Category: Europe

Canada, Europe, Geopolitics, Military, NATO, UKLeave a comment

Kate Forbes: SNP can no longer afford to duck the defence debate

Colin Henderson

 Summarize Kate ForbesSaturday October 10 2026, 8.24pm BST, The Sunday Times ​ With warnings over Russia growing louder, Scotland must use its industrial strengths and confront hard questions on military readiness and nuclear deterrence Saturday October 10 2026, 8.24pm BST, “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today.” Those words are inscribed on the Kohima war memorial — the scene of one of the bloodiest engagements of the Second World War where the Allied forces halted the Japanese invasion of India. The memorial is dedicated to the soldiers of the 2nd British Division, including the Cameron Highlanders. The … Continue reading Kate Forbes: SNP can no longer afford to duck the defence debate

Disinformation, Europe, UKLeave a comment

“James Marriott

Colin Henderson

“James Marriott Monday October 5 2026, 7.54pm, The TimesTucker Carlson’s viral YouTube debate with Jacob Rees-Mogg — recommended to anyone looking for an entirely unedifying way to spend an hour online — pitted two styles of eccentric conservatism against each other. Rees-Mogg’s pantomime of establishment hauteur (enhanced by the interview’s “at home” setting, with its pink damask wallpaper, porcelain objets and gilt picture frames) versus the smarmy country club conspiracism that has made #Carlson one of the most popular broadcasters in America. The encounter will remind viewers how much stranger right-wing politics has grown over the past decade. Rees-Mogg was … Continue reading “James Marriott

briefing, EU, Europe

Iceland votes on EU

Colin Henderson

Icelanders will decide tomorrow whether to resume talks on joining the EU in a vote that has taken on deeper significance in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s threats in the Arctic. Polls in the tiny island nation — which does not have armed forces —  are almost evenly split.  Supporters believe joining the European bloc could give the country greater protection and boost its economy, while critics worry over sovereignty. The Arctic has emerged as a key battleground between global superpowers: Trump has threatened to take over Greenland, an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark. Meanwhile, China is flexing “its economic muscle … Continue reading Iceland votes on EU

Europe, NATO, UK, Ukraine

SAG-U handover confirmed

Colin Henderson

NATO] — SAG-U handover confirmed• Politico (Aug 1): US relinquishing leadership of Security Assistance Group–Ukraine (Wiesbaden), transition up to a year, American deputy remains. Completes the pattern: Norfolk→UK, Naples→Italy, Brunssum→Germany/Poland, now SAG-U→TBD European/Canadian officer.• Paired signal: Trump walked back the Ankara pledge to license Ukrainian Patriot production, hours before the Aug 1 Kyiv barrage (1 of 27 ballistic missiles intercepted). Kyiv notes irreplaceable US satellite ISR, targeting, heavy airlift.• Assessment: the downstream-consequence frame strengthens on both axes simultaneously — command architecture transferring to Europe while US materiel reliability degrades. Watch which nation takes SAG-U command; a UK or German flag … Continue reading SAG-U handover confirmed

EU, Europe, Geopolitics, US

Pentagon transfers leadership of Ukraine assistance mission in Germany to another NATO member – Politico

Colin Henderson

Khrystyna Bondarieva ,  Roman Petrenko  — 1 August, 12:08 The Pentagon is stepping down from leading the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U), based in Germany, and will hand it over to another NATO member state. Source: Politico; European Pravda Details: According to a US official and three people familiar with the plan, command of SAG-U – which has played a central role in equipping and training Ukrainian troops since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion – will ultimately be taken over by another NATO member. This move means the US will no longer help shape what Ukraine’s future armed forces will look like. Advertisement: … Continue reading Pentagon transfers leadership of Ukraine assistance mission in Germany to another NATO member – Politico

AI_factories, AI_regulation, Chips, Europe, iran, Russia, US

Globalization Ends Not With a Bang, But Tariffs 2.0

Colin Henderson

​ Summarize Source: Bloomberg This time, the silence from markets and the media has been deafening. John AuthersJuly 28, 2026 at 8:54 PM EDT Trump touts tariffs to GM workers.Photographer: Sarah Rice/Bloomberg To get John Authers’ newsletter delivered directly to your inbox, sign up here. Today’s Points: Chips are still selling off ahead of hyperscalers’ earnings later this week. The latest round of new US tariffs has passed with scarcely a market murmur. The Swiss National Bank will keep zero rates until the end of next year. Trump says a peace deal with Iran is possible, as Brent dips below $90 per barrel. AND: More streaks across the firmament. Protectionism … Continue reading Globalization Ends Not With a Bang, But Tariffs 2.0

Diplomacy, Europe, iran, US

Morning Briefing — Thursday, 18 June 2026 · 8:08 AM EST · ~1,250 words

Colin Henderson

Today’s briefing is dominated by a single structural event — the formal signing of the US–Iran MOU at Versailles — with downstream consequences cascading across energy markets, NATO posture, the Lebanon file, and the Fed’s inflation calculus. The Ukraine drone campaign simultaneously escalated to its largest-ever strike on Moscow, underscoring that while one war approaches a diplomatic hinge point, another is deepening. The G7 Évian communiqué added texture on AI sovereignty and European strategic anxiety that will carry forward beyond the summit. 1. Top Stories — What Changed ⚑ US–Iran MOU signed at Versailles — Strait of Hormuz to reopen … Continue reading Morning Briefing — Thursday, 18 June 2026 · 8:08 AM EST · ~1,250 words

AI, AI_regulation, Canada, EU, Europe, Frontier_AI, Innovation, US

AI sovereignty at G7: Europe’s structural complaint goes formal

Colin Henderson

AI sovereignty at G7: Europe’s structural complaint goes formal European leaders arrived at Évian with a specific grievance: US AI export controls — including the Mythos export restrictions — have exposed European dependence on American cloud, chip, and AI infrastructure. Cohere CEO Aidan Gomez (who acquired Aleph Alpha) framed the session goal as expanding sovereign AI ecosystem partnerships to all G7 nations. The EU AI Act high-risk compliance deadline of 2 August 2026 is six weeks away. New today: CNBC reports that Mythos and GPT-5.5 Cyber export controls have “changed everything” in the transatlantic AI relationship; the G7 AI session … Continue reading AI sovereignty at G7: Europe’s structural complaint goes formal

Diplomacy, Europe, Geopolitics, iran, US

Morning Briefing — Saturday, 13 June 2026 · 09:09 EST · ~1,200 words

Colin Henderson

Today’s briefing is dominated by a single near-inflection: the US-Iran deal text reportedly agreed on June 12, with a signing window framed around the G7 in France next week. That headline crowds almost everything else, but three significant sub-stories run alongside it — Lebanon’s ground war deteriorating despite deal momentum, FISA 702 lapsing after a House Democratic bloc vote, and SpaceX completing the largest IPO in history and beginning to trade. The overall tone is one of compressed contingency: several major things could resolve or unravel simultaneously within the next 72 hours. 1. What Changed ⚑ US-Iran draft deal text … Continue reading Morning Briefing — Saturday, 13 June 2026 · 09:09 EST · ~1,200 words

Diplomacy, Europe, Geopolitics, iran, US

Morning Briefing — Friday, June 12, 2026 · Morning EST · ~1,250 words⸻

Colin Henderson

Introduction One story dominates and bends everything else around it: Trump’s announcement late Thursday that a US–Iran “settlement” has been reached, with signing possible this weekend — even as Tehran publicly disputes that any text has been approved. Oil, inflation expectations, Israeli politics, and Gulf diplomacy are all repricing off that single claim. The distinct feature of today’s environment is the gap between Washington’s declared certainty and Tehran’s declared non-participation; one of those positions will collapse within days. Beneath it, US–China tech decoupling deepened materially this week regardless of the Middle East outcome. ⸻ 1. What changed Trump cancels strikes, … Continue reading Morning Briefing — Friday, June 12, 2026 · Morning EST · ~1,250 words⸻