Elisabeth Braw
@elisabethbraw.bsky.social
Atlantic Council, Foreign Policy, Politico Europe. Author of The Defender's Dilemma (2022), Goodbye Globalization (2024) and Undersea War (2026). Geopolitics & globalisation/greyzone aggression/total defence/societal resilience. Own views
She's back (very) near UK waters, the research vessel Yantar.
And not just that, Defence Secretary John Healey says she has 'directed lasers at our pilots'.
Research, provocation or both?
news.sky.com/story/russia...
And not just that, Defence Secretary John Healey says she has 'directed lasers at our pilots'.
Research, provocation or both?
news.sky.com/story/russia...
November 19, 2025 at 10:59 AM
She's back (very) near UK waters, the research vessel Yantar.
And not just that, Defence Secretary John Healey says she has 'directed lasers at our pilots'.
Research, provocation or both?
news.sky.com/story/russia...
And not just that, Defence Secretary John Healey says she has 'directed lasers at our pilots'.
Research, provocation or both?
news.sky.com/story/russia...
Russia's fast-growing greyzone aggression has many guises.
One factor unites them: they're costing the companies/organisations/cities/agencies attacked a lot of money.
Russia is trying to bleed us dry. Building resilience is vital.
www.politico.eu/article/russ...
Me @politico.eu. No paywall.
One factor unites them: they're costing the companies/organisations/cities/agencies attacked a lot of money.
Russia is trying to bleed us dry. Building resilience is vital.
www.politico.eu/article/russ...
Me @politico.eu. No paywall.
November 5, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Russia's fast-growing greyzone aggression has many guises.
One factor unites them: they're costing the companies/organisations/cities/agencies attacked a lot of money.
Russia is trying to bleed us dry. Building resilience is vital.
www.politico.eu/article/russ...
Me @politico.eu. No paywall.
One factor unites them: they're costing the companies/organisations/cities/agencies attacked a lot of money.
Russia is trying to bleed us dry. Building resilience is vital.
www.politico.eu/article/russ...
Me @politico.eu. No paywall.
Your friendly reminder that this week is Norway's Self Preparedness Week.
A week-long reminder (with instructions) of how everyone can contribute to national resilience.
This is how to do it.
A week-long reminder (with instructions) of how everyone can contribute to national resilience.
This is how to do it.
October 29, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Your friendly reminder that this week is Norway's Self Preparedness Week.
A week-long reminder (with instructions) of how everyone can contribute to national resilience.
This is how to do it.
A week-long reminder (with instructions) of how everyone can contribute to national resilience.
This is how to do it.
Sweden established a new global trend with In Case of Crisis or War.
Now it's about to publish a corresponding leaflet directed at businesses.
What a great idea - especially since greyzone aggression directly targets the private sector.
www.politico.eu/article/swed...
(Me @politico.eu)
Now it's about to publish a corresponding leaflet directed at businesses.
What a great idea - especially since greyzone aggression directly targets the private sector.
www.politico.eu/article/swed...
(Me @politico.eu)
October 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Sweden established a new global trend with In Case of Crisis or War.
Now it's about to publish a corresponding leaflet directed at businesses.
What a great idea - especially since greyzone aggression directly targets the private sector.
www.politico.eu/article/swed...
(Me @politico.eu)
Now it's about to publish a corresponding leaflet directed at businesses.
What a great idea - especially since greyzone aggression directly targets the private sector.
www.politico.eu/article/swed...
(Me @politico.eu)
What great news: Ukraine will buy 150 (!) Gripen E fighter jets.
It's a fantastic aircraft, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after his historic meeting with Ulf Kristersson today.
Sweden has steadfastly supported Ukraine ever since Russia's full-scale invasion.
Allies at work.
It's a fantastic aircraft, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after his historic meeting with Ulf Kristersson today.
Sweden has steadfastly supported Ukraine ever since Russia's full-scale invasion.
Allies at work.
October 22, 2025 at 4:41 PM
What great news: Ukraine will buy 150 (!) Gripen E fighter jets.
It's a fantastic aircraft, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after his historic meeting with Ulf Kristersson today.
Sweden has steadfastly supported Ukraine ever since Russia's full-scale invasion.
Allies at work.
It's a fantastic aircraft, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after his historic meeting with Ulf Kristersson today.
Sweden has steadfastly supported Ukraine ever since Russia's full-scale invasion.
Allies at work.
The pioneering greenhouse-gas reduction treaty for shipping has failed.
Here's more about it in a report from earlier this year www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/u...
(Part of @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social's Maritime Threats initiative.)
Here's more about it in a report from earlier this year www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/u...
(Part of @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social's Maritime Threats initiative.)
October 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The pioneering greenhouse-gas reduction treaty for shipping has failed.
Here's more about it in a report from earlier this year www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/u...
(Part of @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social's Maritime Threats initiative.)
Here's more about it in a report from earlier this year www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/u...
(Part of @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social's Maritime Threats initiative.)
Ask what your gym can do for your country.
Gen Z-ers are fit - and in a Bowling Alone era, many also join gyms to make friends.
Imagine if we had national resilience organisations they could join. It would be a win-win.
on.ft.com/4hdCLyQ (Me @financialtimes.com. No paywall.)
Gen Z-ers are fit - and in a Bowling Alone era, many also join gyms to make friends.
Imagine if we had national resilience organisations they could join. It would be a win-win.
on.ft.com/4hdCLyQ (Me @financialtimes.com. No paywall.)
October 11, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Ask what your gym can do for your country.
Gen Z-ers are fit - and in a Bowling Alone era, many also join gyms to make friends.
Imagine if we had national resilience organisations they could join. It would be a win-win.
on.ft.com/4hdCLyQ (Me @financialtimes.com. No paywall.)
Gen Z-ers are fit - and in a Bowling Alone era, many also join gyms to make friends.
Imagine if we had national resilience organisations they could join. It would be a win-win.
on.ft.com/4hdCLyQ (Me @financialtimes.com. No paywall.)
Helsinki District Court's judgment in the pivotal Eagle S case:
- The court says it lacks jurisdiction
- But it also says the three seafarers perpetrated "aggravated criminal damage".
There are lots of implications. We won't have seen the last suspicious cable/pipeline incident.
- The court says it lacks jurisdiction
- But it also says the three seafarers perpetrated "aggravated criminal damage".
There are lots of implications. We won't have seen the last suspicious cable/pipeline incident.
October 3, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Helsinki District Court's judgment in the pivotal Eagle S case:
- The court says it lacks jurisdiction
- But it also says the three seafarers perpetrated "aggravated criminal damage".
There are lots of implications. We won't have seen the last suspicious cable/pipeline incident.
- The court says it lacks jurisdiction
- But it also says the three seafarers perpetrated "aggravated criminal damage".
There are lots of implications. We won't have seen the last suspicious cable/pipeline incident.
It has been published: the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy's report on undersea cables.
It was a privilege to be involved in the inquiry and see some of my suggestions picked up by the committee.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt5901/jt...
It was a privilege to be involved in the inquiry and see some of my suggestions picked up by the committee.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt5901/jt...
September 19, 2025 at 8:13 AM
It has been published: the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy's report on undersea cables.
It was a privilege to be involved in the inquiry and see some of my suggestions picked up by the committee.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt5901/jt...
It was a privilege to be involved in the inquiry and see some of my suggestions picked up by the committee.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt5901/jt...
A few days ago, Poland released an "in case of crisis or war" leaflet.
It turned out to be prescient, what with Russian drones crossing into Poland last night.
It turned out to be prescient, what with Russian drones crossing into Poland last night.
September 10, 2025 at 8:39 AM
A few days ago, Poland released an "in case of crisis or war" leaflet.
It turned out to be prescient, what with Russian drones crossing into Poland last night.
It turned out to be prescient, what with Russian drones crossing into Poland last night.
The UK (and other countries) should do like Sweden, which has just begun teaching national security (total defence, to be precise) in secondary schools.
Investing in defence equipment is good. But teenagers' minds have even more potential.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Me @thetimes.com
Investing in defence equipment is good. But teenagers' minds have even more potential.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Me @thetimes.com
August 28, 2025 at 8:54 AM
The UK (and other countries) should do like Sweden, which has just begun teaching national security (total defence, to be precise) in secondary schools.
Investing in defence equipment is good. But teenagers' minds have even more potential.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Me @thetimes.com
Investing in defence equipment is good. But teenagers' minds have even more potential.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Me @thetimes.com
Another cheap Chinese EV is coming to the European market.
Chinese EVs are cheap partly because they use LFP batteries.
We seem doomed to dependence on China.
But: Europe now has its very own LFP factory - in Norway.
www.politico.eu/article/norw...
Me @politico.eu
Chinese EVs are cheap partly because they use LFP batteries.
We seem doomed to dependence on China.
But: Europe now has its very own LFP factory - in Norway.
www.politico.eu/article/norw...
Me @politico.eu
August 25, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Another cheap Chinese EV is coming to the European market.
Chinese EVs are cheap partly because they use LFP batteries.
We seem doomed to dependence on China.
But: Europe now has its very own LFP factory - in Norway.
www.politico.eu/article/norw...
Me @politico.eu
Chinese EVs are cheap partly because they use LFP batteries.
We seem doomed to dependence on China.
But: Europe now has its very own LFP factory - in Norway.
www.politico.eu/article/norw...
Me @politico.eu
We may be snickering at the Admiral Kuznetsov's slow demise and expected death.
But she's not that important to the Russian Navy. Submarines are -- and the submarine fleet is growing significantly.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r... (Me @foreignpolicy.com. No paywall)
But she's not that important to the Russian Navy. Submarines are -- and the submarine fleet is growing significantly.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r... (Me @foreignpolicy.com. No paywall)
August 7, 2025 at 8:17 AM
We may be snickering at the Admiral Kuznetsov's slow demise and expected death.
But she's not that important to the Russian Navy. Submarines are -- and the submarine fleet is growing significantly.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r... (Me @foreignpolicy.com. No paywall)
But she's not that important to the Russian Navy. Submarines are -- and the submarine fleet is growing significantly.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/08/06/r... (Me @foreignpolicy.com. No paywall)
Greyzone aggression:
Years ago, I had trouble convincing people it was worth taking seriously.
Since then, it has exploded (so to speak).
It was a privilege to be involved in the UK Parliament Defence Committee's outstanding inquiry.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
Years ago, I had trouble convincing people it was worth taking seriously.
Since then, it has exploded (so to speak).
It was a privilege to be involved in the UK Parliament Defence Committee's outstanding inquiry.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
July 23, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Greyzone aggression:
Years ago, I had trouble convincing people it was worth taking seriously.
Since then, it has exploded (so to speak).
It was a privilege to be involved in the UK Parliament Defence Committee's outstanding inquiry.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
Years ago, I had trouble convincing people it was worth taking seriously.
Since then, it has exploded (so to speak).
It was a privilege to be involved in the UK Parliament Defence Committee's outstanding inquiry.
publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
Without the installers and repairers of subsea cables, modern life would not be possible.
(Imagine if cables were cut and no repair crews were available.)
But the workforce is ageing. Let's hope lots of people discover this crucial profession.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu... (Me @thetimes.com)
(Imagine if cables were cut and no repair crews were available.)
But the workforce is ageing. Let's hope lots of people discover this crucial profession.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu... (Me @thetimes.com)
July 18, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Without the installers and repairers of subsea cables, modern life would not be possible.
(Imagine if cables were cut and no repair crews were available.)
But the workforce is ageing. Let's hope lots of people discover this crucial profession.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu... (Me @thetimes.com)
(Imagine if cables were cut and no repair crews were available.)
But the workforce is ageing. Let's hope lots of people discover this crucial profession.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu... (Me @thetimes.com)
"The Song and Dance Festival demonstrates our societal resilience,” @tsahkna.bsky.social told me.
Naturally, the Estonian FM was involved (as a singer). Doctors, nurses, tech types, teenagers, pensioners too.
This is societal resilience. (And joy)
www.politico.eu/article/esto... (Me @politico.eu)
Naturally, the Estonian FM was involved (as a singer). Doctors, nurses, tech types, teenagers, pensioners too.
This is societal resilience. (And joy)
www.politico.eu/article/esto... (Me @politico.eu)
July 16, 2025 at 7:20 AM
"The Song and Dance Festival demonstrates our societal resilience,” @tsahkna.bsky.social told me.
Naturally, the Estonian FM was involved (as a singer). Doctors, nurses, tech types, teenagers, pensioners too.
This is societal resilience. (And joy)
www.politico.eu/article/esto... (Me @politico.eu)
Naturally, the Estonian FM was involved (as a singer). Doctors, nurses, tech types, teenagers, pensioners too.
This is societal resilience. (And joy)
www.politico.eu/article/esto... (Me @politico.eu)
It's good for you (and your health).
It's good for the country (as the Estonians just illustrated, again, with their massive Song and Dance Festival).
Do a good thing for yourself and the country: join a choir.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Me @thetimes.com
@mfaestonia.bsky.social
It's good for the country (as the Estonians just illustrated, again, with their massive Song and Dance Festival).
Do a good thing for yourself and the country: join a choir.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Me @thetimes.com
@mfaestonia.bsky.social
July 14, 2025 at 7:20 AM
It's good for you (and your health).
It's good for the country (as the Estonians just illustrated, again, with their massive Song and Dance Festival).
Do a good thing for yourself and the country: join a choir.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Me @thetimes.com
@mfaestonia.bsky.social
It's good for the country (as the Estonians just illustrated, again, with their massive Song and Dance Festival).
Do a good thing for yourself and the country: join a choir.
www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
Me @thetimes.com
@mfaestonia.bsky.social
'War on every doorstep.'
The UK Defence Select Committee's inquiry and report on greyzone aggression is out publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm....
It was an honour to be involved.
The UK Defence Select Committee's inquiry and report on greyzone aggression is out publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm....
It was an honour to be involved.
July 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
'War on every doorstep.'
The UK Defence Select Committee's inquiry and report on greyzone aggression is out publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm....
It was an honour to be involved.
The UK Defence Select Committee's inquiry and report on greyzone aggression is out publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm....
It was an honour to be involved.
Estonians know how to do it.
The Song and Dance Festival is taking place with superior planning, superior artistry, superior logistics and enormous joy.
The Song and Dance Festival is taking place with superior planning, superior artistry, superior logistics and enormous joy.
July 6, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Estonians know how to do it.
The Song and Dance Festival is taking place with superior planning, superior artistry, superior logistics and enormous joy.
The Song and Dance Festival is taking place with superior planning, superior artistry, superior logistics and enormous joy.
One of @theguardian.com's paperbacks of the month: Goodbye Globalization.
www.theguardian.com/books/ng-int...
www.theguardian.com/books/ng-int...
June 11, 2025 at 2:13 PM
One of @theguardian.com's paperbacks of the month: Goodbye Globalization.
www.theguardian.com/books/ng-int...
www.theguardian.com/books/ng-int...
Arriving soon...the paperback of Goodbye Globalization 🍾
May 28, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Arriving soon...the paperback of Goodbye Globalization 🍾
The Wargame: what a gripping and much-needed wargame of an attack on the UK.
Featuring luminaries of British politics (and yours truly as NATO SecGen).
Masterfully conceived and written by @deborahaynes.bsky.social & executed by the great Rob Johnson.
news.sky.com/story/bluesk...
Featuring luminaries of British politics (and yours truly as NATO SecGen).
Masterfully conceived and written by @deborahaynes.bsky.social & executed by the great Rob Johnson.
news.sky.com/story/bluesk...
May 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
The Wargame: what a gripping and much-needed wargame of an attack on the UK.
Featuring luminaries of British politics (and yours truly as NATO SecGen).
Masterfully conceived and written by @deborahaynes.bsky.social & executed by the great Rob Johnson.
news.sky.com/story/bluesk...
Featuring luminaries of British politics (and yours truly as NATO SecGen).
Masterfully conceived and written by @deborahaynes.bsky.social & executed by the great Rob Johnson.
news.sky.com/story/bluesk...
Undersea War: what a time to be writing this book.
There are some really nasty operators out there. And, on the defender side, some really impressive people.
There are some really nasty operators out there. And, on the defender side, some really impressive people.
May 19, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Undersea War: what a time to be writing this book.
There are some really nasty operators out there. And, on the defender side, some really impressive people.
There are some really nasty operators out there. And, on the defender side, some really impressive people.
Such great news: the SDR proposes that the UK establish a Home Guard (and a proper one).
Fortunately the UK has allies with excellent home guards from whom it can learn. (Two of the best pictured below.)
Fortunately the UK has allies with excellent home guards from whom it can learn. (Two of the best pictured below.)
May 18, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Such great news: the SDR proposes that the UK establish a Home Guard (and a proper one).
Fortunately the UK has allies with excellent home guards from whom it can learn. (Two of the best pictured below.)
Fortunately the UK has allies with excellent home guards from whom it can learn. (Two of the best pictured below.)
@radek-sikorski.bsky.social said the following today.
This is exactly the problem. The renegade fleet - shadow vessels that don't even fly a flag - has arrived www.politico.eu/article/shad....
And the question is what will happen when they cause accidents.
This is exactly the problem. The renegade fleet - shadow vessels that don't even fly a flag - has arrived www.politico.eu/article/shad....
And the question is what will happen when they cause accidents.
May 16, 2025 at 6:14 PM
@radek-sikorski.bsky.social said the following today.
This is exactly the problem. The renegade fleet - shadow vessels that don't even fly a flag - has arrived www.politico.eu/article/shad....
And the question is what will happen when they cause accidents.
This is exactly the problem. The renegade fleet - shadow vessels that don't even fly a flag - has arrived www.politico.eu/article/shad....
And the question is what will happen when they cause accidents.