📢 ECPS Roundtable in Washington, D.C. 🚨 Populism and the Future of Transatlantic Relations 🏛️ On April 20, 2026, the European Center for Populism Studies (ECPS) convened a high-level roundtable at the Center for American Progress (CAP) in Washington, D.C., bringing together leading scholars and policy experts to assess how populism is reshaping the strategic and normative foundations of transatlantic relations. 🌍 The discussion portrayed a partnership at a critical juncture—characterized by declining trust, institutional erosion, and a shift toward more transactional and unpredictable forms of diplomacy. Participants emphasized that populism is best understood not as a coherent ideology, but as a mode of political agency marked by rule-breaking behavior and the strategic use of uncertainty. 🔹 Key themes included US strategic reorientation, the weakening of multilateral institutions, and increasing divergence over liberal democratic commitments. 🔹 Particular attention was given to how populist governance disrupts the rules-based order, undermines predictability in trade and cooperation, and amplifies geopolitical fragmentation. 🔹 The transatlantic relationship is thus evolving into a more selective, fragile, and contingent partnership, rather than a stable and enduring alliance. 🤝 At the same time, participants identified pathways for renewal: rebuilding trust, strengthening institutional resilience, reforming multilateral frameworks, and investing in civil society, academic, and policy networks as stabilizing forces beyond government channels. 📌 The key takeaway: transatlantic cooperation is not disappearing, but being reconfigured under conditions of uncertainty—requiring adaptive strategies, sustained dialogue, and renewed democratic coordination. 📕 Read the details: 🔗 populismstudies.org/ecps-rou… #ECPS #CAP #Populism #TransatlanticRelations #Democracy #LiberalDemocracy #DemocraticResilience #USPolitics #Europe #ForeignPolicy #RuleBasedOrder #Multilateralism #StrategicAutonomy #CivilSociety #GlobalGovernance

Beijing criticizes India for welcoming Japan’s move to lift its lethal arms export ban, yet speaks from the position of a military superpower with vast naval expansion, rising defence spending, and a record of coercion from the Himalayas to the South China Sea. While India and Japan deepen strategic cooperation for shared security, China frames it as provocation, revealing its discomfort with balanced partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. This is less about “peace” and more about preserving dominance and silencing alternatives. #IndoPacific #IndiaJapan #China #Geopolitics #StrategicAutonomy #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific #RegionalSecurity #GlobalOrder #StandWithDemocracies #RuleBasedOrder #StopCoercion #PeaceThroughStrength tibetanreview.net/china-crit…

ANALYSIS Quiet revolution: How traditional communication won the India-EU trade deal Writer: Chaitanya K Prasad Click- dailypioneer.com/news/quiet-… #IndiaEUFTA #TradeDiplomacy #QuietDiplomacy #GlobalTrade #IndiaEU #EconomicPartnership #RuleBasedOrder #StrategicTrust #DiplomaticCommunication #5DsOfDiplomacy #GlobalEconomy #TradeAgreement #Multilateralism #SupplyChains #SoftPower

As Trump roars at #Davos and threatens #Europe over #Greenland, it is clear that the #RuleBasedOrder is under serious threat. Watch how this rupture is unravelling, not only in Europe but across the globe, in #CRFPodcast DEEP FOCUS with @nehakhanna_07, Amb. Meera Shankar, Former Indian Ambassador to the US and Prof. @chintamani36 Mahapatra, Founder & Chairperson, Kalinga Institute of Indo-Specific Studies. Stay tuned, full episode dropping soon! @Rajeev1421 | @priyadarshi_crf #DeepFocus #PolicyPodcast #Geopolitics #GlobalTrade #Economy #ThinkTank #ChintanResearchFoundation

Why those calling for the enforcement of international law are being made irrelevant Aurelien – Words Of No Power…And the power of no words braveneweurope.com/aurelien-… #Geopolitics #RuleOfLaw #Treaties #Genocide #RuleBasedOrder #diplomacy

📝 New Commentary: NATO, Greenland and the Crisis of Alliance Sovereignty Greenland’s strategic position in the Arctic has become a focal point of transatlantic tension, exposing deep vulnerabilities in NATO’s internal cohesion. As debates over sovereignty, security necessity, and alliance discipline intensify, the issue is no longer just about geography—it is about the future credibility of collective defence. 📌 Key Takeaways ⚠️ The greatest risk to NATO today is not external aggression, but internal coercion. When a powerful member openly challenges the territorial integrity of another, it undermines the very foundation of collective trust and deterrence on which the alliance is built. 🧊 Greenland is not merely a strategic asset but a political community with agency. Ignoring Greenlandic self-determination in favour of security arguments would destabilise Arctic governance and weaken NATO’s normative legitimacy on the global stage. ♟️ Any erosion of unity within NATO directly benefits rival powers. Internal discord, paralysis, or precedent-setting power politics hand strategic advantage to Russia and China without a single shot being fired. 🔗 Read the full commentary here: rfr.bz/ta7a3b0 #NATO #Greenland #TransatlanticRelations #ArcticSecurity #DefenceAndSecurity #Geopolitics #GreatPowerPolitics #AllianceCohesion #InternationalSecurity #RuleBasedOrder #BtHISSG

Requiring the world to trade oil in dollars is imperative to US imperialism Michael Hudson – How Washington Uses Energy as a Weapon braveneweurope.com/michael-h… #geopolitics #oil #USA #Venezuela #Russia #Iran #Greenland #RuleOfLaw #RuleBasedOrder

Reports indicate that multiple IL-76 military transport aircraft, carrying military cargo, have landed in Tehran. Available flight-tracking data show that these aircraft transited Georgian airspace. This is a critical point. Aircraft of this type, particularly when transporting military cargo, cannot legally cross Georgian airspace without explicit authorization from the Georgian side. Such authorization also requires a prior formal request submitted by the initiating party of the flight (in this case Russia). Accordingly, the situation leaves only two plausible scenarios: 1. The Russian Federation unlawfully used Georgian airspace, in violation of international aviation law and state sovereignty norms; or 2. The Georgian authorities granted permission for these flights to transit Georgian airspace, knowingly allowing the passage of military aircraft carrying military cargo. Either scenario carries serious legal, political, and security implications. At stake are questions of state sovereignty, adherence to international aviation law, and the credibility of Georgia’s declared foreign and security policy commitments. This issue warrants clear public clarification and institutional accountability. @TomCottonAR @SenatorWicker @SenateForeign @WhiteHouse @Gerashchenko_en @cepa @IISS_org @washingtonpost @nytimes @WSJ #Georgia #Russia #Iran #Tehran #IL76 #MilitaryFlights #AirspaceViolation #StateSovereignty #InternationalLaw #AviationLaw #SecurityPolicy #ForeignPolicy #RegionalSecurity #RuleBasedOrder #Geopolitics

This interpretation is misleading and deliberately inflammatory. Cooperation between Israel, Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus is neither secretive nor aggressive—it is transparent, legal, and grounded in international law. Defence and security coordination among sovereign states does not constitute “encirclement,” nor does it target any country by default. It reflects shared concerns over regional stability, energy security, and adherence to international norms. Invoking the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as a victim ignores a central fact: it is recognized only by Türkiye. Calls for a “united Cyprus” are not a provocation but a long-standing UN-backed objective aimed at ending division, military occupation, and decades of deadlock. Presenting reunification as a threat is a distortion designed to normalize permanent partition. Maps do not “lie,” but selective interpretations do. International maritime boundaries, EEZ agreements, and diplomatic partnerships are established through treaties and law—not unilateral claims backed by force. Regional cooperation is expanding precisely because countries seek stability, predictability, and lawful engagement in the Eastern Mediterranean. This is not encirclement. It is alignment—with international law, multilateralism, and regional cooperation. #EasternMediterranean #InternationalLaw #CyprusProblem #RegionalStability #DiplomacyOverProvocation #RuleBasedOrder #EnergySecurity #PeaceThroughCooperation

🇺🇦 Ukraine is ready for a strong, final peace deal — not a rushed one Speaking in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz @_FriedrichMerz, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy @ZelenskyyUa made it clear: Ukraine is negotiating constructively, honestly, and seriously — but peace must be just, secure, and enforceable. Key points: ▪️Security guarantees must be real and understandable to Ukrainians ▪️Talks with U.S. and European partners are ongoing around the clock ▪️Territorial issues are difficult — but decisions belong to Ukraine ▪️Pressure on russia will continue, including work on frozen assets ▪️A ceasefire must preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and Europe’s security The message to Moscow is unambiguous: The one who started this war must lose the most from it. #Ukraine #PeaceWithSecurity #BerlinTalks #EuropeanSecurity #NATO #RuleBasedOrder

As the West wanes we are witnessing major changes in geopolitics Jelena Vidojević @JelenaV81 Miloš Hrnjaz Worldmaking in Transition: Africa and the Post-Western Global Order braveneweurope.com/jelena-vi… #Geopolitics #Rulebasedorder #GlobalSouth #GlobalOrder #SouthAfrica

🚨 14 alleged Venezuelans killed by the US this month. The self-appointed "international executioner" strikes again. If the US truly wants to fight drugs, it should start with its own internal demand and legal interdictions in the Pacific Ocean—not extrajudicial killings. This isn't law enforcement. It's an aberration. #RuleBasedOrder #USimperialism

🇮🇳 No permanent friends, no foes eternal stand, 🌍 Only sacred interests guide our sovereign hand 💎 From realist power games to liberal trade's embrace, ⚖️ India charts her course with constructivist grace 🧭 Through Trump's tariff storms and Pakistan's crimson schemes, 🌪️🇵🇰 We balance East and West, fulfilling ancient dreams ⚡ In QUAD's democratic depths, BRICS' golden rise, 🤝💰 Strategic autonomy blooms where multilateralism flies 🦅✨ #StrategicAutonomy #Vasudhaiva​Kutumbakam #IndiaRising #MultiAlignment #NeighborhoodFirst #ActEast #G20Presidency #BRICSLeadership #QuadPartnership #RICTrilateral #NonAlignment2Point0 #GlobalSouth #VishwaGuru #AatmanirbharBharat #DiplomaticBalance #PowerProjection #SoftPower #HardPower #SmartPower #IndoPacific #Multilateralism #BilateralEngagement #MinilateralForums #DigitalDiplomacy #EconomicDiplomacy #DefenseDiplomacy #CulturalDiplomacy #EnergyDiplomacy #ClimateDiplomacy #SpaceDiplomacy #VaccineDiplomacy #ConnectivityPartnership #InfrastructureDevelopment #TradeFacilitation #RegionalStability #GlobalGovernance #ReformismNotRevolutionism #InclusiveGrowth #SustainableDevelopment #TerrorismFree​World #RuleBasedOrder #FrequentlyFlyingNation #IndiaFirst #SabakaVikasSabakaVishwas

Zelenskyy: Putin wants a “pause” in exchange for legalizing occupation—Crimea, Donbas, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson. That’s not peace. That’s blackmail. Peace must be worthy: full ceasefire, verifiable security guarantees, zero reward for aggression. #StandWithUkraine #RuleBasedOrder #CeasefireNow #Security #Russia #DL_InsiderX @ZelenskyyUa @NATO @EU_Commission

🇫🇷🇺🇦 Macron: Ukraine’s future won’t be decided without Ukrainians. Translation: No deal about Ukraine without Ukraine. Europe is part of the solution because its security is on the line. #StandWithUkraine #EU #Security #RuleBasedOrder #DL_InsiderX @EmmanuelMacron @ZelenskyyUa @EUCouncil @NATO

🚨 BREAKING
Is an “Alaska deal” taking shape? Stable peace — or a green light for future invasions?
Since 1945 the rule has been simple: conquest must never pay. Do we deter aggression or reward it? 🔥 #StandWithUkraine #UNCharter #RuleBasedOrder #Security #Geopolitics #Russia #AlaskaSummit #DL_InsiderX
@NATO @EUCouncil @ZelenskyyUa

“France talks law, acts diplomacy 🇫🇷⚖️” Macron initially vowed to uphold the ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu France even said he’d face arrest in Paris. But within days, Paris backtracked, citing “immunity” and ensuring Netanyahu could fly through French airspace unmolested pure pragmatism over principle . France loudly supported ICC action against Putin but when the warrant targeted a Western ally’s leader, suddenly “heads of state have immunity,” and silence from Paris. 🎯 The cost of this double standard? Undermining the “rule‑based international order” and emboldening selective justice. ⸻ ✅ Facts to back it up: •ICC issued a valid arrest warrant for Netanyahu on Nov 21, 2024 (from charges of war crimes & crimes against humanity). •France, an ICC signatory, is legally bound to arrest yet reversed stance within a week, citing diplomatic immunity. •European and UN observers denounced this as hypocrisy & even racist double standards. ⸻ 📢 Hashtags: #MacronHypocrisy #SelectiveJustice #ICCDoubleStandard #RuleBasedOrder #DiplomacyVsLaw #NoOneAboveTheLaw

U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites— “Unauthorized intervention” is not the whole story. Iran’s violations and China-Russia ties must be addressed. By Rie Ogasawara in Sankei Shimbun sankei.com/article/20250629-… #IranNuclearCrisis #Geopolitics #RieOgasawara #IranNuclearCrisis #Geopolitics #RuleBasedOrder

Scarborough Shoal: The Zone of Exclusion Expands Over the past 12 months, China has dramatically escalated its presence at Scarborough Shoal. According to a study by Ray Powell of Stanford’s Project SEALIGHT, Beijing has vastly increased the forces used to block Philippine access, creating a massive exclusion zone around this contested maritime feature. 🔷The top two maps (May 2023–Apr 2024 vs. May 2024–Apr 2025) show a sharp rise in China Coast Guard and maritime militia activity. The heat signatures intensify, confirming a tighter chokehold. 🔷The bottom two maps reflect the Philippine Coast Guard and BFAR efforts: limited and increasingly pushed out, even as our vessels attempt to maintain presence. Justice Antonio Carpio emphasizes that this exclusion violates the 2016 arbitral ruling, which upheld Scarborough as a traditional fishing ground for Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese fishers. He suggests another round of compulsory arbitration, this time to establish annual fishing quotas, a concrete, legal mechanism to prevent overfishing and exclusion. There should be a clear arbitral ruling on how much fish each country is allowed to take. China should not be taking all the fish as this runs counter to international law and the principle of shared maritime rights in traditional fishing zones. 📸: Image from Project SEALIGHT via @GordianKnotRay sealight.live/posts/china-s-… #WestPhilippineSea #ScarboroughShoal #SITREPPH #ProjectSealight #MaritimeSecurity #RuleBasedOrder #PhilippineSovereignty