Reposted by Martin Sandbu
'The Economics of Belonging' by @martinsandbu.ft.com also very clear on this. Big role for civil society / social enterprises helping deliver places that are nice to live in e.g. 👉 architecturetoday.co.uk/the-butterma....
January 30, 2026 at 10:35 AM
'The Economics of Belonging' by @martinsandbu.ft.com also very clear on this. Big role for civil society / social enterprises helping deliver places that are nice to live in e.g. 👉 architecturetoday.co.uk/the-butterma....
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Great to see @martinsandbu.ft.com rejecting fatalism on regional inequality & focusing on what can be done…
www.ft.com/content/91de...
www.ft.com/content/91de...
The left-behind economy and what to do about it
New insights into regional inequality
www.ft.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Great to see @martinsandbu.ft.com rejecting fatalism on regional inequality & focusing on what can be done…
www.ft.com/content/91de...
www.ft.com/content/91de...
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
"Where are you going to, little brown mouse? Come for a feast in my logpile house."
"If Zelensky is willing to meet with Putin, we are ready - we invite him to Moscow." - said Putin’s aide Ushakov.
January 28, 2026 at 3:02 PM
"Where are you going to, little brown mouse? Come for a feast in my logpile house."
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
European allies give the United States far more than is often acknowledged: bases, overflight rights, intelligence, and forward presence. Without Europe, America would be less a global power.
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2026/0...
Trump’s Greenland threat has already hurt US security—but far worse may come
A hostile takeover would shatter America’s key alliance, limit its military’s global reach, and invite economic reprisal.
www.defenseone.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:03 PM
European allies give the United States far more than is often acknowledged: bases, overflight rights, intelligence, and forward presence. Without Europe, America would be less a global power.
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.defenseone.com/ideas/2026/0...
You have read the Carney speech channelling Vaclav Havel's Power of the Powerless. But what precisely is that power in the new world order, and what exactly does it mean to "take the sign down"? as.ft.com/r/daa0b732-e...
Middle powers may miss the global order more than they think
[FREE TO READ] Even if you are not interested in the superpowers, they will sooner or later be interested in you
as.ft.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:08 PM
You have read the Carney speech channelling Vaclav Havel's Power of the Powerless. But what precisely is that power in the new world order, and what exactly does it mean to "take the sign down"? as.ft.com/r/daa0b732-e...
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
A message from Greenland…
January 26, 2026 at 3:07 AM
A message from Greenland…
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
January 19, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
@martinsandbu.ft.com is correct: for middle powers to cooperate vis-a-vis the superpowers, institutions and shared values are required -- and the EU is the only large enough actor around which such an alliance can coalesce. But this means the EU itself needs to get behind a fair rules-based order.
Middle powers may miss the global order more than they think
Even if you are not interested in the superpowers, they will sooner or later be interested in you
www.ft.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:35 AM
@martinsandbu.ft.com is correct: for middle powers to cooperate vis-a-vis the superpowers, institutions and shared values are required -- and the EU is the only large enough actor around which such an alliance can coalesce. But this means the EU itself needs to get behind a fair rules-based order.
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Good ideas from @martinsandbu.ft.com on what Europe needs to do to put more pressure on Putin, and be indispensable to talks about #Ukraine www.ft.com/content/7409...
Europe must turn the tables on Putin before talking
The priority should be to maximise strategic leverage — and only then pursue communication channels
www.ft.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Good ideas from @martinsandbu.ft.com on what Europe needs to do to put more pressure on Putin, and be indispensable to talks about #Ukraine www.ft.com/content/7409...
Very good to see the EU at least think about previously unthinkable things. It's of course easy to see how this could get messy. How about a different way of doing it. Start with full but *temporary* membership, which converts into permanence if certain conditions are met within a deadline. /
The @financialtimes.com reveals EU plans to allow fast-track membership for Ukraine. An extraordinary measure for extraordinary times? Or a Trump-Putin trap? "We are walking into it," warns one diplomat.
Read the story on #FTEdit 👉 ft.trib.al/XBu34e6
Then take today's poll 🗳️ ft.trib.al/X4YTue6
Read the story on #FTEdit 👉 ft.trib.al/XBu34e6
Then take today's poll 🗳️ ft.trib.al/X4YTue6
January 16, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Very good to see the EU at least think about previously unthinkable things. It's of course easy to see how this could get messy. How about a different way of doing it. Start with full but *temporary* membership, which converts into permanence if certain conditions are met within a deadline. /
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Should we be worried about a government with a gross debt ratio of 230% of GDP and a net debt ratio of 130% of GDP if its net financial liabilities are lower than those of the US government?
January 16, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Should we be worried about a government with a gross debt ratio of 230% of GDP and a net debt ratio of 130% of GDP if its net financial liabilities are lower than those of the US government?
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
January 14, 2026 at 2:49 PM
let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
@abenewman.bsky.social is right. There is an alternative. as.ft.com/r/7b8f914c-f...
January 14, 2026 at 12:25 PM
@abenewman.bsky.social is right. There is an alternative. as.ft.com/r/7b8f914c-f...
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
6/It needs to wake up and realize the US is playing a different game — neo-royalism. This is not about finding a new normal. The squeeze is the point.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Further Back to the Future: Neo-Royalism, the Trump Administration, and the Emerging International System | International Organization | Cambridge Core
Further Back to the Future: Neo-Royalism, the Trump Administration, and the Emerging International System - Volume 79 Issue S1
www.cambridge.org
January 14, 2026 at 12:14 PM
6/It needs to wake up and realize the US is playing a different game — neo-royalism. This is not about finding a new normal. The squeeze is the point.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
HANG IT IN THE LOUVRE!
This is the biggest single procurement of offshore wind energy in British *and European* history. Enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of over 12 million homes.
This is the biggest single procurement of offshore wind energy in British *and European* history. Enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of over 12 million homes.
UK Government secures 8.4 GW of offshore wind in Contracts for Difference Round 7 (AR7)
www.renewableenergymagazine.com/wind/uk-gove...
www.renewableenergymagazine.com/wind/uk-gove...
UK Government secures 8.4 GW of offshore wind in Contracts for Difference Round 7 (AR7)
The UK Government has announced what it describes as a ?record breaking? result from its latest renewables energy auction, moving on from the previous, Conservative, government?s ...
www.renewableenergymagazine.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:45 AM
HANG IT IN THE LOUVRE!
This is the biggest single procurement of offshore wind energy in British *and European* history. Enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of over 12 million homes.
This is the biggest single procurement of offshore wind energy in British *and European* history. Enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of over 12 million homes.
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
"The Russian economy is under enormous strain, and is running out of resources.... The policy implication is that sanctions are highly effective, despite their imperfect implementation and enforcement."
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
By @martinsandbu.ft.com
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
By @martinsandbu.ft.com
Russia is running out of money
Go behind the propaganda, and the intensifying strain is evident
giftarticle.ft.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:34 AM
"The Russian economy is under enormous strain, and is running out of resources.... The policy implication is that sanctions are highly effective, despite their imperfect implementation and enforcement."
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
By @martinsandbu.ft.com
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
By @martinsandbu.ft.com
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Hear hear! 👏 @martinsandbu.ft.com tells Europe to shed its fear for Trump’s wrath and to plot its own course. “Truly strategic thinking for Europeans is not ingratiation but making clear what they are willing to fight for”
Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone ft.trib.al/zVWWKZs | opinion
Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone
The more the EU has to pay for ingratiation with Trump, the less convincing its strategic rationale for doing so
ft.trib.al
January 11, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Hear hear! 👏 @martinsandbu.ft.com tells Europe to shed its fear for Trump’s wrath and to plot its own course. “Truly strategic thinking for Europeans is not ingratiation but making clear what they are willing to fight for”
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Serious and compelling analysis from @philipstephens.bsky.social, which is consonant with @martinsandbu.ft.com's piece today: www.ft.com/content/1da0... (and FWVLIW with my latest blogpost). We Europeans (whether EU MS or not) are going to have to face up to this, and the sooner the better. 1/2
January 11, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Serious and compelling analysis from @philipstephens.bsky.social, which is consonant with @martinsandbu.ft.com's piece today: www.ft.com/content/1da0... (and FWVLIW with my latest blogpost). We Europeans (whether EU MS or not) are going to have to face up to this, and the sooner the better. 1/2
Time for Europe to say "Very well, alone!".
Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone ft.trib.al/zVWWKZs | opinion
Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone
The more the EU has to pay for ingratiation with Trump, the less convincing its strategic rationale for doing so
ft.trib.al
January 12, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Time for Europe to say "Very well, alone!".
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
My colleague @martinsandbu.ft.com is right: Europe lacks the self confidence - and countries such as Germany doesn’t trust itself.
Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone
www.ft.com/content/1da0...
Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone
www.ft.com/content/1da0...
Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone
The more the EU has to pay for ingratiation with Trump, the less convincing its strategic rationale for doing so
www.ft.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:27 PM
My colleague @martinsandbu.ft.com is right: Europe lacks the self confidence - and countries such as Germany doesn’t trust itself.
Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone
www.ft.com/content/1da0...
Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone
www.ft.com/content/1da0...
Reposted by Martin Sandbu
Martin Sandbu, @FT: "Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone"
Since Trump has stopped doing anything for Europe or Ukraine, Europe should just ignore hostile Trump.
Europe does bnot need the US as an enemy.
www.ft.com/content/1da0...
Since Trump has stopped doing anything for Europe or Ukraine, Europe should just ignore hostile Trump.
Europe does bnot need the US as an enemy.
www.ft.com/content/1da0...
Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone
The more the EU has to pay for ingratiation with Trump, the less convincing its strategic rationale for doing so
www.ft.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:31 AM
Martin Sandbu, @FT: "Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone"
Since Trump has stopped doing anything for Europe or Ukraine, Europe should just ignore hostile Trump.
Europe does bnot need the US as an enemy.
www.ft.com/content/1da0...
Since Trump has stopped doing anything for Europe or Ukraine, Europe should just ignore hostile Trump.
Europe does bnot need the US as an enemy.
www.ft.com/content/1da0...
I find amusing the reporting that the UK gov has "found" legal grounds for intervening with Russia's shadow tanker fleet. It's like the legal basis is in a box at the back of the top shelf in the guest room cupboard and the government had forgotten they had it until the Americans told them to jump.
The BBC:
❗️The UK government found legal grounds that can possibly be used to allow UK military to board and detain vessels of shadow fleets.
The Sanctions and Money Laundering Act from 2018 can provide the foundation to approve the use of military force.
❗️The UK government found legal grounds that can possibly be used to allow UK military to board and detain vessels of shadow fleets.
The Sanctions and Money Laundering Act from 2018 can provide the foundation to approve the use of military force.
January 12, 2026 at 12:37 PM
I find amusing the reporting that the UK gov has "found" legal grounds for intervening with Russia's shadow tanker fleet. It's like the legal basis is in a box at the back of the top shelf in the guest room cupboard and the government had forgotten they had it until the Americans told them to jump.
Very good piece.
Great science-based piece on the 50% decline in fentanyl since 2023 in both US and Canada
“none of this story has anything to do with blowing up small boats carrying drugs near Venezuela”
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
“none of this story has anything to do with blowing up small boats carrying drugs near Venezuela”
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | What’s behind the stunning decline in American opioid deaths
One major contributor is a decline in the supply of fentanyl.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 9, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Very good piece.