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Reposted by Ed Arnold

RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 9h

The recent NATO Summit in The Hague focused narrowly on defence spending targets but overlooked the deeper issue of societal resilience. 'Societal resilience must be seen as central, not separate, to national defence' writes Katharine A.M. Wright in the latest RUSI Commentary.

Realising Societal Resilience for a Whole of Society Approach to Defence

NATO's unity may have held in The Hague, but the focus on defence spending overshadowed a deeper issue: societal resilience.

www.rusi.org

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 9h

In her monumental work, Darya Tsymbalyuk insists the world must reckon with the full cost of the destruction in Ukraine — not just in hectares lost or tons of grain burned, but in the severed roots that once tied generations to the land they called home.

New book exposes Russia’s ecocide as a war against Ukraine’s land – and memory

When Russia destroyed Ukraine’s Kakhovka Hydroelectric Dam in June 2023, unleashing catastrophic floods across the country’s south, it seemed like such a blatant act of environmental and humanitarian ...

kyivindependent.com

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 9h

Labour MPs reckon that if the ceasefire holds it will be harder for opponents to mobilize against them over the Israel-Palestine issue in the next election. There are concerns though about whether the fragile agreement will hold. More in London Playbook PM.

London Playbook PM: Has he Don Keir a favor?

Presented by Rolls-Royce By EMILIO CASALICCHIO with NOAH KEATE PRESENTED BY Send tips here | Subscribe for free | Listen to Playbook and view in your browser SCOOP — LOBBY TO LOBBIED: Sky News Poli…

www.politico.eu

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Ed Arnold @edrusi.bsky.social · 9h

CPS being inept is not a new story.

Shashank Joshi @shashj.bsky.social · 9h

Charlie Parton on the China spy trial. If gov't wasn't willing to say China was a threat, CPS "could have called in...ex-heads of the intelligence services, China experts..they didn't do that, which strikes me as an example of ineptitude" sinocism.com/p/sinocism-l...

The UK-China spy scandal and UK-China relations with Charles Parton

This is a recording of the October 14, 2025 conversation with Charles Parton about the recent UK-China spy case and UK-China relations in general. Charles Parton OBE is the Chief Advisor to the China ...

sinocism.com

Reposted by Ed Arnold

Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 10h

The story for his major EU initiatives is also not great:
- Sorbonne speech/agenda (largely wiffed away)
- Conference on the Future of Europe (went nowhere)
- European Intervention Initiative (mostly dead?)
- European Political Community (alive as diplomatic speed dating)

Stanley Pignal @spignal.bsky.social · 10h

Macron did three notable economic reforms since 2017:
- modest changes to the labour code
- levying wealth tax just on real estate
- move pension age from 62 to 64

Now the pension age increase will be "paused" and there will be a tax on the rich.

Doesn't leave an awful lot for 8+ years in power.

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 21h

⚡️Military aid to Ukraine declines sharply in recent months, report says.

Military aid to Ukraine has fallen dramatically in recent months, a report by the Kiel Institute published on Oct. 14 has found.

Military aid to Ukraine declines sharply in recent months, report says

In July and August, total military aid to Ukraine fell 43% lower than the amount received in the first half of the year, a report by the Kiel Institute finds.

kyivindependent.com

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 18h

Ukrainians are feeling a deep unease that the rest of Europe is tired, turning its attention away from the war and viewing it as something that should simply end, no matter the cost.

Under Russian drones, Ukrainians wonder if Europe still cares

More than three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s capital endures constant Russian attacks while watching European solidarity fray.

ow.ly

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

Daniel Keohane @keohanedan.bsky.social · 5d

Exactly, Putin is an opportunist, in other words.

And the West could reduce his opportunities…

Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 6d

I agree. I've seen Putin described as risk-averse; I don't think that's right. He takes risks that other leaders wouldn't, but only when he assesses that the likelihood of an effective response is low. The West has yet to change his assessment that he can keep pushing us back.

Keir Giles @keirgiles.bsky.social · 6d

Here is @nigelgould-davies.bsky.social on Russia’s disruption campaign against Europe. I’m not sure I would be so optimistic on the Kremlin being worried by US & EUR behaviour, but the conclusion is unshakeable: absent a serious response, this will get much worse.

www.iiss.org/online-analy...

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

Nicolai von Ondarza @nvondarza.bsky.social · 5d

In a way, all permanent representations of EU member states in Brussels do 'political intelligence' but this is a whole different level.

Jorge Liboreiro @jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · 5d

💥 Bombshell investigation: Hungary operated an illegal network of spies to infiltrate the EU institutions while Olivér Várhelyi, who's currently a European Commissioner, served as chief ambassador.

„Súlyos ügy volt” – így bukott le Orbánék titkos kémhálózata Brüsszelben

A 2010-es években a magyar hírszerzés elkezdett kémkedni Brüsszelben, és ehhez uniós intézményeknél dolgozó magyarokat próbált beszervezni. Viszont a magyar szolgálatok ezt annyira nyilvánvalóan és üg...

telex.hu

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

Thorsten Benner @tbenner.bsky.social · 5d

„Rearm Europe“ will fail unless EU members come together to work with partners to do whatever it takes to break the dependence on China on critical raw materials.
If anyone had doubts about the urgency, Beijing dispelled those very effectively today.

www.reuters.com/world/china/...

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 5d

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has a clear term for the reports of drones overflying the bloc's critical infrastructure in recent months: "Hybrid warfare."

‘Hybrid warfare’ or more of the same? Getting a grip on drones across Europe.

UAV incursions have been happening for years, but they suddenly became a major emergency.

ow.ly

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

François Heisbourg @fheisbourg.bsky.social · 5d

Bottom-line : this is basically doable and consequently the Russian taxpayer may soon be paying the costs of Western military support to Ukraine

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 5d

Belgium has laid out its red lines for using Russian assets to fund a €140 billion reparations loan to Ukraine.

This includes an agreement by EU countries to share all current and future risks related to the plan for an amount exceeding €170 billion.

Belgium lays out red lines on €140B Ukraine loan

Belgian PM Bart De Wever has suggested that the Commission’s scheme to leverage Russian frozen assets effectively amounts to confiscation.

ow.ly

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

John R. Deni @johnrdeni.bsky.social · 6d

The Atlantic article reinforces this recent piece of analysis: "The Case for War: Why the West Should Double Down in Ukraine" ip-quarterly.com/en/case-war-...

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 6d

“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 Ed Arnold

Matthew Savill @mtsavill.bsky.social · 6d

So while there will be valuable military targets for US cruise missiles, I can't help but feel we are talking about a narrow set of high-value targets representing critical points in the supply chain, or particular niche capabilities, rather than seeking an impact across the war.

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 6d

Badenoch and Co see education only as a means to a massive income in some soul destroying career.

Devoid of imagination and the power of knowledge they view life entirely through the prism of the CV.

My advice always is to study what interests you and the rest will follow

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Keir Giles @keirgiles.bsky.social · 6d

Here is @nigelgould-davies.bsky.social on Russia’s disruption campaign against Europe. I’m not sure I would be so optimistic on the Kremlin being worried by US & EUR behaviour, but the conclusion is unshakeable: absent a serious response, this will get much worse.

www.iiss.org/online-analy...

Screenshot from linked article, saying Western officials are puzzled, but they shouldn’t be.

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 7d

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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Reposted by Ed Arnold

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 8d

Marine Le Pen has already toppled two French governments in less than a year. She didn’t even need to pull the trigger to kill off a third one.

Marine Le Pen smells blood as Macron runs out of options

The far-right National Rally is pushing for new elections.

www.politico.eu

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

RUSI @rusi.bsky.social · 8d

Russia's playbook in Ukraine includes bombs, cyberattacks, misinformation, and supply disruptions—all aimed at healthcare resilience. As European militaries ready themselves for war, the UK risks making medical readiness an afterthought, write @edrusi.bsky.social and Si Horne.

European Medical Provision in Times of War

As European militaries ready themselves for war, creating resilient medical systems remains an afterthought for the UK.

www.rusi.org

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Ed Arnold @edrusi.bsky.social · 8d

Latest for @rusi.bsky.sociwwwon how medical provision would be impacted by war in Europe. Spoiler alert - not good, despite understanding by Med professionals on the challenge. Better sorting these out before war starts and thats on politicians...

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

European Medical Provision in Times of War

As European militaries ready themselves for war, creating resilient medical systems remains an afterthought for the UK.

www.rusi.org

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 9d

*gasp*

“Everyone thought we’d come in and there were going to be these huge costs we could cut away but there just aren’t,” said a third senior Reform cabinet member in Kent.

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 12d

The Kyiv Independent is proud to announce the U.S. premiere of its first full-length documentary, “Can You Hear Me? The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics,” hosted in collaboration with the Embassies of Sweden and Ukraine.

Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

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Reposted by Ed Arnold

The News Agents @newsagents.bsky.social · 12d

"If you had to pick one man in the world who does not have a great reputation for bringing peace to the Middle East, it would have to be Tony Blair."

Why is the former Labour PM part of Trump's Palestine peace deal?

‘In a normal world, Tony Blair would not be at the centre of a Middle Eastern peace process’ | The News Agents

Tony Blair, best known to some for his involvement in George W Bush’s war in Iraq, could play a role in bringing peace to Palestine under Donald Trump’s new proposal. Is he the right man for the job?

www.thenewsagents.co.uk

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