Tom Porter

Starmer's authority is now crumbling. But even those most committed to a new Prime Minister should pause for thought about what it means for Britain in the world. For all his many, many domestic missteps, Keir Starmer has genuinely led on Ukraine, make tough calls with Trump and rebuilt relations with Europe by working intensely with President Macron and Chancellor Merz. Labour in government was shocked at how quickly it was swamped by foreign affairs from Gaza and Ukraine, to Trump and Iran. This isn't going to change. However Starmer's challengers have no foreign policy experience, no geopolitical worldviews, no foreign affairs teams and no experience in explaining our place in the world and its tumult to the public. But if they succeed that will be half their job. What's the plan for a geopolitical pivot to Europe? What's the strategy to deal with Trump and our fragmenting Western alliance as China's Axis of Authoritarians deepens? What's next for Britain's extensive diplomatic and security role when it comes to Ukraine? Who will be maintaining key connections to the White House? Changes at the top are often necessary. But they are delicate and not cost free internationally. In diplomacy so much is bound up in personal connections and trust built up over time. Building since 2016, these musical chairs at the top have now become so intense, with Prime Ministers lasting roughly two years and Foreign Secretaries now annuals, our allies and partners are frustrated. I've heard from European and Gulf leaderships first hand it is hardly worth investing diplomatically in a counterpart who's suddenly gone and thus hardly worth investing in Britain.

We prefer science to conspiracy theories, rule of law to rule of force, dialogue to threats. Nous préférons la science au complotisme, l’État de droit à la loi du plus fort, le dialogue aux menaces.

Stunned. @columbiajourn From @nytimes story

Secret document prepared for Kremlin outlines plan for Russia to weaken US negotiating position on Ukraine by stoking tension between the US & other countries while pushing ahead with efforts to dismantle the Ukrainian state. w/@RobynDixon__ washingtonpost.com/world/2025/03/…

BREAKING: Russia is conducting ‘state-sponsored terrorism’ against Europe, EU chief diplomat warns Investigation showed pro-Russia groups were offering crypto payments in exchange for hybrid attacks across Europe.

From a Moscow contact: "Putin will agree to a ceasefire right away if Trump recognizes Crimea as Russia. That would be a sign of the seriousness of his intentions"

French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu: French intelligence is sovereign; we are replacing halted US intel for Ukraine. The UK faces challenges due to its 5 Eyes ties.

For years with good reason 🇨🇳watchers have warned of the risk of reliance on 🇨🇳tech companies on the grounds Beijing could use them for coercive disruption. Massive reliance on 🇺🇸digital systems should prompt similar concerns re 🇺🇸govt pressure & derisking policies.

NBC reports that several allies of the US, including Israel are considering curtailing intelligence sharing with the US. Four sources say they are "Concerned at the Trump administration’s conciliatory approach to Russia,"  and that "The allies are weighing the move because of concerns about safeguarding foreign assets whose identities could inadvertently be revealed." Israel pretends to love Trump but they know he cannot be trusted. We aren't stupid.

Particularly sickening that Musk couched this as a “civilizational” issue. Mixed feelings on Hannah Arendt but it is hard to argue with her claim about this: “The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism”

"I have decided to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent through our nuclear deterrent," announced Emmanuel Macron. liveuamap.com/en/2025/5-marc…

At HoL International Relations & Defence Committee, ex-UK ambassadors to the US are giving evidence on special relationship. David Manning says UK defence reliance on US - including dependence for nuclear deterrent - now in doubt in a way which was "inconceivable" six weeks ago

Those of us who cover Canada have been saying it’s very serious for some time… but I don’t blame people for not taking it seriously at first.

Here's the United States director of national intelligence on national TV pushing proven falsehoods and talking points that could have come straight from the Kremlin. I'll address them here: -Elections were not "canceled," they are postponed under martial law, as set out in Ukraine's constitution. Ukrainians do want elections, but only once a peace can be guaranteed with security assurances that will deter Russia from attacking again. Why are such security guarantees necessary? Because there are millions of Ukrainians living under Russian occupation, millions more who've been displaced, a million or so military – and all these people would need to be granted the chance to freely vote, which cannot happen under the Russian gun. Moreover, Ukrainians overwhelmingly support Zelensky and none of them are questioning his legitimacy. There are two countries who are questioning his legitimacy: Russia and the US. -Ukraine's political opposition is not silent; they criticize Zelensky even in wartime. There is still a healthy political discourse and competition in the country. -Churches are not being shutdown as she mentions; the Moscow-run arm of the Orthodox church which has a proven track record of operating as branch of the FSB has been barred from practicing. -"Total government control of the media"? Hardly. Independent news outlets are plentiful in Ukraine, and they report critically on the president and the military; many focus on exposing corruption. -Gabbard also asks what Ukrainians are fighting for and whether they actually value freedom. Ukrainians are engaged in an existential fight. They are fighting and dying for freedom and independence – and they have done so since Russia first invaded in 2014. Ukrainians also led two revolutions – the Orange and Euromaidan/Revolution of Dignity – over corruption, state violence, political repression. The latter saw more than 100 pro-democracy protesters killed on Kyiv's main square, aptly named Independence Square. If there is anyone right now in the world who understands what freedom means and what it costs, its the Ukrainians.

Macron: We will need 10 years to free ourselves from American influence through massive local and European investment.

I think Elon Musk should be expelled from the British Royal Society. Not because he peddles conspiracy theories and makes Nazi salutes, but because of the huge damage he is doing to scientific institutions in the US. Now let's see if he really believes in free speech.

Exclusive: Foreign adversaries including Russia and China have recently directed their intelligence services to ramp up recruiting of US federal employees working in national security, targeting those who have been fired or feel they could be soon, according to four people familiar with recent US intelligence on the issue.

Extraordinary scenes in the Oval Office. Like two schoolyard bullies baiting the new kid. This may look macho to the MAGA base but they’re pulling the plug on American power around the world. Zero soft power left. Only hard power. Europe will take note

Three years ago tonight, hours before Russia launched it's full scale invasion, with 200,000 Russian troops massing on the Ukrainian border, Zelensky addressed the Russian people directly, in their own language. "If your army attacks us, they will see our faces, not our backs"

"Grant us extra-territorial rights over your natural resources and effective veto power over your foreign policy and in return we will protect you from other Great Powers." Lord Cromer would be proud.