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Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 2h

At the time both Merkel and Macron promised Putin that they would not let Ukraine into NATO, so why exactly would an official EU-Russia meeting have changed anything?

www.politico.eu/article/ange...

Merkel blasted by Baltics, Poland for suggesting they share blame for Russia’s Ukraine invasion

“I am astonished that after everything that has happened in Ukraine, she still thinks this way,” a former leader says of ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

www.politico.eu

Reposted by Jason Davidson

François Heisbourg @fheisbourg.bsky.social · 2h

Après avoir expliqué (à juste titre) depuis 2022 que la situation du pays exigeait discipline budgétaire et réforme des retraites, les mêmes expliquent désormais que ce n'est pas vraiment le cas. Les électeurs puniront sévèrement cette mauvaise plaisanterie quand la parole leur sera rendue

Le Monde @lemonde.fr · 2h

Sébastien Lecornu prêt à lâcher sur le déficit pour faire passer un budget

Le premier ministre démissionnaire serait disposé à ce que le déficit public baisse en 2026 deux fois moins que ce qui était prévu par son prédécesseur, François Bayrou, si cela permet de trouver un compromis parlementaire sur le budget.

www.lemonde.fr

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Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 2h

@edwardluce.bsky.social

"The movie Wag the Dog depicted a US administration concocting a fake war to distract from domestic woes. Trump’s twist on that plot is to stage the fake war at home while lining up a foreign country for a co-starring role."

on.ft.com/4nzLdKY

Venezuela is Trump’s useful enemy

Despite the president’s claims, the South American country is nowhere close to being the US’s biggest drug supplier

on.ft.com

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Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 2h

For NATO watchers waiting with bated breath for the Trump admin's posture review and how many US troops will be removed from Europe, it could be awhile.

Reposted by Jason Davidson

Center for European Policy Analysis @cepa.org · 20h

“This is how the Russians do war. They test softly for a little bit, they watch for a reaction, and if the reaction is soft, then they’ll keep going, they’ll keep testing, testing, testing until they make the ultimate decision for a confrontation.” @apolyakova.bsky.social

https://fxn.ws/3VR5Aam

Concerns grow over NATO’s readiness for modern warfare | Fox News Video

Fox News correspondent Steve Harrigan reports on concerns about NATO’s ability to confront Russia on ‘Special Report.’

www.foxnews.com

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Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 1d

Incredibly thorough policy brief on Italy, the EU and the Wider Mediterranean. I recommend this one highly.
Great work! @arturovarvelli.bsky.social @kellyp90.bsky.social

The turtle and the pilot fish: How the EU and Italy can help each other in the Mediterranean: ecfr.eu/publication/...

The turtle and the pilot fish: How the EU and Italy can help each other in the Mediterranean

Italy and the EU must work more closely together in the “Wider Mediterranean” on energy, migration and security. Here’s how they can do it.

ecfr.eu

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Reposted by Jason Davidson

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 1d

And here we go. I never wrote this article, and yet it is cited here.

www.liberalbriefs.com/geopolitics/...

And of course, it sounds so plausible, I seriously checked whether I had forgotten it, or the footnote was slightly wrong.

#AIisnotresearch

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Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 1d

Really useful explainer on the recent Saudi-Pakistan alliance.

www.csis.org/analysis/cou...

Could the Pakistani-Saudi Defense Pact Be the First Step Toward a NATO-Style Alliance?

The pact reshaped regional dynamics by deepening Pakistani-Saudi ties, straining India’s balancing act, and raising questions about Israel’s air access. Despite its NATO-style language, it lacks the n...

www.csis.org

Reposted by Jason Davidson

Luigi Scazzieri @lscazzieri.bsky.social · 2d

Pleased to see my analysis on Europe’s emerging “capability coalitions” — small groups of countries cooperating more closely on defence — quoted in this weekend's FT Europe Express.

These coalitions can accelerate progress where national needs align.

www.ft.com/content/ed59...

Europe Express: Warning shots over the drone wall

European leaders question the viability of Ursula von der Leyen’s initiative

www.ft.com

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Reposted by Jason Davidson

The Economist @economist.com · 1d

The escalating grey-zone conflict between the West and Russia is being contested on the sea as well as in the air. A rise in worrying maritime incidents is forcing NATO to step up econ.st/3ILHiM8

Photo: Reuters

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Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 1d

I increasingly wonder if NATO is Trump's biggest TACO.

He rants, he raves, but when it comes to leaving NATO, Trump Always Chickens Out.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

‘I’m leaving,’ Trump said. ‘There’s no reason to be here any more’: inside the meeting that brought Nato to the brink

Former secretary general Jens Stoltenberg recalls the rollercoaster ride of dealing with Donald Trump – and how close the US president brought the alliance to the point of collapse

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Jason Davidson

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 2d

Farewell Sébastien Lecornu, we hardly knew you.

Today, the French prime minister and his government resigned, a mere 12 hours after being appointed.

He had been PM for only 27 days, but France is no stranger to short political careers.

Sébastien Lecornu and the world’s other shortest political careers

Good news for Michel Barnier and Liz Truss, Sébastien Lecornu lasted just 27 days in office.

ow.ly

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Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 2d

I wonder if this decision is below Trump's level (so, is he even aware). I'm also fascinated that there would be a dumping finding on Italian pasta. Having spent lots of $ buying Italian pasta in the US over the years, has it really been under priced to drive all those excellent US pasta firms out?

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Reposted by Jason Davidson

Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 2d

The US is threatening to adopt (much) higher tariffs on Italian pasta companies.

Looking at trade experts, is this a first instance of Trump's US targeting individual EU countries with higher tariffs? @samuelmarclowe.bsky.social @davidheniguk.bsky.social?

EU backs Italy in Trump’s pasta tariff war

US threatens to apply tariffs of up to 107% on Barilla and other makes of Italian staple over alleged dumping

on.ft.com

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Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 2d

This is good news but the deeper issue is those who voted for ANO who are opposed to higher defense spending and aid to Ukraine.

www.politico.eu/article/czec...

Czech president puts NATO, EU at core of Cabinet talks after elections

Petr Pavel says it is “premature” to speak of names for prime minister, after right-wing populist Andrej Babiš and his ANO movement gained a decisive victory in the Czech parliamentary …

www.politico.eu

Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 2d

The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

on.ft.com/3VTrWbh

France’s prime minister resigns less than a month after appointment

Sébastien Lecornu quits after rightwing allies indicated they could withdraw from his government

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Jason Davidson

Dr Paul Dorfman @drpauldorfman.bsky.social · 3d

Alarm over #Pfas pollution from datacenters amid #AI boom
Tech companies’ use of Pfas gas at facilities may mean datacenters’ climate impact is worse than previously thought
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Advocates raise alarm over Pfas pollution from datacenters amid AI boom

Tech companies’ use of Pfas gas at facilities may mean datacenters’ climate impact is worse than previously thought

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Jason Davidson

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 4d

Sweeping strikes and nationwide protests seized parts of Italy today as pressure mounts on Giorgia Meloni’s government to take a stronger stand against Israel over its war in Gaza.

Mass protests and strikes for Gaza bring Italy to a standstill

Roads and ports were blocked and schools closed after unions called for general strike over Israel’s war on Gaza.

www.politico.eu

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Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 4d

The most recent episode of the Net Assessment podcast makes a really good case for why we need more contributions like it in the national security analysis community.

www.stimson.org/2025/predict...

Prediction is Hard, Especially about Confidence Levels • Stimson Center

The Net Assessment crew discusses the challenge of overconfidence among national security officials.

www.stimson.org

Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 5d

🤣

Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 5d

@mijrahman.bsky.social nails it

"By 2029, however, Germany expects to be spending €150 billion a year; while France, even with its newly expanded defense plans, will be spending €80 billion at best."

Germany will make or break strategic autonomy.

www.politico.eu/article/germ...

European strategic autonomy is in German hands

As Berlin inevitably becomes the EU’s dominant military power, its billions could either build or blur Macron’s vision of European defense.

www.politico.eu

Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 5d

Turns out, some EU members are more directly threatened by Russia than others and their different threat perceptions affects their openness to common spending on counter drone measures.

www.politico.eu/article/ursu...

Von der Leyen’s ‘drone wall’ plan crashes into EU reality

Europe’s latest defense debate is splitting countries demanding immediate protection from Russia and those further from the threat.

www.politico.eu

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Jason Davidson @profjwdavidson.bsky.social · 5d

The most important problem with complying with extortion is that it always leads to more extortion.

Beth Popp Berman @epopppp.bsky.social · 5d

"The last, and perhaps most important, thing that I want to impress upon anyone considering entering The Compact is that it’s the beginning, not the end...

Campuses will be forced to comply with yet unspecified demands to meet the Trump administration’s assessment of The Compact’s obligations."

Brendan Cantwell @cantb.bsky.social · 5d

I wrote a too long and yet incomplete assessment about why The Compact the Trump administation is proposing to several major research universities is a bad deal for higher education.

Reposted by Jason Davidson

Beth Popp Berman @epopppp.bsky.social · 5d

"The last, and perhaps most important, thing that I want to impress upon anyone considering entering The Compact is that it’s the beginning, not the end...

Campuses will be forced to comply with yet unspecified demands to meet the Trump administration’s assessment of The Compact’s obligations."

Brendan Cantwell @cantb.bsky.social · 5d

I wrote a too long and yet incomplete assessment about why The Compact the Trump administation is proposing to several major research universities is a bad deal for higher education.

A Rotten Compact

The Trump Administrations Proposed Compact opens the door for federal control of higher education.

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Jason Davidson

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 5d

Pretty staggering admission from the EU's economic security director Peter Sandler, 2+ yrs after the launch of the economic security strategy:

"Economic Security is not a concept which has been defined in any detail yet by the European Commission."

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