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Jeff Rathke

@jeffrathke

Pres. American-German Institute; ex-diplomat; ex-CSIS; Pittsburgher

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10.10.2023
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Latest posts by Jeff Rathke @jeffrathke

The truth about Chagos Islands and the “special relationship” – Il Foglio Europeo

Memorable story by @benjudah.bsky.social. The last sentence is for the ages foglioeuropeo.ilfoglio.it/en/the-truth...

07.03.2026 08:31 👍 6 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
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Pentagon taps former DOGE official to lead its AI efforts The Pentagon on Friday named as Chief Data Officer a computer ​scientist who aided billionaire Elon Musk's ‌efforts to overhaul the government last year and who has boosted white supremacists and miso...

Former top DOGE official in his mid-twenties named head of Pentagon AI efforts.

"Kliger, in ‌social ⁠media posts between October 2024 and January 2025, has voiced controversial views and reposted content from white supremacist Nick Fuentes ​and self-described ​misogynist ⁠Andrew Tate."

06.03.2026 17:41 👍 341 🔁 216 💬 23 📌 39
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The With-Limits Partnership The March 3 visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Washington was planned well before the launch of the American and Israeli war on Iran. While the U.S. military action …

Chancellor Merz's visit to the White House this week demonstrated the emerging political balance between Europe and the US and the impact of the distinctions that the chancellor sketched out a few weeks earlier at #MSC2026, writes @jeffrathke.bsky.social:

06.03.2026 19:00 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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The Day with Phil Gayle: Mr. Merz goes to Washington German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is the first international leader to visit the Oval Office in the White House since the US and Israel began their war against Iran. The German leader has walked a fine...

When the interviewer tells you multiple times that your comments are "interesting," you wonder if it's a euphemism. What do you think, @deutschewelle.dw.com ? Form your own judgment starting at the 7-minute mark...

@amgerinst.bsky.social

www.dw.com/en/the-day-w...

03.03.2026 21:17 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Ahead of Chancellor Merz's meeting at the White House, @jeffrathke.bsky.social told Reuters that Iran is likely to be a focal point of their discussion: www.reuters.com/world/china/...

03.03.2026 14:12 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Really important. The kernel of a European SNOWCAT, the NATO scheme under which European air forces practice supporting and enabling nuclear-armed strike missions with conventional air power?

02.03.2026 16:19 👍 86 🔁 27 💬 1 📌 0

Merz: I will meet with President Trump in Washington on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East. I am in close contact with partners in Europe, Israel, and the region. Now is not the time for finger-pointing, but for unity and joint action.

01.03.2026 17:48 👍 83 🔁 17 💬 20 📌 5

Great talking with Philipp Thomeczek about Germany's other populist party, the BSW -- have a listen!

25.02.2026 17:27 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

DPA quotes Merz as saying:

"I know that my predecessors visited China on a regular basis... we should also resume the German-Chinese government consultations, which were interrupted by the change of government in Berlin and the pandemic."

25.02.2026 12:13 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0

Merz to Xi:

"We are two of the world's three largest industrial nations. This is a great responsibility. But it is also a great opportunity"

Xi to Merz: “The more turbulent & complex the world becomes, the more China & Germany need to strengthen strategic communication and strategic mutual trust"

25.02.2026 10:37 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 2

Pure tariff chaos from the US administration. No one can make sense of it anymore — only open questions and growing uncertainty for the EU and other US trading partners (1/3)

22.02.2026 12:23 👍 121 🔁 41 💬 5 📌 6
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Germany About to Find Out Whether Its Recovery Is Real Data from Germany in the coming days will shed light on whether Europe’s largest economy is on the cusp of a meaningful revival or still being hampered by Donald Trump’s tariffs and its own chronic sh...

To look for in the week to come:

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

21.02.2026 21:58 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

A few thoughts on possible US-Iran conflict (1/11):

19.02.2026 18:10 👍 124 🔁 56 💬 6 📌 13
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How Germany fell out of love with China Chinese industry is beating Germany at its own game. Cue panic

Next week Friedrich Merz will embark on his first visit to China since taking office. The vibes, as they say, will be off. My piece on a relationship that has become a lot more complicated in recent years. www.economist.com/europe/2026/...

19.02.2026 15:10 👍 11 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 4

This is one of things that sounds great in a speech, but given that the EU couldn't even deliver a response of its own to Trump's tariffs, the idea that it would be able to do it with a sprawling and diverse group of countries feels fanciful at best.

19.02.2026 09:42 👍 8 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0

wow

18.02.2026 15:03 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

👇

18.02.2026 14:27 👍 9 🔁 7 💬 0 📌 0
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Einige Passagen der Rubio-Rede hätten von Björn Höcke geschrieben werden können. „…von Schuld und Scham gefesselt“ passt in die Reihe mit Höcke‘s „Denkmal der Schande“ Formulierung

16.02.2026 10:59 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Die 62. Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz. Eine Nachbetrachtung YouTube video by PresseClub München

Gestern durfte ich mit @sarananni.bsky.social , @nicolekoenig.bsky.social + @helgaschmidt.bsky.social die Ergebnisse der MSC 2026 diskutieren. Danke an die Petra-Kelly-Stiftung und @margaretebause.bsky.social für die Einladung, und an Birgit Frank für Moderation

www.youtube.com/live/Yru_cr7...

16.02.2026 10:47 👍 5 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0
Rubios Botschaft war die gleiche wie die von Vance, besser verpackt Rubios Botschaft war die gleiche wie die von Vance, besser verpackt

Hab‘ die Ehre gehabt, mit @ndr.de die Ergebnisse der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz zu diskutieren - vielen Dank für die Einladung!

: „Rubios Botschaft war die gleiche wie die von Vance, besser verpackt”
www.ndr.de/nachrichten/... www.ndr.de/nachrichten/...

16.02.2026 09:58 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

@nicolange.bsky.social hat recht - gute Folge des @annewill.bsky.social -Podcasts, sehr hörenswert

16.02.2026 08:51 👍 8 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0

Habe mich riesig gefreut! Danke an das Politikteil für die Einladung!

15.02.2026 16:40 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1

Outstanding and timely report from @noahbarkin.bsky.social and his Rhodium Group colleagues - a must-read for those interested in German and European economic relations with China 👇

10.02.2026 15:45 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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Germany’s “China Shock” Revisited Over the past year, German political leaders, central bankers, business associations and unions have begun talking openly about the risks of a “China shock.” The rhetoric, however, has not been matched by decisive policy action.

Full note here:

10.02.2026 12:37 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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UE czy USA? Według badania przeprowadzonego przez Opinia24 na zlecenie RMF FM w obliczu potencjalnego zagrożenia Polacy częściej liczą na wsparcie europejskich sąsiadów niż na pomoc zza oceanu. Najnowszy sondaż u...

Poles no longer trusting the US for protection is a really big story. 27% of respondents see EU states as main source of assistance in emergency vs 15% the Americans. That said nearly 25% say Poland cannot on either US or EU states.
h/t @euractiv.com

10.02.2026 09:07 👍 10 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 3

Moskau versucht, den Friedensprozess durch Korruption zu zerstören: Ein Mega‑Wirtschaftspaket soll die USA vom geopolitischen Gegner zum Geschäftspartner machen. Wer vermeintlich Milliarden oder "Billionen" verdienen kann, stellt keine Sicherheitsgarantien mehr. 1/

09.02.2026 08:42 👍 447 🔁 161 💬 14 📌 7

FT exclusive:

“The US state department is set to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities across Europe to disseminate Washington’s policy positions and challenge perceived threats to free speech.”

via @annasophiegross.bsky.social and colleagues

05.02.2026 23:39 👍 609 🔁 381 💬 77 📌 143
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Six EU countries hold call in push for 'two‑speed' Europe Ministers from six leading European economies, including Germany and France, will discuss on Wednesday plans to push ahead with joint projects without the rest of the EU, to facilitate agile decision-...

A real change in how Germany approaches the EU is happening. Berlin used to prioritise the unity of the 27 and now seems much more open towards coalitions of the willing.

Next step is initiative by Finance minister Klingenbeil to build an avant-garde with 🇫🇷🇵🇱🇮🇹🇳🇱🇪🇸:

28.01.2026 15:47 👍 151 🔁 54 💬 9 📌 13
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The mother of all diversification partnerships.

My @tagesspiegel.de piece (in 🇩🇪) on the meaning of India-EU trade agreement.

Congratulations on everyone on both sides who worked hard to close the deal(s).

Real work of making the most of this historic opportunity starts now.

28.01.2026 15:14 👍 18 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
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73% of EU citizens polled think that when it comes to defence, Europe "must now rely solely on itself, without counting on the support of the United States"

28.01.2026 07:04 👍 66 🔁 19 💬 2 📌 3