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The EU is split on UK joining its weapons fund - and France is saying non

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Richard G. Whitman @rgwhitman.bsky.social · Jul 11

Macron: when France and the UK "come together around one table, everything is possible". Well not everything…https://inews.co.uk/news/world/eu-split-uk-joining-weapons-fund-france-saying-non-3791737?ito=link_share_article-top

Some countries are sceptical about full British involvement in the EU's defence investment fund - with senior officials saying it will undermine the bloc's supply chain

inews.co.uk

The Art of the Pledge: Trump, NATO, and the price of unity - UK in a changing Europe

Reposted by Richard G. Whitman

UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · Jun 29

"The summit captured a moment of uneasy consensus — forged not through shared strategy, but through collective accommodation of a US president whose commitment to the Alliance remains conditional."

✍️ @rgwhitman.bsky.social on the NATO summit and Trump's influence

Richard Whitman takes stock of the NATO summit at the Hague in June 2025. He argues that the brief summit aimed to appease Donald Trump with its commitment to his 5% defence spending target and…

All About Trump: the 2025 NATO Hague Summit

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Richard G. Whitman @rgwhitman.bsky.social · Jun 27

@edrusi.bsky.social has the must-read take on The Hague NATO summit.

RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · Jun 26

At this year’s NATO Summit, Donald Trump won, Ukraine lost, Europe rolled out the red carpet and exposed the total psychological dependency on the US, writes @edrusi.bsky.social in the latest RUSI Commentary.

At this year’s NATO Summit, Donald Trump won, Ukraine lost, Europe rolled out the red carpet and exposed the total psychological dependency on the US.

The Art of the Pledge: Trump, NATO, and the price of unity - UK in a changing Europe

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Reposted by Richard G. Whitman

Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · Jun 26

What to make of the NATO summit? @rgwhitman.bsky.social explains all ukandeu.ac.uk/the-art-of-t...

Richard Whitman takes stock of the NATO summit at the Hague in June 2025. He argues that the brief summit aimed to appease Donald Trump with its commitment to his 5% defence spending target and failed...

Episode 103: How Should the UK Approach European Security?

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Richard G. Whitman @rgwhitman.bsky.social · Jun 26

In conversation with Neil Melvin on the ever insightful Global Security Briefing podcast from @rusi.bsky.social . A great opportunity to reflect on the record of the UK Labour government after its first year in office and how UK security and defence is evolving.
www.rusi.org/podcasts/glo...

How is the UK’s Labour government approaching European security, and how does this compare to the Conservatives?

A modest beginning: the new EU-UK Security and Defence Partnership - UK in a changing Europe

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Reposted by Richard G. Whitman

UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · Jun 22

"As the United States re-evaluates its security commitments to Europe, the UK and EU are under increasing pressure to assume greater responsibility for their own defence."

@rgwhitman.bsky.social‬ analyses the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership & the role of the US

Professor Richard Whitman analyses the Security and Defence Partnership announced at the UK-EU summit in London on Monday 19 May. He argues that the agreement does not exceed any strategic…

How can Britain work with its allies and partners to boost its defence posture?

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Richard G. Whitman @rgwhitman.bsky.social · Jun 19

Fantastic occasion - and very many thanks to @mybisa.bsky.social for bringing us all together to reflect on the first fifty years of the Association.

BISA - British International Studies Association @mybisa.bsky.social · Jun 19

We finished the 1st day of #BISA2025 with our 50th roundtable talk chaired by Mark Webber

Joined by Barry Buzan, Chris Brown, Christopher Hill,
Caroline Kennedy-Pipe, @rgwhitman.bsky.social
and Ruth Blakeley for a fascinating discussion about how IR has changed over the last 50 years! 🌟

From left to right - Barry Buzan, Kyle Grayson, Mark Webber, Ruth Blakeley, Richard Whitman, Christopher Hill and Chris Brown. Stood in front of a stage.

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Richard G. Whitman @rgwhitman.bsky.social · Jun 13

Thanks to @congeostrategy.bsky.social for giving me the chance to answer the #BigAsk this week.

Council on Geostrategy @congeostrategy.bsky.social · Jun 13

‘To add real value to European security the 🇪🇺-🇬🇧 Security and Defence Partnership needs to embrace defence industrial cooperation as its defining strategic purpose,’ argues @rgwhitman.bsky.social, ‬ @kent.ac.uk

#BritainsWorld #BigAsk

The Big Ask | No. 24.2025

Pentagon launches review of Aukus nuclear submarine deal

Richard G. Whitman @rgwhitman.bsky.social · Jun 12

AUKward - on.ft.com/4jPXsQN

Ending the pact would be a blow to the security alliance with Australia and UK

on.ft.com

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Reposted by Richard G. Whitman

BISA - British International Studies Association @mybisa.bsky.social · May 28

🌟BISA chair roundtable: 50 years and counting: reflecting on the discipline and profession of International Studies🌟

Online or in person 🎉

‪Ft/ @rgwhitman.bsky.social‬, Barry Buzan, Chris Brown, Christopher Hill, Caroline Kennedy-Pipe, Ruth Blakeley & Mark Webber

Sign up now! 👉

Public event - BISA chair roundtable: 50 years and counting: reflecting on the discipline and profession of International Studies

A roundtable with past BISA chairs. Part of the #BISA2025 conference.

buff.ly

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Richard G. Whitman @rgwhitman.bsky.social · May 28

Modesty (doesn't quite) forbid me for drawing attention to this piece for @congeostrategy.bsky.social - Resetting (modestly): The UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership www.britainsworld.org.uk/p/the-memora...

Resetting (modestly): The UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership

The Memorandum | No. 19.2025

A modest beginning: the new EU-UK Security and Defence Partnership - UK in a changing Europe

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Reposted by Richard G. Whitman

UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · May 20

"It does not represent a transformative moment or strategic shift; rather, it formalises a more normalised, codified dialogue between the two parties."

🖊️ @rgwhitman.bsky.social analyses the Security and Defence Partnership announced at the UK-EU summit in London

ukandeu.ac.uk/the-new-eu-u...

Professor Richard Whitman analyses the Security and Defence Partnership announced at the UK-EU summit in London on Monday 19 May. He argues that the agreement does not exceed any strategic partnership...

Restoring Factory Settings: The 2025 UK-EU Summit

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Richard G. Whitman @rgwhitman.bsky.social · May 19

Sharp and on point from @edrusi.bsky.social

RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · May 19

'If the threat to European security is genuinely grave, and increased UK-EU cooperation is vital to security, then why are both sides holding up progress over relatively minor domestic priorities and legacy disagreements?' notes @edrusi.bsky.social.

Nine years after the Brexit vote and five years after the UK left the EU, both sides have finally agreed to structured cooperation on defence and security. While it lays a comprehensive framework and ...

A modest beginning: the new EU-UK Security and Defence Partnership - UK in a changing Europe

Richard G. Whitman @rgwhitman.bsky.social · May 19

My take on the EU-UK Security and Defence Partnership agreed at the summit today.

UK in a Changing Europe @ukandeu.bsky.social · May 19

"If the intent of this agreement was to signal the beginning of a genuine strategic partnership between the EU and the UK in security and defence, then it falls short."

✍️ @rgwhitman.bsky.social analyses the details of today's EU-UK Security and Defence Partnership

ukandeu.ac.uk/the-new-eu-u...

Professor Richard Whitman analyses the Security and Defence Partnership announced at the UK-EU summit in London on Monday 19 May. He argues that the agreement does not exceed any strategic partnership...

Should Britain have a foreign policy doctrine?

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Richard G. Whitman @rgwhitman.bsky.social · May 2

Thanks to the @congeostrategy.bsky.social for getting the opportunity to answer their #BigAsk this week - on whether Britain should have a foreign policy doctrine.

Council on Geostrategy @congeostrategy.bsky.social · May 2

‘As 🇺🇸 redefines its view of international relations and reassesses its alliances, 🇬🇧 must undertake a fundamental reassessment of its own foreign policy doctrine,’ argues @rgwhitman.bsky.social, @kent.ac.uk

#BritainsWorld #BigAsk

The Big Ask | No. 18.2025

Reposted by Richard G. Whitman

Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · Apr 23

It isn't a surprise that an administration with little respect for domestic law is happy internationally to offer impunity to Putin & his fellow war-criminals, but it is another sad sign of US abdication from its leading role in the democratic world. Europeans must do what they can to fill the gap.

ChrisO_wiki @chriso-wiki.bsky.social · Apr 23

1/ Donald Trump has abandoned legally mandated US and international efforts to hold Russia accountable for its war crimes in Ukraine, in an apparent undisclosed favour to Vladimir Putin. ⬇️

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Reposted by Richard G. Whitman

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · Apr 23

Next EU-UK Joint Committee meeting scheduled for 29 April.

This is first meeting under the UK Labour Government; last meeting was 16 May 2024 when David Cameron was UK co-chair.

Expected among the agenda items is EU declaration that it is content that UK...

commission.europa.eu/document/dow...

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Richard G. Whitman @rgwhitman.bsky.social · Apr 23

Ian, thank you - and really pertinent questions. On a) Credibility of an ESC would rest on the authority that European states would be willing to ascribe to it. On b) a convo that should def be happening at the least to rehearse the nature of the challenge?

Time for a European Security Council?

Richard G. Whitman @rgwhitman.bsky.social · Apr 22

Time to dust off the idea of a European Security Council - my comment piece for @rusi.bsky.social

www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

Where and how are European countries going to discuss the European security architecture, and coordinate their activities and efforts? Is it now time to dust off the idea of a European Security (and D...