Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 10h

🚨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 · 1d

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

1 6 14

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Anton Gerashchenko @antongerashchenko.bsky.social · 21d

Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen:

"We do not want either a conflict or a war with Russia. No one in Europe wants that. There is only one aggressive party, and that is Russia…

If we do not dare to stand up for ourselves&do what needs to be done,we will simply be too easy a target at some point”

49 550 1.9K

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Sander Tordoir @sandertordoir.bsky.social · 24d

On a recent podcast with @maxbergmann.bsky.social, the CSIS crew discusses Europe's efforts to rig up a trade grand strategy as the US and China smash the global trading order.

"It's Complicated: A Status Update on EU Trade, Mercosur, and The State of the Union"

www.csis.org/podcasts/eur...

It's Complicated: A Status Update on EU Trade, Mercosur, and The State of the Union feat. Sander Tordoir and Federico Steinberg | The Eurofile | CSIS Podcasts

Max and Donatienne are back from summer vacation with a preview of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address to European Parliament this week, and a conversation ...

www.csis.org

4 13

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 27d

Turns out, threatening allies is bad for business.

www.politico.eu/article/denm...

Loss for Trump as Denmark chooses Franco-Italian air defense system over US Patriots

The decision comes after the U.S. president threatened to annex Greenland.

www.politico.eu

1

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

CSIS | Center for Strategic & International Studies @csis.org · Aug 25

This evening, @korea.csis.org hosted His Excellency Lee Jae Myung, President of the Republic of Korea, for an address on foreign policy and U.S.-Korea relations following his White House meeting with President Donald J. Trump.

Read his remarks here: www.csis.org/analysis/sta...

Statesmen's Forum: His Excellency Lee Jae Myung, President of the Republic of Korea

The CSIS Korea Chair welcomed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for an address on U.S.-Korea relations following his White House meeting with President Donald J. Trump, marking President Lee's firs...

www.csis.org

6 10

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program @erep.csis.org · Aug 23

Have burning questions about the #EU, #NATO, or what’s going on in European politics?
✍️ We want to hear from YOU on #Eurofile!
📤 Send your Questions to [email protected] or reply below
🎙️ Hosts @maxbergmann.bsky.social & @donatienneruy.bsky.social are ready

4 4

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Jim Goldgeier @jimgoldgeier.bsky.social · Aug 19

Truly unnecessary and unfortunate. NATO setting itself up for another major effort to avoid a Trump blowup. Earlier alliance history did not have annual summits. Let’s go back to that.

John R. Deni @johnrdeni.bsky.social · Aug 19

NATO announces next summit in Türkiye, 7-8 Jul 2026. NATO persists in holding annual summits, unnecessarily. This is certainly not evidence- or conditions-based. www.nato.int/cps/en/natoh...

www.nato.int

1 6 9

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program @erep.csis.org · Aug 1

🌐 NEW: As the dust settles in Scotland, what stands out about the EU-US trade deal? @maxbergmann.bsky.social & @donatienneruy.bsky.social discuss:
🔹 What's next for transatlantic trade?
🔹 Has Brussels dodged the worst of US tariffs?

🎧 Tune in to #TheEurofile below:
www.csis.org/podcasts/eur...

Europe Bends the Knee on Trade and Previewing Denmark’s EU Presidency with Lykke Friis | The Eurofile | CSIS Podcasts

Max and Donatienne discuss last week’s EU-US trade deal announcement, and Max talks with Lykke Friis, director of the Copenhagen-based think tank Europa, about Denmark’s presidency of the European Uni...

www.csis.org

1 1

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Daniel Fiott @danielfiott.bsky.social · Jul 31

A test: if the bad trade deal was a necessary evil in order to maintain the US security guarantee, then, in order to ensure that Europe is stronger moving forward, member states will have zero problems in implementing ALL of the “#Draghi” and “#Letta” conclusions and agreeing to the next MFF?

3 4

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Noah Barkin @noahbarkin.bsky.social · Jul 18

Enjoyed talking EU-China relations in the Trump era with @maxbergmann.bsky.social

www.csis.org/podcasts/eur...

The Looming US-EU Trade Collision and a Preview of the EU-China Summit with Noah Barkin | The Eurofile | CSIS Podcasts

Max and Otto discuss President Trump’s latest tariff threats and the timid European response.

www.csis.org

3 8

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

CSIS | Center for Strategic & International Studies @csis.org · Jul 17

CSIS mourns the loss of our Chief Communications Officer, Andrew Schwartz. For 20 years, he led with vision and integrity, shaping how CSIS engaged the world. His leadership, mentorship, and legacy in strategic communications will have a lasting impact

Full Statement: www.csis.org/analysis/mem...

2 6 10

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Minna Ålander 🌻 @alanderminna.bsky.social · Jul 16

Wrote a little love letter to Denmark 🫶🇩🇰

In good Nordic style, I of course had to dunk on them a little. But the main point is: if all European countries were more like Denmark, Ukraine and Europe would be in a very different place now.

On the Europe Dispatch with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social

Small State Power: Be Like Denmark

In this week’s Europe Dispatch, Minna Ålander writes about how Denmark is showing that even small states can punch far above their weight and lead by example.

open.substack.com

19 92 350

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Lucas Guttenberg @lucasguttenberg.bsky.social · Jul 14

Very good example of EU budget-related cheap talk by the Swedish PM: First, here are all the things I want more money for. Second, I am not ready to pay more. Third, this means other things become less important - but I won’t tell you which ones and where I would cut.

The next EU budget cannot be business as usual

The bloc must rethink and reprioritize in order to seize opportunities and tackle the new challenges we face today.

www.politico.eu

2 15 42

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · Jul 10

@ottosvendsen.bsky.social and @maxbergmann.bsky.social with a solid debate on whether the Hague summit was a success on the most recent edition of the Eurofile

www.csis.org/podcasts/eur...

NATO’s Brain Death in the Hague and the State of the UK Economy with Professor Sarah Hall | The Eurofile | CSIS Podcasts

Max and Otto discuss last week’s NATO summit in The Hague, and Donatienne talks with Sarah Hall, 1931 Professor of Geography and Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge University, about the state of t...

www.csis.org

2 3

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Sander Tordoir @sandertordoir.bsky.social · Jul 8

Denmark, that just started its presidency of the European Union, is getting serious.

Buy-European, at scale.

Could not have thought of a better country to take the rotating presidency of the EU at this moment in time.

Hans Tino Hansen @hanstino.bsky.social · Jun 10

🇩🇰Denmark surprises nearly everyone and selects three interim short range ground-based air defence systems at one time in order to have everything in operation by 2026:

NASAMS (Kongsberg)
IRIS-T SLM (Diehl)
MICA (MBDA)

Here we go!

www.fmn.dk/da/nyheder/2...

7 31 140

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Minna Ålander 🌻 @alanderminna.bsky.social · Jul 6

It was thanks to the Nordic group pressure that also Sweden and Norway put much more money on the table last and this year, thanks to Denmark’s massive aid making them look ridiculous. And the one thing that’s important among us in the Nordics is not to look worse than the others…

5 7 160

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Minna Ålander 🌻 @alanderminna.bsky.social · Jul 6

There’s one country in Europe that really sticks out in its leadership by example and by punching above its weight:

Denmark.

Denmark Becomes First Country to Host Ukrainian Defense Industry

Denmark becomes the first nation to host Ukrainian defense production facilities, strengthening ties and cooperation in defense technologies with Ukraine.

united24media.com

19 110 550

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program @erep.csis.org · Jul 4

🎧 NEW: #NATO met in The Hague—and European allies opened their wallets.

🎙️@maxbergmann.bsky.social & special guest co-host @ottosvendsen.bsky.social break down the 5% spending target + Max's commentary, "NATO's 'Brain Death' in the Hague."

Tune in HERE: www.csis.org/podcasts/eur...

1

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department @geopolitics.csis.org · Jul 3

On Tuesday, July 8th, at 12:00 PM ET @erep.csis.org will be hosting an in-person discussion on Denmark's role in European and Transatlantic security.

Link to register below:
www.csis.org/events/denma...

Denmark’s Role in European and Transatlantic Security | CSIS Events

Please join Troels Lund Poulsen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Denmark and Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, for a hybrid event featuring a conversation…

www.csis.org

1

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Aslak Berg @aslak.bsky.social · Jul 2

Time for us, as a continent, to drink from the poisoned chalice and admit that the Americans were right all along about air-conditioning.

3 3 13

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · Jul 2

NEW COLUMN: I got a bunch of SCOOPy details about the effect of the Trump-Rubio changes at the National Security Council. So if you were surprised by that Pentagon AUKUS review, well, there's a reason: www.politico.com/news/magazin...

Trump’s National Security Council is Flailing

Fewer meetings, more top-down demands and worries some officials may go rogue are upending the system.

www.politico.com

2 43 88

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

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

EVENT: Please join the @CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia program on Tuesday, July 8th, at 12:00 PM EDT for an in-person discussion on Denmark's role in European and Transatlantic security.

Link to register👉 www.csis.org/events/denma...

Denmark’s Role in European and Transatlantic Security | CSIS Events

Please join Troels Lund Poulsen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Denmark and Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, for a hybrid event featuring a conversation ...

www.csis.org

1

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · Jun 25

My take on the NATO summit. Lots of unintended consequences with Europeans agreeing to something that few intend to deliver on. NATO ignoring its major challenge, fighting together as Europe with less US. That requires deep reforms, not vague spending pledges.
www.csis.org/analysis/nat...

NATO’s “Brain Death” in The Hague

At the 2025 NATO Summit, allies pledged to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP. But spending targets alone ignore deeper issues. Europe must shift its focus to building capable, integrated mili...

www.csis.org

16 76 240

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Nicholas Fenton @nicholasfenton.bsky.social · Jun 13

Check out the new report from me, @msnegovaya.bsky.social, Tina Dolbaia, and @maxbergmann.bsky.social on the Russian wartime economy, out now from @erep.csis.org at @csis.org. We do a deep dive on the Russian economy, and outline 3 scenarios for where it could be headed www.csis.org/analysis/rus...

The Russian Wartime Economy: From Sugar High to Hangover

Russia is muddling through the sanctions, with its economy impacted but not ruined and its defense industry able to maintain the current levels of attrition. Moscow hence sees no need to end the war, ...

www.csis.org

1 7 8

Reposted by Otto Svendsen

Hans Tino Hansen @hanstino.bsky.social · Jun 2

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen today confirmed Denmark’s willingness to reach 5% of GDP for defence, security and resilience with 3.5% for defence and 1.5% for other security-related areas.

www.dr.dk/nyheder/poli...

Mette Frederiksen siger ja til Nato-forslag om fem procent på forsvar

Nato-landene skal på et møde senere på måneden beslutte, om målene for udgifter til forsvaret skal hæves.

www.dr.dk

2 15 80