Thorsten Benner
@tbenner.bsky.social
Director, Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi), Berlin
www.gppi.net
www.gppi.net
Pinned
So it turns out that Trump is a leader with imperalist desires who is very sensitive to market pressures. That's the easier case then.
Can we now turn our attention again to dealing with Xi & Putin, leaders with imperialist-hegemonic desires much less sensitive to market forces?
Can we now turn our attention again to dealing with Xi & Putin, leaders with imperialist-hegemonic desires much less sensitive to market forces?
How about EU leaders today use emergency summit to develop a clear timetable for taking over critical enablers for the defense of Europe from the US and plan to develop capabilities? This has been over due for at least a year & is at very heart of vulnerability to US blackmail.
January 22, 2026 at 12:02 PM
How about EU leaders today use emergency summit to develop a clear timetable for taking over critical enablers for the defense of Europe from the US and plan to develop capabilities? This has been over due for at least a year & is at very heart of vulnerability to US blackmail.
So it turns out that Trump is a leader with imperalist desires who is very sensitive to market pressures. That's the easier case then.
Can we now turn our attention again to dealing with Xi & Putin, leaders with imperialist-hegemonic desires much less sensitive to market forces?
Can we now turn our attention again to dealing with Xi & Putin, leaders with imperialist-hegemonic desires much less sensitive to market forces?
January 22, 2026 at 7:43 AM
So it turns out that Trump is a leader with imperalist desires who is very sensitive to market pressures. That's the easier case then.
Can we now turn our attention again to dealing with Xi & Putin, leaders with imperialist-hegemonic desires much less sensitive to market forces?
Can we now turn our attention again to dealing with Xi & Putin, leaders with imperialist-hegemonic desires much less sensitive to market forces?
Reposted by Thorsten Benner
Das EP hat heute mit 334-324 Mercosur gestoppt. 7 Grüne hätten mit einem Nein heute Verantwortung zeigen können.
@annacavazzini.bsky.social @erik-marquardt.eu @alexandrageese.bsky.social @klangensiepenmep.bsky.social @hneumannmep.bsky.social @juttapaulus.bsky.social @terryreintke.bsky.social
@annacavazzini.bsky.social @erik-marquardt.eu @alexandrageese.bsky.social @klangensiepenmep.bsky.social @hneumannmep.bsky.social @juttapaulus.bsky.social @terryreintke.bsky.social
What a spectacular own goal by a majority in the European Parliament.
January 21, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Das EP hat heute mit 334-324 Mercosur gestoppt. 7 Grüne hätten mit einem Nein heute Verantwortung zeigen können.
@annacavazzini.bsky.social @erik-marquardt.eu @alexandrageese.bsky.social @klangensiepenmep.bsky.social @hneumannmep.bsky.social @juttapaulus.bsky.social @terryreintke.bsky.social
@annacavazzini.bsky.social @erik-marquardt.eu @alexandrageese.bsky.social @klangensiepenmep.bsky.social @hneumannmep.bsky.social @juttapaulus.bsky.social @terryreintke.bsky.social
What a spectacular own goal by a majority in the European Parliament.
January 21, 2026 at 1:20 PM
What a spectacular own goal by a majority in the European Parliament.
Für eine Billion verkaufen wir Bayern an Trump. Und Gauweiler gleich mit.
January 21, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Für eine Billion verkaufen wir Bayern an Trump. Und Gauweiler gleich mit.
By far the best speech on what the present moment means for middle powers and what it means to stop “living within a lie”.
An inspiration for what Europeans should do.
An inspiration for what Europeans should do.
January 20, 2026 at 4:00 PM
By far the best speech on what the present moment means for middle powers and what it means to stop “living within a lie”.
An inspiration for what Europeans should do.
An inspiration for what Europeans should do.
Building on Havel, Mark Carney would call this “Living Within A Lie”.
January 20, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Building on Havel, Mark Carney would call this “Living Within A Lie”.
In this unpredictable age it is mightily reassuring to see that an official letter by Trump reads exactly like a Truth Social post.
January 19, 2026 at 5:57 AM
In this unpredictable age it is mightily reassuring to see that an official letter by Trump reads exactly like a Truth Social post.
Sick and tired of this careless loose "We are already at war with Russia" talk coming from senior policymakers in EU member countries.
Ukraine is. Ask Ukrainians how different this is from being inside EU/NATO member country right now.
www.ft.com/content/16b9...
Ukraine is. Ask Ukrainians how different this is from being inside EU/NATO member country right now.
www.ft.com/content/16b9...
January 18, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Sick and tired of this careless loose "We are already at war with Russia" talk coming from senior policymakers in EU member countries.
Ukraine is. Ask Ukrainians how different this is from being inside EU/NATO member country right now.
www.ft.com/content/16b9...
Ukraine is. Ask Ukrainians how different this is from being inside EU/NATO member country right now.
www.ft.com/content/16b9...
Trump taxing US consumers for imports from select European countries to coerce Denmark to hand over Greenland, something 75% of Americans oppose.
Key European response has to be: we won't be blackmailed & stand by Denmark & Greeland -- not necessarily blind tit-for-tat tariff.
Key European response has to be: we won't be blackmailed & stand by Denmark & Greeland -- not necessarily blind tit-for-tat tariff.
January 17, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Trump taxing US consumers for imports from select European countries to coerce Denmark to hand over Greenland, something 75% of Americans oppose.
Key European response has to be: we won't be blackmailed & stand by Denmark & Greeland -- not necessarily blind tit-for-tat tariff.
Key European response has to be: we won't be blackmailed & stand by Denmark & Greeland -- not necessarily blind tit-for-tat tariff.
Congratulations on this grand Trumpian achievement to drive key Five Eyes partner into arms of Beijing.
A remarkable act of self-harm all around.
A remarkable act of self-harm all around.
The Canada-China relationship has been distant and uncertain for nearly a decade.
We’re changing that, with a new strategic partnership that benefits the people of both our nations.
We’re changing that, with a new strategic partnership that benefits the people of both our nations.
January 17, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Congratulations on this grand Trumpian achievement to drive key Five Eyes partner into arms of Beijing.
A remarkable act of self-harm all around.
A remarkable act of self-harm all around.
Trump for now using his Swiss army knife rather than sending invasion force — and doing so selectively to split Europe.
He‘s taxing American consumers to pursue Greenland takeover that 75% of Americans oppose.
He‘s taxing American consumers to pursue Greenland takeover that 75% of Americans oppose.
January 17, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Trump for now using his Swiss army knife rather than sending invasion force — and doing so selectively to split Europe.
He‘s taxing American consumers to pursue Greenland takeover that 75% of Americans oppose.
He‘s taxing American consumers to pursue Greenland takeover that 75% of Americans oppose.
Very much worth reading by @wlacher.bsky.social & @yguichaoua.bsky.social -- especially for those who have been involved in the peace/statebuilding & "stabilization" industry over the past decades.
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
January 17, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Very much worth reading by @wlacher.bsky.social & @yguichaoua.bsky.social -- especially for those who have been involved in the peace/statebuilding & "stabilization" industry over the past decades.
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
"The EU-Mercosur agreement sends a powerful message. It says: welcome to the world's biggest market & largest free trade zone. This is the power of partnership & openness. This is the power of friendship & understanding between peoples & regions across oceans".
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
January 17, 2026 at 9:39 AM
"The EU-Mercosur agreement sends a powerful message. It says: welcome to the world's biggest market & largest free trade zone. This is the power of partnership & openness. This is the power of friendship & understanding between peoples & regions across oceans".
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Wenn wir ein Zehntel der Energie, die wir aktuell auf die Grönlanddiskussion und (verständliche) Empörung verwenden, auf konkreten Fahrplan zur Übernahme der kritischen Fähigkeiten zu Europas Verteidigung von den USA verwendeten, wären wir sehr viel weiter.
Aber Boykottsdiskussion macht mehr Spaß.
Aber Boykottsdiskussion macht mehr Spaß.
January 16, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Wenn wir ein Zehntel der Energie, die wir aktuell auf die Grönlanddiskussion und (verständliche) Empörung verwenden, auf konkreten Fahrplan zur Übernahme der kritischen Fähigkeiten zu Europas Verteidigung von den USA verwendeten, wären wir sehr viel weiter.
Aber Boykottsdiskussion macht mehr Spaß.
Aber Boykottsdiskussion macht mehr Spaß.
"Dangerous dependence":
Trump managed to turn full-scale de-risking from the US into the major topic of early 2026 in the German debate.
Trump managed to turn full-scale de-risking from the US into the major topic of early 2026 in the German debate.
January 15, 2026 at 4:46 PM
"Dangerous dependence":
Trump managed to turn full-scale de-risking from the US into the major topic of early 2026 in the German debate.
Trump managed to turn full-scale de-risking from the US into the major topic of early 2026 in the German debate.
Bundeswehr will deploy to Greenland starting this week -- in mission coordinated by Denmark outside NATO framework, BILD reports.
January 14, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Bundeswehr will deploy to Greenland starting this week -- in mission coordinated by Denmark outside NATO framework, BILD reports.
Indien wird nicht Teil des "globalen Westens", aber guter Partner zum Verfolgen gemeinsamer Interessen. Jetzt gilt es, Momentum des erfolgreichen Kanzlerbesuchs für konkrete Fortschritte u.a. in Bereichen Rüstung, Raumfahrt & industrielle KI nutzen.
Mein Nachklapp zum Merz-Antrittsbesuch in Indien.
Mein Nachklapp zum Merz-Antrittsbesuch in Indien.
January 14, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Indien wird nicht Teil des "globalen Westens", aber guter Partner zum Verfolgen gemeinsamer Interessen. Jetzt gilt es, Momentum des erfolgreichen Kanzlerbesuchs für konkrete Fortschritte u.a. in Bereichen Rüstung, Raumfahrt & industrielle KI nutzen.
Mein Nachklapp zum Merz-Antrittsbesuch in Indien.
Mein Nachklapp zum Merz-Antrittsbesuch in Indien.
„Wer jetzt glaubt, wir könnten uns aus aktuellen Situation einfach raus-exportieren unterschätzt Umwälzungen. Unsere Konkurrenz greift unsere Wettbewerbsfähigkeit gezielt an“.
„Wir dürfen nicht vor härteren Maßnahmen zurückschrecken, wo wir bedrängt werden“.
@larsklingbeil.bsky.social @ DIW.
„Wir dürfen nicht vor härteren Maßnahmen zurückschrecken, wo wir bedrängt werden“.
@larsklingbeil.bsky.social @ DIW.
January 14, 2026 at 2:44 PM
„Wer jetzt glaubt, wir könnten uns aus aktuellen Situation einfach raus-exportieren unterschätzt Umwälzungen. Unsere Konkurrenz greift unsere Wettbewerbsfähigkeit gezielt an“.
„Wir dürfen nicht vor härteren Maßnahmen zurückschrecken, wo wir bedrängt werden“.
@larsklingbeil.bsky.social @ DIW.
„Wir dürfen nicht vor härteren Maßnahmen zurückschrecken, wo wir bedrängt werden“.
@larsklingbeil.bsky.social @ DIW.
Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Claudia und Jana!
So verdient!
So verdient!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch an @jpuglierin.bsky.social! Gemeinsam mit @claudmajor.bsky.social vom @gmfus.bsky.social erhielt sie heute das Ehrenkreuz in Gold der Bundeswehr. Verteidigungsminister Pistorius würdigte damit die jahrelangen Verdienste der beiden.
(Fotos: Bundeswehr / Tom Twardy)
(Fotos: Bundeswehr / Tom Twardy)
January 13, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Herzlichen Glückwunsch, Claudia und Jana!
So verdient!
So verdient!
Trump beware...
62% of Germans in favor of supporting Denmark's defense of Greenland militarily with other European NATO allies should US attack Greeland.
62% of Germans in favor of supporting Denmark's defense of Greenland militarily with other European NATO allies should US attack Greeland.
January 13, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Trump beware...
62% of Germans in favor of supporting Denmark's defense of Greenland militarily with other European NATO allies should US attack Greeland.
62% of Germans in favor of supporting Denmark's defense of Greenland militarily with other European NATO allies should US attack Greeland.
„The unthinkable is now being thought…“.
That shows how completely off the baseline assumptions of many policymakers and journalists have been for years.
Diplomacy with your enemy should never be „unthinkable“.
That shows how completely off the baseline assumptions of many policymakers and journalists have been for years.
Diplomacy with your enemy should never be „unthinkable“.
January 13, 2026 at 9:48 AM
„The unthinkable is now being thought…“.
That shows how completely off the baseline assumptions of many policymakers and journalists have been for years.
Diplomacy with your enemy should never be „unthinkable“.
That shows how completely off the baseline assumptions of many policymakers and journalists have been for years.
Diplomacy with your enemy should never be „unthinkable“.
Some Indian friends have expressed bewilderment about way AfD is treated raising fair questions about „Brandmauer“ cordon sanitaire.
At any rate, they should know about lack of respect by AfD leadership for India with co-leader @Alice_Weidel making fun of Merz' decision to make Modi visit priority.
At any rate, they should know about lack of respect by AfD leadership for India with co-leader @Alice_Weidel making fun of Merz' decision to make Modi visit priority.
January 13, 2026 at 6:47 AM
Some Indian friends have expressed bewilderment about way AfD is treated raising fair questions about „Brandmauer“ cordon sanitaire.
At any rate, they should know about lack of respect by AfD leadership for India with co-leader @Alice_Weidel making fun of Merz' decision to make Modi visit priority.
At any rate, they should know about lack of respect by AfD leadership for India with co-leader @Alice_Weidel making fun of Merz' decision to make Modi visit priority.
Die richtige Antwort lautet: Er kann und muß Kooperationspartner auf Basis gemeinsamer Interessen sein. Und davon gibt es im Falle Indiens einige sehr gewichtige. Und die sollten wir gemeinsam verfolgen.
www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/bund...
www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/bund...
January 12, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Die richtige Antwort lautet: Er kann und muß Kooperationspartner auf Basis gemeinsamer Interessen sein. Und davon gibt es im Falle Indiens einige sehr gewichtige. Und die sollten wir gemeinsam verfolgen.
www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/bund...
www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/bund...
Vielleicht.
Vielleicht aber auch nicht.
Aber was ist der Mehrwert solcher Old School-Transatlantiker-Traktate, die nur zum Chillen verleiten?
Dieser Ennui und So War es Schon Immer-Bias bringen uns nicht weiter.
Vielleicht aber auch nicht.
Aber was ist der Mehrwert solcher Old School-Transatlantiker-Traktate, die nur zum Chillen verleiten?
Dieser Ennui und So War es Schon Immer-Bias bringen uns nicht weiter.
January 11, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Vielleicht.
Vielleicht aber auch nicht.
Aber was ist der Mehrwert solcher Old School-Transatlantiker-Traktate, die nur zum Chillen verleiten?
Dieser Ennui und So War es Schon Immer-Bias bringen uns nicht weiter.
Vielleicht aber auch nicht.
Aber was ist der Mehrwert solcher Old School-Transatlantiker-Traktate, die nur zum Chillen verleiten?
Dieser Ennui und So War es Schon Immer-Bias bringen uns nicht weiter.