The hottest Transatlantic relations Substack posts right now

Europe is exposed and lacks the military and economic muscle to deter bullying from powers like the United States, which may force a painful rethink and push the continent toward greater self-reliance or unity.
The right is realigning: some nationalist movements may become pro‑European and civic/multiracial, while others move toward white‑identitarian politics, and how they answer questions of identity will determine future conservative governance.
Liberalism is under strain as intelligent people skew liberal for partly self-selecting reasons, and elites may struggle to defend liberal values while cultural and technological trends—like smartphone distraction and falling youth employment—erode social cohesion.

When European states pushed back over Greenland, Trump dropped his threats and shifted toward negotiation.
Concrete, coordinated European actions replaced kowtowing and gave them more leverage with the U.S.
Europe should use the same assertive approach to influence U.S. policy on Ukraine and secure more reliable military support instead of appeasing the president.

The U.S. imposed visa bans on several European figures involved in enforcing online hate-speech rules and the EU’s Digital Services Act, framing the moves as retaliation against digital censorship.
European leaders angrily condemned the bans and hinted at retaliatory steps, but these measures are largely symbolic and risk creating a cycle of mutual victimhood that sustains the dispute rather than resolving it.
To really pressure these organisations would require tougher economic steps like cutting funding or freezing assets, but removing a few NGOs wouldn’t end broader online censorship because the legal and political system enabling it runs much deeper.

A negotiated Greenland 'framework' calmed the crisis but left open tough questions about how to keep NATO functioning under the pressures of a disruptive U.S. president.
The push to 'acquire' Greenland looked unnecessary for alliance security and felt driven more by personal motives—treating territory like real estate and anger over a Nobel snub—than by clear strategic need.
The core issue is the U.S. president's behavior and whether it signals a permanent rupture in transatlantic ties or simply a shift toward a different, more unpredictable relationship.

The EU fined X for so‑called technical violations, but many see the penalty as a way to push the platform to censor content.
The EU uses "trusted flaggers" — NGOs and academics given special access to spot and report content. Critics say this creates a proxy censorship system like a "Ministry of Truth".
The dispute reveals a wider perception gap: Europeans may underestimate how committed the U.S. is to free speech. The fine could become a symbolic clash over free expression rather than just enforcement of technical rules.

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Emmanuel Macron's foreign policy grandstanding reflects a British approach.
France and Britain have historically tried to 'punch above their weight' in global affairs.
Macron's stance on Europe's strategic autonomy and relations with the US and China has caused controversy.

The European Union is likely to endure but needs to adapt, with some powers devolved back to member states and time to recover from Brexit and migration and economic strains before more expansion.
A united Europe is crucial for U.S. national security and effective sanctions; coordinated EU-U.S. action has been essential in pressuring countries like Iran and responding to Russian aggression.
Restitution and Holocaust education are morally necessary—survivors still need financial and care support, and countries must face their wartime roles to help prevent future atrocities.