The New Politics with Gladden Pappin
Mark Leonard is joined by Gladden Pappin to explore the liberal international order and the recent shift in EU-US relations
European Union
Trump’s quest to transform the West
The Trump administration is drawing on Roman Empire imagery, and Trump’s own version of Christianity, to reinforce its perception of Western values and impose conditional bilateral partnerships. Europeans need to be ready for America’s whole-hearted shift towards values-based diplomacy
Scot-free: What Europeans should take from Trump’s trade deal
Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump have announced a 15% tariff on most EU goods exported to the US. The compromise has avoided a trade war for now—but Europeans need to safeguard the deal’s positive aspects in future trade negotiations
The decay within: Why the EU needs to help defend Bulgaria’s democracy
Bulgaria celebrated its entry into the euro zone this month, but inside the country, opposition figures are being arrested and its judiciary is crumbling. This democratic backsliding risks undermining the EU from within
Snap out of it: Europe, Iran and nuclear negotiations
The deadline is looming for Britain, France and Germany to decide whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran. They are right to consider an extension to this “snapback” mechanism—and China could play a crucial role in what comes next
Britain is great at muddling through. But imagine if its leaders knew where they were heading
British prime minister Keir Starmer’s successful ‘reset’ with Europe highlights an underlying incoherence. The only rational long-term strategy is to rejoin the EU, but British politics is far removed from that
Britain and Europe are changing together
The nuclear pact recently signed by Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer reflects how an emerging post-liberal Europe is taking the form of a defence community. Britain can help shape the continent’s new security order, so long as it banishes the Brexit mindset
What went wrong in Europe’s trade gamble with Trump
The EU’s burgeoning deal with the Trump administration seems to escape the harshest US tariff threats. But there is a sense that the bloc has fumbled its hand, despite holding decent cards. The EU needs to examine what went wrong and how it can better secure its future interests against great powers
From ambition to action: The EU needs stronger partnerships to reach its 2040 climate target
The EU’s new 2040 climate target will only be credible if it works more closely with partners worldwide—sharing technology, financing green transitions, and reducing strategic dependencies
Heart of the matter: How Denmark’s focus on Ukraine and enlargement will define its EU presidency
On 1st July, Poland hands over its EU Council presidency to Denmark. The latter’s focus on EU enlargement and support for Ukraine underscores its bid to reach Europe’s geopolitical heart—and secure Denmark against threats from east and west