Noah Barkin
@noahbarkin.bsky.social
Watching 🇪🇺 🇨🇳 🇺🇸 for Rhodium Group & GMF in Berlin. Sign up for my monthly newsletter (https://www.gmfus.org/watching-china-europe) and Substack (noahbarkin.substack.com)
Trump’s Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was pressed by European officials on the need to hold Russia accountable for its war crimes as part any peace deal and he deflected
on.ft.com/3Xl53OK
on.ft.com/3Xl53OK
Dan Driscoll, the unlikely Ukraine envoy with his eye on the Pentagon
The ambitious US army secretary has been thrust into the spotlight of Moscow-Kyiv negotiations
on.ft.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Trump’s Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was pressed by European officials on the need to hold Russia accountable for its war crimes as part any peace deal and he deflected
on.ft.com/3Xl53OK
on.ft.com/3Xl53OK
The German government embraces the idea of EU-wide local content/European preference rules in clean tech
November 29, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The German government embraces the idea of EU-wide local content/European preference rules in clean tech
A war crime … if there was a war
Post claims Hegseth ordered survivors of boat strikes - who would be hors de combat - to be killed & that the SOCOM commander followed this order on the basis that "they could theoretically call other traffickers to retrieve them and their cargo"
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:52 PM
A war crime … if there was a war
The Flemish nationalist holding Europe’s Russia policy hostage said this just a few months ago: “As a politician and a human being, I am convinced that the separation of the Netherlands in the 16th century is the greatest disaster that has ever befallen us”. Good luck on.ft.com/4on4Mpx
Belgium says using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine will endanger a peace deal
Premier Bart De Wever sets out conditions that would resolve his objections to a proposed €140bn EU loan to Kyiv
on.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:09 AM
The Flemish nationalist holding Europe’s Russia policy hostage said this just a few months ago: “As a politician and a human being, I am convinced that the separation of the Netherlands in the 16th century is the greatest disaster that has ever befallen us”. Good luck on.ft.com/4on4Mpx
Swiss executives gave Trump a specially engraved gold bar and a Rolex clock as part of a lobbying push to reduce US tariffs on Switzerland
on.ft.com/4p4mPBS
on.ft.com/4p4mPBS
Swiss politicians decry ‘gold bar diplomacy’ in Trump trade deal
Backlash over role played in talks by executives from companies including Rolex and Richemont
on.ft.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Swiss executives gave Trump a specially engraved gold bar and a Rolex clock as part of a lobbying push to reduce US tariffs on Switzerland
on.ft.com/4p4mPBS
on.ft.com/4p4mPBS
Brazil shows the US how illegal attempts to overturn the will of the people should be dealt with.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
Bolsonaro to Start Serving 27-Year Sentence Over Coup Plot
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Brazil shows the US how illegal attempts to overturn the will of the people should be dealt with.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
Shorter Days, Signs of Fatigue: Trump Faces Realities of Aging in Office
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:39 AM
“It is now increasingly hard to see how Europe, in particular, can avoid large-scale protection if it is to retain any industry at all.”
on.ft.com/3XR9JvS
on.ft.com/3XR9JvS
China is making trade impossible
Europe has nothing to offer and difficult decisions to make
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:31 AM
“It is now increasingly hard to see how Europe, in particular, can avoid large-scale protection if it is to retain any industry at all.”
on.ft.com/3XR9JvS
on.ft.com/3XR9JvS
In the old days, this would be called treason: Witkoff giving a Putin aide advice on how his boss can lure Trump into a Russia-friendly peace deal
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Witkoff Discusses Ukraine Plans With Key Putin Aide: Transcript
The following is a transcript of an Oct. 14 phone call lasting just over 5 minutes between Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy for peace missions, and Yuri Ushakov, Vladimir Putin’s most senio...
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:11 PM
In the old days, this would be called treason: Witkoff giving a Putin aide advice on how his boss can lure Trump into a Russia-friendly peace deal
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
VW is now admitting that "in China for China", its motto of the past years, is really "in China for the World" (minus the US). Not a good recipe for German jobs and the broader economy.
www.ft.com/content/b772...
www.ft.com/content/b772...
VW says it can halve EV development costs with ‘Made in China’ car
German automaker is seeking to reclaim share in the world’s biggest market
www.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:18 AM
VW is now admitting that "in China for China", its motto of the past years, is really "in China for the World" (minus the US). Not a good recipe for German jobs and the broader economy.
www.ft.com/content/b772...
www.ft.com/content/b772...
Reposted by Noah Barkin
JD Vance and Peter Thiel are running a sustained operation out of the White House designed to acquire Greenland, either voluntarily or by force. Thiel has laid out plans for what he intends to do with the island nation in past writings. It doesn't entail the consent of the Greenlanders for anything.
November 23, 2025 at 8:52 PM
JD Vance and Peter Thiel are running a sustained operation out of the White House designed to acquire Greenland, either voluntarily or by force. Thiel has laid out plans for what he intends to do with the island nation in past writings. It doesn't entail the consent of the Greenlanders for anything.
According to this Reuters story, differences between Germany and China have been "set aside" as both seek to diversify from the US
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
According to this Reuters story, differences between Germany and China have been "set aside" as both seek to diversify from the US
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
RIP Jimmy Cliff. Not sure I would have survived high school without The Harder They Come
www.reuters.com/business/med...
www.reuters.com/business/med...
November 24, 2025 at 2:54 PM
RIP Jimmy Cliff. Not sure I would have survived high school without The Harder They Come
www.reuters.com/business/med...
www.reuters.com/business/med...
Germany's national security council discussed ... Ukraine. Thanks
November 24, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Germany's national security council discussed ... Ukraine. Thanks
A movie that takes place where you're from
November 24, 2025 at 5:19 AM
A movie that takes place where you're from
Not only does Trump's 28-point plan amount to a shameful capitulation to Putin, it prohibits Ukraine from adopting certain policies his own administration appears to embrace: "All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited"
www.ft.com/content/8ccf...
www.ft.com/content/8ccf...
Trump’s world view: cynical, self-interested and money-grabbing
Latest Ukraine peace plan presented by the US would be a capitulation to Moscow
www.ft.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Not only does Trump's 28-point plan amount to a shameful capitulation to Putin, it prohibits Ukraine from adopting certain policies his own administration appears to embrace: "All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited"
www.ft.com/content/8ccf...
www.ft.com/content/8ccf...
Not good for the Dutch if they are seen to have influenced the court's decision on Nexperia. Until now, they could argue this was an independent ruling, distinct from the government's action. That said, if Zhang was gutting the company under their nose, intervention was necessary. No good options
Nexperia bombshell from NRC: suggests Dutch ministry *did* try to sway the court
"Karremans knew his controversial intervention... had little chance of success without judicial intervention. Therefore, he urged the court to impose additional measures"
"Karremans knew his controversial intervention... had little chance of success without judicial intervention. Therefore, he urged the court to impose additional measures"
Karremans wist dat de oorlogswet voor Nexperia tekortschoot
Interventie: De obscure oorlogswet die chipmaker Nexperia moest redden, was onvoldoende. Minister Karremans besefte dat en rekende daarom op tussenkomst van de rechter.
www.nrc.nl
November 22, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Not good for the Dutch if they are seen to have influenced the court's decision on Nexperia. Until now, they could argue this was an independent ruling, distinct from the government's action. That said, if Zhang was gutting the company under their nose, intervention was necessary. No good options
How Trump's dirty deal w/Putin unfolded at a meeting in Kyiv:
- US army secretary Daniel Driscoll showed up late and laced his comments with profanities: “We need to get this shit done"
- One senior European official described the tone of the meeting as “nauseating”
www.ft.com/content/f411...
- US army secretary Daniel Driscoll showed up late and laced his comments with profanities: “We need to get this shit done"
- One senior European official described the tone of the meeting as “nauseating”
www.ft.com/content/f411...
Trump envoys issue ultimatum to Ukraine to sign peace deal by Thursday
Hardline message over US-Russia plan at volatile meeting in Kyiv sparks alarm among European allies
www.ft.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:17 AM
How Trump's dirty deal w/Putin unfolded at a meeting in Kyiv:
- US army secretary Daniel Driscoll showed up late and laced his comments with profanities: “We need to get this shit done"
- One senior European official described the tone of the meeting as “nauseating”
www.ft.com/content/f411...
- US army secretary Daniel Driscoll showed up late and laced his comments with profanities: “We need to get this shit done"
- One senior European official described the tone of the meeting as “nauseating”
www.ft.com/content/f411...
You wouldn’t guess that Germany is being crushed by China on all fronts from these photos
November 21, 2025 at 11:09 AM
You wouldn’t guess that Germany is being crushed by China on all fronts from these photos
From Witkoff’s brilliant peace plan for Ukraine: “It is expected that Russia will not invade neighbouring countries”
on.ft.com/4oc3z4r
on.ft.com/4oc3z4r
Read the full text of Trump’s 28-point Ukraine-Russia peace plan
Proposed deal would limit size of Ukrainian forces and calls on Kyiv to withdraw troops from eastern Donetsk
on.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:09 AM
From Witkoff’s brilliant peace plan for Ukraine: “It is expected that Russia will not invade neighbouring countries”
on.ft.com/4oc3z4r
on.ft.com/4oc3z4r
We've been here before. Let's hope this goes nowhere, as it has for the past year. Worrying nonetheless
BREAKING🧨: Trump's team is negotiating peace plan for Ukraine with Russia. Just Russia. Not Ukraine. Not the Europeans (who will need to implement it). “We don't really care about the Europeans,” one White House official tells Politico. With friends like these... www.axios.com/2025/11/19/u...
Scoop: U.S. secretly drafting new plan to end Ukraine war
"We feel the Russian position is really being heard," Russia's envoy told Axios.
www.axios.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
We've been here before. Let's hope this goes nowhere, as it has for the past year. Worrying nonetheless
I fear this interpretation of what the Dutch government has done today is dead-wrong. They have not handed back control over Nexperia to its Chinese owner WingTech. The court order gave control to non-Chinese executives/directors and that still stands.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Dutch Hand Back Control of Chinese-Owned Chipmaker Nexperia
The Dutch government suspended its powers over chipmaker Nexperia, handing back control to its Chinese owner and defusing a standoff with Beijing that had begun to hamper automotive production around ...
www.bloomberg.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I fear this interpretation of what the Dutch government has done today is dead-wrong. They have not handed back control over Nexperia to its Chinese owner WingTech. The court order gave control to non-Chinese executives/directors and that still stands.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...