annex #Greenland, demonstrating the very real risks to sovereignty and security beyond ideology.
buff.ly/6GmnosL
buff.ly/6GmnosL
Europe faces a pincer attack from White House ideologues backed by Silicon Valley and its far-right proxies | Armida van Rij
US tech bosses are exerting leverage on EU regulators via Trump and Vance. But Europe isn’t powerless, and it isn’t alone, says the Centre for European Reform’s Armida van Rij
buff.ly
January 15, 2026 at 12:01 PM
The operation in Venezuela escalates the seriousness of the Trump administration’s threats to annex #Greenland, demonstrating the very real risks to sovereignty and security beyond ideology.
buff.ly/6GmnosL
buff.ly/6GmnosL
Reposted by Armida van Rij
This is something I have been wondering about as well - not only putting NATO to the edge, but also the short attention span and threat of military action across the world (Venezuela, Greenland, Cuba, Colombia, Iran...) must overstretch even US military forces.
“As the US military chases Trump’s ever-changing Sharpie lines across the world’s maps, the West’s enemies will be tempted to take advantage of the fact that the US has obliterated the most powerful alliance in history while scattering American forces around the globe in showpiece operations.”
Trump’s Most Dangerous Obsession
His irrational fixation with Greenland could lead to global conflict.
www.theatlantic.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:56 PM
This is something I have been wondering about as well - not only putting NATO to the edge, but also the short attention span and threat of military action across the world (Venezuela, Greenland, Cuba, Colombia, Iran...) must overstretch even US military forces.
OR... does it in the medium-term just create a divide *within* Europe between those European NATO allies wanting to keep the US on board (the North/East), and those whose electorates see straight through that and are fed up with placating Trump (South)?
Europe is acting to deter us.
On the one hand, this is totally ridiculous and huge waste of resources, time, and energy. On the other hand, it may save the NATO alliance... so 🤷♂️
On the one hand, this is totally ridiculous and huge waste of resources, time, and energy. On the other hand, it may save the NATO alliance... so 🤷♂️
The tripwire force is finally here... But instead of being in Ukraine to deter Russia, it is within NATO territory to deter one NATO ally from violating another NATO ally's sovereignty.
The world turned upside down.
The world turned upside down.
January 14, 2026 at 5:49 PM
OR... does it in the medium-term just create a divide *within* Europe between those European NATO allies wanting to keep the US on board (the North/East), and those whose electorates see straight through that and are fed up with placating Trump (South)?
The tripwire force is finally here... But instead of being in Ukraine to deter Russia, it is within NATO territory to deter one NATO ally from violating another NATO ally's sovereignty.
The world turned upside down.
The world turned upside down.
Europe is deploying a tripwire in case of U.S. attack. Crazy times.
January 14, 2026 at 5:25 PM
The tripwire force is finally here... But instead of being in Ukraine to deter Russia, it is within NATO territory to deter one NATO ally from violating another NATO ally's sovereignty.
The world turned upside down.
The world turned upside down.
Reposted by Armida van Rij
🎙️ In our latest Unpacking Europe podcast @armida.bsky.social & @rynning.bsky.social discuss possible scenarios for a US takeover of Greenland and the consequences of this on the #NATO alliance.🎙️
Listen here: buff.ly/ZiqRiAP
Listen here: buff.ly/ZiqRiAP
January 14, 2026 at 12:30 PM
🎙️ In our latest Unpacking Europe podcast @armida.bsky.social & @rynning.bsky.social discuss possible scenarios for a US takeover of Greenland and the consequences of this on the #NATO alliance.🎙️
Listen here: buff.ly/ZiqRiAP
Listen here: buff.ly/ZiqRiAP
Reposted by Armida van Rij
Indeed, a remarkable discussion: bsky.app/profile/armi...
High stakes for Greenland and Denmark today, as Frederiksen & Nielsen meet Vance & Rubio.
Super interesting conversation with @rynning.bsky.social about NATO's possible policy shifts to appease Trump's Arctic security concerns, and how minilaterals fill NATO's void.
open.spotify.com/episode/24OZ...
Super interesting conversation with @rynning.bsky.social about NATO's possible policy shifts to appease Trump's Arctic security concerns, and how minilaterals fill NATO's void.
open.spotify.com/episode/24OZ...
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: Greenland and the NATO alliance
open.spotify.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Indeed, a remarkable discussion: bsky.app/profile/armi...
High stakes for Greenland and Denmark today, as Frederiksen & Nielsen meet Vance & Rubio.
Super interesting conversation with @rynning.bsky.social about NATO's possible policy shifts to appease Trump's Arctic security concerns, and how minilaterals fill NATO's void.
open.spotify.com/episode/24OZ...
Super interesting conversation with @rynning.bsky.social about NATO's possible policy shifts to appease Trump's Arctic security concerns, and how minilaterals fill NATO's void.
open.spotify.com/episode/24OZ...
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: Greenland and the NATO alliance
open.spotify.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:18 PM
High stakes for Greenland and Denmark today, as Frederiksen & Nielsen meet Vance & Rubio.
Super interesting conversation with @rynning.bsky.social about NATO's possible policy shifts to appease Trump's Arctic security concerns, and how minilaterals fill NATO's void.
open.spotify.com/episode/24OZ...
Super interesting conversation with @rynning.bsky.social about NATO's possible policy shifts to appease Trump's Arctic security concerns, and how minilaterals fill NATO's void.
open.spotify.com/episode/24OZ...
Reposted by Armida van Rij
''Als Europa druk wil uitoefenen op de VS kan het wijzen op de Amerikaanse schuld in Europa en Europese investeringen in de VS. Maar ook daar is het uitkijken voor escalatie met alleen maar verliezers'', zegt @louisevanschaik.bsky.social.
www.bnr.nl/podcast/inhe...
www.bnr.nl/podcast/inhe...
Clingendael-expert: 'Een Europese militaire oefening rond Groenland is een goed idee'
De ogen van de wereld zijn deze week gericht op Groenland. De Verenigde Staten willen dit grootste eiland van de wereld 'goedschiks of kwaadschiks' overneme...
www.bnr.nl
January 14, 2026 at 11:33 AM
''Als Europa druk wil uitoefenen op de VS kan het wijzen op de Amerikaanse schuld in Europa en Europese investeringen in de VS. Maar ook daar is het uitkijken voor escalatie met alleen maar verliezers'', zegt @louisevanschaik.bsky.social.
www.bnr.nl/podcast/inhe...
www.bnr.nl/podcast/inhe...
Reposted by Armida van Rij
Poland suffered a major cyberattack on its power grid at the end of December and "came very close to a blackout”, the government has revealed.
“Everything points to Russian sabotage," says the digital affairs minister.
“Everything points to Russian sabotage," says the digital affairs minister.
Poland suffers major cyberattack on power grid, says Russia likely responsible
notesfrompoland.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Poland suffered a major cyberattack on its power grid at the end of December and "came very close to a blackout”, the government has revealed.
“Everything points to Russian sabotage," says the digital affairs minister.
“Everything points to Russian sabotage," says the digital affairs minister.
Superb line of questioning by @terischultz.bsky.social of the NATO Sec Gen - Rutte's refusal to publicly support Greenland or Denmark is so problematic for an SG who represents 32 allies, not just 1.
I'd hope he is more robust in closed conversations with the US.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIIp...
I'd hope he is more robust in closed conversations with the US.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIIp...
NATO Chief Rutte Faces Hard-Hitting Questions on Trump Attacking Denmark and Taking Greenland | AC1G
YouTube video by DRM News
www.youtube.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Superb line of questioning by @terischultz.bsky.social of the NATO Sec Gen - Rutte's refusal to publicly support Greenland or Denmark is so problematic for an SG who represents 32 allies, not just 1.
I'd hope he is more robust in closed conversations with the US.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIIp...
I'd hope he is more robust in closed conversations with the US.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIIp...
Reposted by Armida van Rij
Nah. It is making France fear for its political clout in Europe and the world. As @claudmajor.bsky.social says in the piece, that says more about France than it does about Germany.
Germany is boosting its defense spending to levels that its allies can't match — and that's making some of them nervous
Germany’s Growing Military Might Rekindles Old Fears in France
The unease is acute in Paris, where some worry that the continent’s center of political gravity is moving east as Berlin boosts its defense spending to levels its allies can’t match.
bloom.bg
January 13, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Nah. It is making France fear for its political clout in Europe and the world. As @claudmajor.bsky.social says in the piece, that says more about France than it does about Germany.
Reposted by Armida van Rij
The US is putting a new world order on the table, one based on autocracy, the use of force, and nativism.
For the transatlantic relationship, the result has been fusing threats to sovereignty with the promotion of far-right forces that are a threat to democracy, and pushing tech deregulation.
For the transatlantic relationship, the result has been fusing threats to sovereignty with the promotion of far-right forces that are a threat to democracy, and pushing tech deregulation.
Europe faces a pincer attack from White House ideologues backed by Silicon Valley and its far-right proxies | Armida va Rij
Europe faces a pincer attack from White House ideologues backed by Silicon Valley and its far-right proxies | Armida va Rij
US tech bosses are exerting leverage on EU regulators via Trump and Vance. But Europe isn’t powerless, and it isn’t alone, says the Centre for European Reform’s Armida van Rij
www.theguardian.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:59 PM
The US is putting a new world order on the table, one based on autocracy, the use of force, and nativism.
For the transatlantic relationship, the result has been fusing threats to sovereignty with the promotion of far-right forces that are a threat to democracy, and pushing tech deregulation.
For the transatlantic relationship, the result has been fusing threats to sovereignty with the promotion of far-right forces that are a threat to democracy, and pushing tech deregulation.