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Reposted by Max Bergmann

Sander Tordoir @sandertordoir.bsky.social · 14h

The inability of the US and Europe to build an own supply of rare earth refining - knowing for years it was a huge vulnerability - must be one of the most catastrophic policy failures of the decade.

One reason it‘s hard: the West cannot free trade its way out when China controls the price mechanism

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Reposted by Max Bergmann

Sander Tordoir @sandertordoir.bsky.social · 14h

„So much for a small yard with a high fence—we now confront a big square with a Great Wall.“

Would think CFR‘s Froman just has coined the key new metaphor, after China dramatically escalated export controls.

Sander Tordoir @sandertordoir.bsky.social · 14h

The inability of the US and Europe to build an own supply of rare earth refining - knowing for years it was a huge vulnerability - must be one of the most catastrophic policy failures of the decade.

One reason it‘s hard: the West cannot free trade its way out when China controls the price mechanism

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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 14h

So…I’m totally okay with this! But someone please tell Trump about the height limit and that he can just tell congress to get rid of it! www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Trump eyes a triumphal arch to mark America’s 250th anniversary

The arch would be constructed across from the Lincoln Memorial, on a small patch of federal land currently occupied by a traffic circle.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Max Bergmann

Gesine Weber @gesineweber.bsky.social · 18h

Maybe something to add to our vocabulary: playing it Lecornu = pulling back, making everyone panic, causing a mess, and then coming back as if nothing had happened

(Would nicely complement « to Merkel » = not doing anything meaningful and acting slowly, as used during her time in German)

Georgina Wright @georginaewright.bsky.social · 18h

Annnnnd… He’s back 🤣. President names Sébastien Lecornu PM (again).

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Stanley Pignal @spignal.bsky.social · 1d

I've been a bit sceptical of the "exodus of US-based academics to Europe" thing, but this is a notable move.

Florian Scheuer @florianscheuer.bsky.social · 1d

I am delighted to share that Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee will join our Department of Economics @econ.uzh.ch at the University of Zurich on July 1, 2026, as Lemann Foundation Professors of Economics.

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Reposted by Max Bergmann

Christian Odendahl @codendahl.bsky.social · 1d

"A 55% plunge in BEV sales to China was in stark contrast to a 213.5% jump in North America and a 60% increase in Europe."

Seems to work without subsidies for the well-off to buy EVs.

Reuters @reuters.com · 1d

Volkswagen's third-quarter sales lifted by Europe and EVs reut.rs/3J0crLF

Volkswagen's third-quarter sales lifted by Europe and EVs

Volkswagen Group reported a 1% increase in third-quarter global deliveries on Friday as new models helped sales in Western Europe.

reut.rs

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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 1d

Lastly, reforming European defense will be a huge bureaucratic slog, with MODs and national defense industrial complexes all opposed. Efficiency, after all, creates losers. Therefore to launch a reform effort, EU Council should commission a Draghi-style report on defense reform. 5/

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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 1d

Europe will also need to invest jointly in developing deep stockpiles to deter Russia, as well as work quickly to build up its enabling capabilities. This includes much greater intelligence coordination. 4/

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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 1d

Spain rightly has argued that hitting an arbitrary spending target won't secure Europe. So we offer a tangible way to leverage the size and scale of Spain and Italy - use their large armies to make up for a decline of US forces. 3/

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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 1d

Namely, Europe needs to integrate its efforts and leverage its size and scale. We call for the revival of the rapid reaction force concept. But make it a permeant force (ala US army in Germany). Also make it a Italian-Spanish backed Euro force. They have large armies put them to use! 2/

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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 1d

🚨New report ahead of US force posture review. There needs to be a revolution in European military affairs. It's great Europeans are spending more. But they are neglecting the deeper reforms needed for Europe to defend itself with (potentially much) less America. We offer some ideas... 1/

CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program @erep.csis.org · 2d

NEW: How Europe Can Defend Itself with Less America
Our latest report identifies key military gaps that would be created by a significant reduction of US forces in Europe–and how Europeans can step up to address them.

✍️ @maxbergmann.bsky.social @ottosvendsen.bsky.social
www.csis.org/analysis/how...

How Europe Can Defend Itself with Less America

A potential U.S. force posture reduction in Europe will leave the continent vulnerable to further Russian aggression. Europe needs a bold action plan to mitigate capability gaps and ensure deterrence ...

www.csis.org

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Reposted by Max Bergmann

Joel Wertheimer @wertwhile.bsky.social · 1d

Feel like people aren't afraid enough of AI video generation capabilities www.instagram.com/reel/DPEqBL0...

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msnegovaya.bsky.social @msnegovaya.bsky.social · 2d

🚨 New episode! @maxbergmann.bsky.social talks with @erep.csis.org's Tina Dolbaia & @vasabjit.bsky.social about their timely paper on Russia–India ties and global geopolitics. Please tune in!

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Reposted by Max Bergmann

Nils Redeker @nilsredeker.bsky.social · 2d

This is the way. The German car industry’s problem isn’t 2035 - it’s the demand crash happening right now.

And while we can’t stop U.S. tariffs or Chinese subsidies, we certainly can ramp up demand at home.

Sander Tordoir @sandertordoir.bsky.social · 3d

German auto summit tomorrow.

The sole focus on the EU combustion engine phase-out, which is 10 years away, is baffling because German cars have a demand problem today

Berlin worries a new EV subsidy scheme would be fiscally too expensive.

But demand-side support is a fiscal no-brainer here.

1/

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Reposted by Max Bergmann

Sander Tordoir @sandertordoir.bsky.social · 2d

Highly highly doubt that panic football industrial policy down the line will be cheaper than putting in place 3 or so billion in EV consumer subsidies today and then coordinating with other EU countries.

Sander Tordoir @sandertordoir.bsky.social · 2d

If Germany doesn’t put in place a pro-competitive industrial policy for cars, centred on market building, the country may well end up down the line giving messy bailouts, regulatory rollbacks in response to mounting political and union pressure - only for the sector to wither anyway.

Sander Tordoir @sandertordoir.bsky.social · 3d

German auto summit tomorrow.

The sole focus on the EU combustion engine phase-out, which is 10 years away, is baffling because German cars have a demand problem today

Berlin worries a new EV subsidy scheme would be fiscally too expensive.

But demand-side support is a fiscal no-brainer here.

1/

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Reposted by Max Bergmann

CSIS | Center for Strategic & International Studies @csis.org · 2d

"Ukraine’s defense landscape today reflects a hybrid structure, combining the centralized, Soviet-inherited military industrial base with a uniquely dynamic, wartime-forged innovation ecosystem."

Read the full report from @ai.csis.org: www.csis.org/analysis/how...

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Reposted by Max Bergmann

CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program @erep.csis.org · 2d

🎧 NEW: @vasabjit.bsky.social + Tina Dolbaia join Russian Roulette to discuss the Russia-India relationship, how it's been impacted by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and what to watch for going forward.

Tune into the latest episode with @maxbergmann.bsky.social & @msnegovaya.bsky.social ⬇️

Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 2d

My podcast interaction with @erep.csis.org on Russia-India relations just dropped.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfrn...

The Russia-India Relationship with Tina Dolbaia and Vasabjit Banerjee

YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Max Bergmann

Vasabjit Banerjee @vasabjit.bsky.social · 2d

My podcast interaction with @erep.csis.org on Russia-India relations just dropped.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfrn...

The Russia-India Relationship with Tina Dolbaia and Vasabjit Banerjee

YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Max Bergmann

Abe Newman @abenewman.bsky.social · 6d

1/Striking speech by Macron: The future of European democracy depends on taking back its digital information space. A remarkable turn from Silicon Valley as source of enlightenment to being a purveyor of slop. And the stakes aren't just ad revenue but the nation.
defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...

"Europeans, let's wake up!" — Defend Democracy

“We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.” President Macron on the occasion of German Unity Day, 3 October 2025.

defenddemocracy.eu

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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 3d

“Almost half of respondents (48%) favoured the European Commission-coordinated defence investments, whereas 41% preferred the decision to be made nationally.”

www.euractiv.com/news/public-...

Public support for EU defence spending past its peak, says poll | Euractiv

Overall, 52% of Europe is unconvinced that the continent is prepared, in terms of military strength, for a prolonged conflict

www.euractiv.com

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Reposted by Max Bergmann

Conor Sen @conorsen.bsky.social · 3d

A friend said to me years ago that the progression of crises is tech becomes industrials which becomes financials and then kaboom. Over the past month it feels like we’re doing the handoff from industrials to financials.

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Reposted by Max Bergmann

Michael Liebreich @mliebreich.bsky.social · 4d

Transition-like-a-hare (global net zero by 2050) failed. Transition-like-a-tortoise rolls on, under the vapour trails of polarized rhetoric. #PragmaticClimateReset

www.bbc.com/news/article...