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)
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...
The Dutch government suspends its invocation of the Goods
Availability Act for Nexperia: “We are positive about the measures already taken by the Chinese authorities to ensure the supply of chips to Europe and the rest of the world. We see this as a show of goodwill.”
Availability Act for Nexperia: “We are positive about the measures already taken by the Chinese authorities to ensure the supply of chips to Europe and the rest of the world. We see this as a show of goodwill.”
November 19, 2025 at 8:54 AM
The Dutch government suspends its invocation of the Goods
Availability Act for Nexperia: “We are positive about the measures already taken by the Chinese authorities to ensure the supply of chips to Europe and the rest of the world. We see this as a show of goodwill.”
Availability Act for Nexperia: “We are positive about the measures already taken by the Chinese authorities to ensure the supply of chips to Europe and the rest of the world. We see this as a show of goodwill.”
This sounds like a very public acknowledgment by the EU’s top diplomat of the bloc’s vulnerability, impotence & paralysis 👍🏼
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
EU Warns Its Ties to China Hamper Ability to Punish Russia
The European Union’s deep economic ties to China are constraining its ability to pressure Beijing over Russia’s war in Ukraine, the bloc’s top diplomat said.
www.bloomberg.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:20 AM
This sounds like a very public acknowledgment by the EU’s top diplomat of the bloc’s vulnerability, impotence & paralysis 👍🏼
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Noah Barkin
Younger voters appear increasingly unhappy with direction of travel under Trump 2.0
• Among under-30s, Trump's net approval rating stands at around -40, compared to 0 in January
• Data suggest Republicans could be in trouble in next year’s midterm elections, which will decide control of US Congress
• Among under-30s, Trump's net approval rating stands at around -40, compared to 0 in January
• Data suggest Republicans could be in trouble in next year’s midterm elections, which will decide control of US Congress
November 19, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Younger voters appear increasingly unhappy with direction of travel under Trump 2.0
• Among under-30s, Trump's net approval rating stands at around -40, compared to 0 in January
• Data suggest Republicans could be in trouble in next year’s midterm elections, which will decide control of US Congress
• Among under-30s, Trump's net approval rating stands at around -40, compared to 0 in January
• Data suggest Republicans could be in trouble in next year’s midterm elections, which will decide control of US Congress
This Rhodium timeline of the Nexperia saga shows how CEO Zhang Xuezheng set about creating a China-based mirror image of the company almost as soon as he took the reins
November 19, 2025 at 6:39 AM
This Rhodium timeline of the Nexperia saga shows how CEO Zhang Xuezheng set about creating a China-based mirror image of the company almost as soon as he took the reins
Trump dismisses a question about Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s role in the death and dismemberment of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying “things happen”
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Live Updates: Trump Praises Saudi Prince and Dismisses Question About Killing of Journalist
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Trump dismisses a question about Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s role in the death and dismemberment of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying “things happen”
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Jake Sullivan: “Having watched Trump do what he has done with our allies, was the right answer FDPR from the start? Don't negotiate with our allies over SME controls, just tell em: 'They've got American content don't sell em, done'. I think about that sometimes"
podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/c...
podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/c...
Jake Sullivan on Playing the Long Game
Podcast Episode · ChinaTalk · 18/11/2025 · 1h 11m
podcasts.apple.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Jake Sullivan: “Having watched Trump do what he has done with our allies, was the right answer FDPR from the start? Don't negotiate with our allies over SME controls, just tell em: 'They've got American content don't sell em, done'. I think about that sometimes"
podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/c...
podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/c...
Under Biden, the decision not to include the US was controversial. Not any more
The EU will host its fourth Indo Pacific ministerial forum later this week.
For the second time in a row, the United States is not invited. Washington sent a delegation to Sweden two years ago for that particular edition, but senior EU official says "no special guests" this yr
For the second time in a row, the United States is not invited. Washington sent a delegation to Sweden two years ago for that particular edition, but senior EU official says "no special guests" this yr
November 18, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Under Biden, the decision not to include the US was controversial. Not any more
Larry Summers sought relationship advice from Epstein up until his arrest in 2019
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
As Summers Sought Clandestine Relationship With Woman He Called a Mentee, Epstein Was His ‘Wing Man’ | News | The Harvard Crimson
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: convicted sex offender Jef...
www.thecrimson.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Larry Summers sought relationship advice from Epstein up until his arrest in 2019
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
It may be more sticks than carrots but I agree: “The EU response to the ‘second China shock’ of manufacturing exports that threaten Europe’s industrial base is likely to be similarly confused as blandishments from Beijing disrupt efforts to form a collective European response”
on.ft.com/4oDf4Tk
on.ft.com/4oDf4Tk
The scramble for Europe is just beginning
As the EU struggles to defend its interests, outside powers play divide and rule
on.ft.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:03 PM
It may be more sticks than carrots but I agree: “The EU response to the ‘second China shock’ of manufacturing exports that threaten Europe’s industrial base is likely to be similarly confused as blandishments from Beijing disrupt efforts to form a collective European response”
on.ft.com/4oDf4Tk
on.ft.com/4oDf4Tk