Podcast appearances and mentions of sophia besch

As transatlantic tensions over technology and AI regulation intensify, emerging powers like China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are seeking to assert their dominance in the tech domain. Rym Momtaz sat down with Sinan Ülgen and Sam Winter-Levy to discuss the dual-use nature of generative AI and large language models and how they might be misused by malign actors. [00:00:00] Intro, [00:01:28] Generative AI and Large Language Models, [00:11:57] The Efforts in Regulating Generative AI, [00:19:23] The Future of the Tech SectorSinan Ülgen, January 27, 2025, “The World According to Generative Artificial Intelligence,” Carnegie Europe.Sinan Ülgen, August 13, 2024, “Turkey's Instagram Spat Shows the Limits of Global Content Governance,” Financial Times.Sam Winter-Levy, Sophia Besch, January 30, 2025 “How Will AI Export Policies Redefine U.S. Global Influence?” The World Unpacked, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.Sam Winter-Levy, Matt Sheehan, January 28, 2025, “Chips, China, and a Lot of Money: The Factors Driving the DeepSeek AI Turmoil,” Emissary, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.Sam Winter-Levy, January 24, 2025, “The United Arab Emirates' AI Ambitions,” Center for Strategic and International Studies.Sam Winter-Levy, January 13, 2025, “With Its Latest Rule, the U.S. Tries to Govern AI's Global Spread,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.Sam Winter-Levy, December 13, 2024, “The AI Export Dilemma: Three Competing Visions for U.S. Strategy,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.Sam Winter-Levy, September 20, 2024, “Silicon Valley Hasn't Revolutionized Warfare—Yet,” Foreign Policy.

Sophia Besch, a senior fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss Germany's ambitious rearmament plans amidst deepening concerns about the U.S. commitment to European security.   Mentioned on the Episode:   Sophia Besch, "A Zeitenwende for Germany's Defense Industry," U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute   Sophia Besch and Erik Brown, "Who's Going to United Europe on Defense?" Carnegie Endowment for International Peace   Sophia Besch and Tara Varma, “A New Transatlantic Alliance Threatens the EU,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President's Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/germanys-rearmament-sophia-besch

After over a year of devastating conflict, Israel and Hamas reached a three-phase ceasefire agreement in January 2025, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. The deal allowed for significant increases in humanitarian aid deliveries, prisoner and hostage exchanges, and discussions for a potential permanent ceasefire.This episode was recorded on March 11, ten days after the scheduled completion of Phase 1. Since then, the ceasefire has remained in limbo—Israel is pushing to extend Phase 1, while Hamas wants to advance to Phase 2 negotiations, under which a permanent ceasefire would be established. With talks stalled and a spike in resumed violence on March 18, the road ahead remains uncertain, especially as U.S. policy under President Trump continues to shift.In this episode, Sophia Besch sits down with Zaha Hassan, a Fellow in Carnegie's Middle East Program and a human rights lawyer. She previously served as the senior legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team during Palestine's bid for UN membership and is a regular participant in track II peace efforts. Together, they explore the fragile ceasefire in Gaza—its implications, challenges and delays with implementation, and the evolving role of the United States in the region under President Donald Trump's administration.Notes:Zaha Hassan and H. A. Hellyer, Suppressing Dissent: Shrinking Civic Space, Transnational Repression and Palestine-Israel, (Oneworld, 2024).

Europe is not typically the focus of the Grand Tamasha podcast but recent developments involving Europe, the United States, and India raise fresh questions about the future shape of the international order.Last week, a high-level European Commission delegation embarked on a historic trip to New Delhi, where the two sides spoke optimistically of a promising new chapter in their relationship. Across the ocean in Washington, however, there were alarming signs of a breakdown in the Trans-Atlantic relationship, with the unprecedented Oval Office dressing down of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.To discuss where things stand in Europe, India, and the United States, Milan is joined on the show this week by Tara Varma. Tara is a visiting fellow in the Center of the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution. Until December 2022, she was a senior policy fellow and the head of the Paris office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. She has previously worked and lived in Shanghai, London, New Delhi, and Paris.Milan and Tara discuss the growing wedge between the United States and Europe, the significance of the recent EC visit to New Delhi, the prospects of an EU-India trade pact, and the prospects of a “New Yalta” summit between China, Russia, and the United States. Plus, the two discuss the emerging bonhomie among right-wing nationalists and the prospects of the Trump administration engineering a Sino-Russia split.Episode notes:1. Sophia Besch and Tara Varma, “A New Transatlantic Alliance Threatens the EU,” Carnegie Emissary (blog), February 20, 2025.2. Patricia M. Kim et al., " The China-Russia relationship and threats to vital US interests,” Brookings Institution, December 16, 2024.3. Tara Varma and Caroline Grassmuck, “What is going on in France?” Brookings Institution, December 13, 2024.4. C. Raja Mohan, “In Trump's world, India and Europe need each other,” Indian Express, February 27, 2025.

Nearly a week after the tense Oval Office meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky, and just days after the Trump administration's abrupt decision to pause military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, serious questions loom over America's commitment to Kyiv's security. At the same time, the White House appears to be exploring a thaw with Moscow—including potential sanctions relief with little in return.In this episode, Sophia Besch and Dara Massicot unpack the implications of these moves: What message does this send to Ukraine and its European allies? How are European leaders responding? And what does this shift mean for U.S. foreign policy and great power competition?Notes:Dara Massicot, Russian Military Reconstitution: 2030 Pathways and Prospects, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, September 12, 2024.

Rising sea levels and climate-driven flooding are reshaping the global economy, with major implications for the U.S. housing market and the global economy. As millions of homes face increased risk, mortgage defaults could surge, home values may plummet, and financial instability could spread worldwide. Governments will soon need large-scale strategies to relocate coastal populations and manage mounting disaster relief costs.In this episode, we explore how climate change threatens financial stability and whether the U.S. is facing another housing market bubble. Sophia Besch discusses these questions with Susan Crawford, a senior fellow for Carnegie's Climate, Sustainability, and Geopolitics Program.Notes:Susan Crawford, Charleston: Race, Water, and the Coming Storm, (Pegasus Books, 2023).Amitov Ghosh, The Nutmeg's Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis, (University of Chicago Press, 2021).

In 2022, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared “Zeitenwende”—a “turning point” in how Germany should think about its defense and security. As the third anniversary of the war approaches amid signs that the Trump administration wants to bring it to an end on terms favorable to Russia, Germany is yet to form a new government following the collapse of Scholz's coalition. What does the upcoming federal election mean for Germany and its role supporting Ukraine? What changes to German and EU defense can be expected, depending on the composition of the new coalition?

When a British submarine surfaced in the North Sea to warn off a Russian spy vessel sailing just 45 miles from the British mainland, a series of shadowy maritime sabotage incidents burst onto the front pages and into public consciousness. In the past year undersea cables vital to European digital infrastructure have been targeted for damage - most notably in the Baltic Sea. With blame difficult to pinpoint, suspicion has fallen on Russia, which Western security services have warned is engaged in ‘hybrid warfare' - utilising sabotage, cyber attacks and other non-military hostile acts - in a bid to weaken NATO countries and destabilise Western democracies.  In the latest episode of This Is Not A Drill, Gavin Esler discusses the threat to European infrastructure from undersea sabotage with Sophia Besch, a senior fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. And to assess the wider threat from potential hybrid warfare operations we hear from Ian Bond, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform. • Go to http://proton.me/notadrill to receive a 38% discount on Proton Mail • This episode of This Is Not A Drill is supported by Incogni, the service that keeps your private information safe, protects you from identity theft and keeps your data from being sold. There's a special offer for This Is Not A Drill listeners – go to Incogni.com/notadrill to get an exclusive 60% off your annual plan. • Support us on Patreon to keep This Is Not A Drill producing thought-provoking podcasts like this. Written and presented by Gavin Esler. Produced by Robin Leeburn. Original theme music by Paul Hartnoll – https://www.orbitalofficial.com. Executive Producer Martin Bojtos. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. This Is Not A Drill is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

China's new AI model, DeepSeek, has rattled markets and raised questions about the global AI race. Meanwhile, just before leaving office, the Biden administration introduced the Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion—an ambitious new rule that could reshape how—and who—gets access to advanced AI technologies from the U.S. It is designed to regulate AI exports, strengthen partnerships with allies, and restrict adversaries' access to advanced AI chips and models.But with the Trump administration now in power, will this framework survive? The stakes are high: AI chips fuel cutting-edge technologies, and whoever controls them holds the keys to the future of advanced AI systems.In this episode, Sophia Besch and Technology and International Affairs Fellow Sam Winter-Levy explore what Biden's new AI framework aims to achieve, how DeepSeek might challenge U.S. AI dominance, and what we might expect from the Trump administration's with respect to AI exports. Will Washington double down on AI restrictions, or will Trump scrap Biden's framework in favor of a new approach? And with China rapidly advancing, can the U.S. maintain its technological edge?Notes:Sam Winter-Levy, "The AI Export Dilemma: Three Competing Visions for U.S. Strategy," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, December 13, 2024.Sam Winter-Levy, "With Its Latest Rule, the U.S. Tries to Govern AI's Global Spread,"  Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, January 13, 2025.Matt Sheehan and Sam Winter-Levy, "Chips, China, and a Lot of Money: The Factors Driving the DeepSeek AI Turmoil," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, January 28, 2025.Leopold Aschenbrenner, "Situational Awareness: The Decade Ahead," June 2024.Jeffrey Ding, Technology and the Rise of Great Powers: How Diffusion Shapes Economic Competition, Princeton University Press (2024).Benjamín Labatut, When We Cease to Understand the World, Pushkin Press and New York Review of Books (2021).

As we enter this new year of 2025, Sophia Besch sits down with President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Tino Cuéllar. They take a step back at the year and look at the big themes and trends that are likely going to determine and underlie the discussions of the year ahead, from technology to political economy, democratic governance, and global power dynamics.Notes:Ramachandra Guha, India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy, Ecco, 2008.James C. Scott, Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed, Yale University Press, 1999.Álvaro Enrigue, You Dreamed of Empires, Riverhead Books, 2024.

Over the past decade, China has emerged as a powerhouse here, producing  the majority of key clean energy technologies. What does this mean for the United States, and for the race towards net zero emissions? In this episode, Sophia Besch and Fellow Milo McBride talk about the strategies the U.S. could deploy to better compete in the clean energy revolution. They unpack how innovative technologies could not only help close the clean energy gap with China but also redefine America's role in the global energy landscape. They also explore how the incoming Trump administration might approach the U.S.-China race for clean energy dominance—and what all of this means for American allies abroad.Notes: Milo McBride, "Catching Up or Leaping Ahead? How Energy Innovation Can Secure U.S. Industrial Stature in a Net-Zero World," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, September 19, 2024.Jonas Nahm, Collaborative Advantage: Forging Green Industries in the New Global Economy (Oxford University Press, 2021).Credits:Host: Sophia BeschExecutive Producer & Audio Engineer: Heewon ParkVideographer: Cameron Zotter

With Donald Trump returning to the White House, the future of the transatlantic alliance hangs in the balance.Europe Inside Out's new host Rym Momtaz is joined by Sophia Besch and Christopher Shell to unpack the reasons behind his victory and its implications for EU-U.S. relations.

With Donald Trump returning to the White House, the future of the transatlantic alliance hangs in the balance. Europe Inside Out's new host Rym Momtaz is joined by Sophia Besch and Christopher Shell to unpack the reasons behind his victory and its implications for EU-U.S. relations.[00:00:00] Intro, [00:01:52] Interviews with Voters in the United States [00:10:52] The Reasons Behind Trump's Victory [00:20:59] The Election's Impact on EU-U.S. Relations [00:27:54] The Future of the Transatlantic Relationship.Rym Momtaz et al., November 7, 2024, “Taking the Pulse: Can Europeans Significantly Reduce Their Security Reliance on the United States?” Strategic Europe, Carnegie Europe.Rym Momtaz, September 17, 2024, “Europe's Choice: Adapt or Atrophy,” Strategic Europe, Carnegie Europe.Sophia Besch, Liana Fix, November 7, 2024, “Europe Does Not Have the Luxury to Panic Over Trump's Election,”, Emissary, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.Sophia Besch, Christopher S. Chivvis, Stephen Wertheim, October 24, 2024, “Will America's Next President Bring Real Change in Foreign Policy?” The World Unpacked, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.Christopher Shell, October 24, 2024, “Race, Foreign Policy, and the 2024 Presidential Election,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.Christopher Shell, October 11, 2024, “How Do Americans Feel About the Election and Foreign Policy?” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

On this week's Centre for European Reform podcast, senior research fellow Luigi Scazzieri sits down with deputy director Ian Bond and Sophia Besch, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to discuss the impact of Donald Trump's second presidency on European security. They discuss Trump's stance on Ukraine and China before delving into the relationship between Trump's team and the Labour Party and the impact of the collapse of the German government. Produced by Octavia Hughes

What if the future of global power dynamics and, the question of winners and losers in the US-China competition could hinge on one body of water – the Indian Ocean? As geopolitical tensions rise and great powers vie for influence in the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Ocean is emerging as an increasingly critical theater of international relations.What is clear is that U.S.-China tensions are heightening the strategic importance of maritime security. How are these dynamics changing the geopolitical environment of the Indian Ocean? How are island nations responding to the increased interest in their regional waters, and how will they shape great power competition more broadly? Sophia Besch and nonresident scholar Darshana Baruah discuss these questions and more in this week's episode.NotesC. Raja Mohan, Samudra Manthan: Sino-Indian Rivalry in the Indo-Pacific (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2012).Darshana Baruah, The Contest for the Indian Ocean: And the Making of a New World Order (Yale University Press, 2024).

Why is meaningful change in U.S. foreign policy is so difficult to achieve? This question is especially relevant with the U.S. presidential election just weeks away now, and analysts and policy makers all over the world are discussing how a Trump or Harris presidency might shift American foreign policy in the years to come.But how likely is it that we will see meaningful change at all? Historically, it has been incredibly challenging for presidential administrations to break away from entrenched foreign policy paths —even when the need for change seems obvious. Presidencies often start with a declaration of pivots and major strategic reorientation, these then get ground down by powerful bureaucracy, political pressures and human tendency to preserve the status quo. When change does happen, leaders often pay a high political price for it. Take, for instance, the example of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. In the end, it took two decades and much internal pushback before President Biden was able to officially make this happen - even though the decision had long had significant public support. In this week's episode, Sophia Besch sits down with Christopher Chivvis and Stephen Wertheim to discuss their research that dissects how strategic foreign policy change does happen despite pressures to maintain the status quo—and  what it would take for the next American president to enact such a change.Notes:Christopher S. Chivvis et al., Strategic Change in U.S. Foreign Policy, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, September 24, 2024.Stephen Wertheim, "How Kamala Harris Should Put America First—for Real," New York Times, October 21, 2024.Christopher S. Chivvis and Stephen Wertheim, "America's Foreign Policy Inertia: How the Next President Can Make Change in a System Built to Resist It," Foreign Affairs, October 14, 2024.Rebecca Friedman Lissner, "Wars of Revelation: The Transformative Effects of Military Intervention on Grand Strategy," Oxford University Press, 2021.

Following Sunday's controversial presidential election, Kais Saied has secured his second term in office. While this result was widely anticipated, it raises deeper questions about the trajectory of Tunisia's democracy. Tunisia was once seen as the shining success of the Arab Spring – a beacon of democratic hope. But now, like several of its neighbors, it finds itself grappling with rising authoritarianism, weakened institutions, and disillusioned voters.Today, we're not just looking at Tunisia's election results, but also exploring what these trends tell us about the state of democracy in the wider region. How did Tunisia arrive at this point in its democratic trajectory? What does this mean for the future of political reform, governance, and stability in North Africa and beyond? In this episode, Sophia Besch discusses these questions and more with Sarah Yerkes, a senior fellow in Carnegie's Middle East Program and expert on Tunisia's political and economic reforms.Notes: Sarah Yerkes, "How Tunisia's President Has Used the Law to Secure His Election Victory," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, September 24, 2024.

Max and Donatienne are joined by Sophia Besch, Tara Varma, and Liana Fix for a summer special conversation on the Washington, DC think tank scene from a European perspective.   Sophia Besch is a senior fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Her area of expertise is European defense policy. Tara Varma is a visiting fellow at the Center of the United States and Europe at Brookings. Her research focus includes current French security proposals in the European framework, as well as ongoing efforts to materialize European sovereignty in traditional and non-traditional security fields. Liana Fix is a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). She is a historian and political scientist with expertise in German and European foreign and security policy, European security, transatlantic relations, Russia, Eastern Europe, and European China policy.  Learn more:   Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 

In the late hours of Saturday, Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles in an unprecedented direct attack on Israel. There was limited damage as Israel and its allies intercepted most of them before reaching Israeli airspace. Now, the United States and allies have urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show restraint in its response to avoid further escalation. But with the conflict in Gaza still ongoing, this latest attack from Iran is causing many to fear that a wider regional war is coming. Joining The World Unpacked's new host Sophia Besch is Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow in Carnegie's Middle East Program and one of the leading experts on Iran, to unpack Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel and what comes next. 

Podcast host Alex Gabuev is joined by Sophia Besch, a fellow at the Carnegie Europe Program, and Eric Ciaramello, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia and Eurasia Program, to discuss the outcomes of the NATO summit in Vilnius.The recent NATO summit in Vilnius is being labeled by many as a historic moment for the future of European security, and Ukraine's in particular. What were the summit's key results? How will the accession of Sweden to the alliance change the security role of the Baltic Sea? And is the plan for future NATO accession enough to satisfy Ukrainian society?

Sophia Besch, Europe Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, discusses with Paul Adamson Germany's changing role in domestic, European and global affairs.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Zeitenwende speech in February 2022 laid the groundwork for a transformation of Germany's foreign and security policy. One year in, how much has Berlin's positioning on Russia, energy, and defense changed?  Judy Dempsey, a nonresident senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, and Sophia Besch, a fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, sit down to unpack Germany's traditional approach toward the military, current security and defense policies, and future relations with the United States, Russia, and China.  [00:00:00] Intro, [00:01:45] Present State of German Defense, [00:12:29] German Defense Prior to 2022, [00:23:02] German Security Relations in the FutureSophia Besch, December 21, 2022, “EU Defense and the War in Ukraine”, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.  Judy Dempsey, January 10, 2023, “Germany Must Move Past the Crossroads,” Carnegie Europe.  Sophia Besch and Sarah Brockmeier, March 9, 2022, “Waking a Sleeping Giant: What's Next for German Security Policy,” War on the Rocks.Sophia Besch, January 2023, “To really modernize its armed forces, Germany needs a long-term increase of its defence budget,” 49Security.  Sophia Besch and Liana Fix, November 21, 2022, “Don't let Zeitenwende get derailed,” War on the Rocks.Sophia Besch, “Ukraine's Silver Tank? | The World Unpacked,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.  Judy Dempsey, January 24, 2023, “Europe Waits for German Leadership,” Carnegie Europe.  Judy Dempsey, January 26, 2023, “Scholz's Tank Decision Upends Germany's Long Affair with Russia,” Carnegie Europe.

Germany's government has faced international criticism in recent weeks for dithering over whether or not to send tanks to Ukraine. The Leopard 2s are finally on their way — but why is Europe's richest country so reluctant to look like a military leader? This week we're diving into the psychology of Germany's foreign policy with Sophia Besch, Europe fellow at the Carnegie Endowment. We're also talking about Czechia's anti-populist new president, and a bitter row over wine labels. You can follow Sophia on Twitter here and find out more about her work here. This week's Isolation Inspiration: Stromae's Tiny Desk Concert and ‘The Door' by Magda Szabó. Thanks for listening! If you enjoy our podcast and would like to help us keep making it, we'd love it if you'd consider chipping in a few bucks a month at patreon.com/europeanspodcast (many currencies are available). You can also help new listeners find the show by leaving us a review or giving us five stars on Spotify. 00:00 Good Week, Fast Week 02:50 Good Week: Bye-bye Babiš 11:08 Bad week: The Great Wine Label Row 22:00 Interview: Sophia Besch on how Germany sees its place in the world 39:27 Isolation Inspiration: Stromae's Tiny Desk Concert and ‘The Door' by Magda Szabó 41:33 Happy Ending: Sharks in Liverpool Producers: Katy Lee and Wojciech Oleksiak Mixing and mastering: Wojciech Oleksiak Music: Jim Barne and Mariska Martina Twitter | Instagram | hello@europeanspodcast.com

The tanks are heading to Ukraine! After facing pressure from European and international allies, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced this week that Germany will supply Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv. Following this, President Joe Biden announced the United States will send M1 Abrams tanks to the frontlines as well. The new supplies of tanks will aid Ukraine against Russia as the war nears the one-year mark.As the war in Ukraine continues, the EU is having to confront its own defense and security architecture with Germany playing a central role. Sophia Besch, a fellow in Carnegie's Europe Program, joins Stewart to talk about Germany's decision to supply tanks to Ukraine and what lies ahead for European defense. Sophia Besch. (2023, January 18). “To Really Modernize Its Armed Forces, Germany Needs a Long-Term Increase of the Regular Defense Budget.” 49security.Sophia Besch. (2022, December 21). “EU Defense and the War In Ukraine.” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.Sophia Besch and Liana Fix. (2022 November 21). “Don't Let Zeitenwende Get Derailed.” War on the Rocks.

On the inaugural episode of The Eurofile, Max and Donatienne talk Qatargate and tanks, two issues causing heated debate in Europe right now. Later on, they sit down with Sophia Besch, Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to discuss Zeitenwende and all things German foreign and defense policy.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the German chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke of a watershed moment for Europe and announced a shift in Germany's approach to foreign policy. In this special episode, in partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), World Review looks at the context of this shift and whether it will make a difference to how Germany interacts with the world. Megan Gibson speaks to Katarina Barley, the vice-president of the European Parliament and a SPD politician in Germany, about what this change will look like. Then she discusses Germany's approach to foreign relations with Sophia Besch from the Centre for European Reform, Jeremy Cliffe, the New Statesman's writer-at-large, and Christos Katsioulis, head of the FES regional centre for cooperation and peace in Europe, in a conversation recorded shortly after the FES Tiergarten Conference “Zeitenwende: Into a new era”, held in June. For more information on the FES, visit uk.fes.de or the FES Competence Centre for Peace and Security. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sophia Besch, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the current state of transatlantic relations and whether Europeans think America is “back,” as President Joe Biden claims.   Articles Mentioned in the Podcast:   Wolfgang Münchau, “Germany's message to Europe,” EuroIntelligence, October 17, 2021

What do the recent elections in Germany mean for the country's foreign and security policy going forward? Sophia Besch and Jana Puglierin join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the different potential coalition options, the likelihood of continuity with the policies of Angel Merkel, and the future of German relations with Europe, the U.S., and China. Sophia Besch is a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform. She works on European defense issues, with a focus on EU Common Defense and Security Policy, European defense industry co-operation, NATO and German foreign and defense policy. Sophia also hosts the CER podcast. Jana Puglierin is the head of the Berlin office and a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. She directs ECFR's Re:shape Global Europe project, which seeks to develop new strategies for Europeans to understand and engage with the changing international order. Jana has also advised the German Bundestag as an expert on arms control and non-proliferation.

In this week's podcast, CER research fellow Luigi Scazzieri speaks to Claudia Major, head of International Security at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), and Sophia Besch, CER senior research fellow. They discuss the forthcoming federal election and its implications for German foreign, security and defence policy, including Germany's relationship with the US and China. Music by Edward Hipkins Produced by Rosie Giorgi

What future for Britain and Germany? Are Britain and Germany doomed to be good neighbors but not good friends? Is Britain's image in crisis in Germany? And how can London reboot its relationship with Berlin? To find out the answers to this and more I spoke to Sophia Besch, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Reform, in Berlin, and a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, in Washington DC. Will Britain emerge, as Angela Merkel suggested, as a "potential competitor" to Germany or are their ways to avoid this?

In this week's podcast episode, the CER's chief economist Christian Odendahl speaks to Laura Krause, Germany director of the social research start-up More in Common, as well as Sophia Besch, a senior research fellow at the CER. They discuss the recent election of new CDU party leader Armin Laschet and the forthcoming federal election in September, as well as what both events could have in store for German domestic and foreign policy in the future. Music by Edward Hipkins Produced by Rosie Giorgi

This week's CER podcast is the second of five episodes released in conjunction with the CER's annual economics conference, usually hosted at Ditchley Park but this year held as a webinar series. Sophia Besch, senior research fellow at the CER, speaks to Sir John Sawers, former diplomat and head of MI6 and now senior adviser at Chatham House and executive chairman at Newbridge Advisory, about his thoughts on the triangular relationship between Europe, the US and China. They also discuss the comments from event speakers Manuel Muñiz Villa, Secretary of State for Global Spain, Jean Pisani-Ferry, Professor at the European University Institute, Sciences Po and Bruegel, Daniela Schwarzer, Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations and Nathalie Tocci, Director of the Italian Institute for International Affairs. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

This week's podcast accompanies the launch of the CER policy brief 'Europe, the US and China: A love-hate triangle?', which examines the complex triangular relations between Europe, Beijing and Washington, and considers both what the EU can do to reduce the risks of a China-US conflict, and what it should do to protect its own interests against pressure from both sides. Leonard Schuette, researcher at the University of Maastricht and former Clara Marina O'Donnell Fellow at the CER speaks to Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China in the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, as well as fellow co-authors of the paper Sophia Besch, senior research fellow at the CER and Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the CER. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

The EU has struggled to take decisive action on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In this episode, Sophia Besch asks Beth Oppenheim to review the record of the former EU High Representative Federica Mogherini on the Middle East Peace Process, and to draw recommendations for Josep Borrell.

Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska talks to Sophia Besch about the new European Commission. Who are Ursula von der Leyen's new commissioners – and what happens next?

Sophia Besch and Beth Oppenheim discuss the state of the EU's arms export regime, and whether the Union needs a genuinely common and enforceable policy.

Sophia Besch talks to Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska about the EU’s top jobs reshuffle. They discuss the candidates, Europe's winners and losers, and what happens next.

Sophia Besch asks Sam Lowe to explain what a customs union is. Sam argues that a customs union is still compatible with an effective UK trade policy.

Sophia Besch asks Camino Mortera-Martinez to talk through the Spanish election results.

Sophia Besch asks Beth Oppenheim whether the European-Saudi relationship has changed after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi last October.

Anchors ahoy and welcome aboard! We've packed our trunks and are going transatlantic on this week. Germany has headed to New York to take its seat on the UN Security Council — while Barack Obama has come to Germany. Damien McGuinness and DW's Fabian von der Mark chat US-German relations with former US government advisor Julie Smith and NATO expert Sophia Besch.

Sophia Besch asks Ian Bond to reflect on the CER's 2016 predictions about the effect of Brexit on future EU policy. How do they stand up now, on the eve of the UK’s departure?

Sophia Besch asks Sam Lowe how Brexit will affect trade in services between the UK and the EU, and why services have been sidelined in the debate.

Sophia Besch asks Leonard Schuette what progress has been made on Macron's reform agenda one year on, and they discuss the impact of Merkel's planned departure.

Sophia Besch asks Luigi Scazzieri about the latest escalation of the conflict in Libya, and they discuss the EU's fragmented policy.

Sophia Besch asks Agata Gostynska-Jakubowska and Beth Oppenheim about the prospects for another Brexit referendum.

The UK economy is around 2 per cent smaller as a result of the vote to leave the EU. John Springford speaks to Sophia Besch about his analysis, his modelling method and the implications of the result.

Sophia Besch of the Center for European Reform joins Jim Townsend to discuss the shifting internal dynamics in Germany and what they mean for U.S.-German relations, defense spending, and how President Trump is changing things.

Als Research Fellow am Centre for European Reform (CER) in London arbeitet Sophia Besch zur Gemeinsamen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik (GSVP) der Europäischen Union. Welche europäischen Initiativen gilt es in den nächsten Jahren weiterzubringen? Welchen Einfluss hat der Brexit auf die Zusammenarbeit? Dies und mehr in dieser Folge von PeacebyePeace.

Three panels of experts gathered to discuss the new CER/KAS policy brief, ‘Plugging in the British: Completing the Circuit’ at the Royal United Services Institute. In the first session, Camino Mortera-Martinez, Yvette Cooper MP, Claude Moraes MEP and Peter Storr address justice and home affairs after Brexit, chaired by Charles Grant. In the second session, Ian Bond, Rosa Balfour, Simon Fraser, Paul Johnston and Nick Westcott discuss future UK-EU foreign policy and development cooperation, chaired by Felix Dane. In the final session, Sophia Besch, Paul Everitt, Kori Schake and Julie Smith debate military and defence industrial relations after Brexit, chaired by Malcolm Chalmers.

Sophia Besch asks Camino Mortera-Martinez whether the UK will stay plugged into EU justice and home affairs structures after Brexit.

Sophia Besch asks Charles Grant about Macron's progress on his reform agenda so far.

Sophia Besch asks Luigi Scazzieri what to expect from the new ruling coalition in Italy.

Sophia Besch asks John Springford and Sam Lowe to lay out the arguments in favour and against a customs union between the UK and the EU after Brexit.

Beth Oppenheim talks to Sophia Besch about the difficulties the UK and the EU face as they are trying to negotiate the conditions for European military co-operation and defence industrial policy after Brexit.

Sophia Besch speaks to Beth Oppenheim and Sam Lowe about what to expect during the second part of Brexit negotiations – will the future relationship talks bring out different political and economic interests among the EU-27?

Sophia Besch and Beth Oppenheim discuss German politics, and what Berlin needs to do over the next four years to help Europe overcome its many challenges.

Sophia Besch asks Luigi Scazzieri about the political debate in Italy, which coalition might win the election on March 4th, how strong is the Italian populist platform, and how to counter Italian euroscepticism.

Charles Grant talks to Sophia Besch about how the EU-27 view the British idea of a bespoke post-Brexit partnership based on regulatory alignment.

Noah Gordon talks to Sophia Besch about the controversial Nordstream 2 pipeline – who is in favour of the project and who stands to lose out, what the EU is doing and what it should do, and whether Nordstream 2 is about business, geopolitics, or EU solidarity.

Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska and Sophia Besch review the Commission's new proposals for eurozone reform, and look at what EU leaders should discuss at the euro summit next week in Brussels.

Sophia Besch talks to Luigi Scazzieri about Russian President Putin’s proposal to send a UN peacekeeping force to eastern Ukraine. Scazzieri explains the background to Russia’s proposal, the risks of a frozen conflict, and what the EU should do.

Christian Odendahl and Sophia Besch discuss who is likely to win on Sunday, what the German election will mean for Europe, and what it will mean for Brexit negotiations.

Sophia Besch speaks to Francois Heisbourg about the future of European defence co-operation and about why he thinks the EU’s proposal for a European defence fund has potential.

Sophia Besch talks to Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska about the role of the European Commission, the member-states, the European Parliament and the ECJ in the Brexit talks, and about how process can turn into leverage in the negotiations.

Sophia Besch talks to Luigi Scazzieri about the position of the Trump administration on the Middle East peace process, and about concrete policy recommendations for the EU.

Sophia Besch talks to Camino Mortera-Martinez about how to keep Britain plugged into Europol and European criminal databases.

Recording at the CER's Arctic Bridge Summit in Finland, Sophia Besch talks to Elisabeth Braw and Ethan Corbin about security challenges in the Arctic and how Russia and Europe could co-operate in the region.

In the week of the One Belt One Road Summit Ian Bond talks to Sophia Besch about the complex relationships and rivalries between Russia, China and the EU, and how the EU should move forward to defuse tensions.

Ian Bond talks to Sophia Besch about the next steps for the newly elected French president; how his victory is perceived in Brussels, Berlin, London, Moscow and Washington; and whether the defeat of the French right wing populist candidate should be read as part of a broader trend.

John Springford talks to Sophia Besch about about the best possible trade deal between the UK and the EU after Brexit. Based on new empirical research into the costs of trade barriers he argues for a ‘Swiss style’ Brexit.

Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska talks to Sophia Besch about the triggering of Article 50, the tone and substance of the letter, how it was received in Brussels, and how we can expect negotiations to unfold.

Daniel Keohane and Sophia Besch discuss how Brexit will affect EU defence cooperation and if and how Theresa May can use the UK’s special relationship with the United States to get a better deal from Europeans.

Kori Schake, CER board member and research fellow at the Hoover Institution, talks to Sophia Besch about how European leaders should approach the Donald Trump presidency, the real checks and balances of the American political system, why she thinks sanctions against Russia will hold and why she is optimistic about Donald Trump at the NATO Summit.

Sophia Besch talks to CER's director Charles Grant about Brexit red lines in Paris, Berlin and Brussels and a negotiation strategy for the British.

Sophia Besch talks to Ian Bond and Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska about the Bratislava summit, President Jean-Claude Juncker's State of the European Union address and defence union proposals.

Sophia Besch talks to Charles Grant about the six deals that the British government will have to strike – with the EU, the WTO and bilaterally – in order to realise the Brexit vote.

Sophia Besch talks to Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska about Polish priorities during the Brexit negotiations and consequences of the British vote to leave the EU for the bilateral relationship between the UK and Poland.

Sophia Besch talks to Rem Korteweg about reactions to the recent UN tribunal ruling from ASEAN countries, the US and the EU, and the difficult balance between power politics and international law.

Sophia Besch talks to Rem Korteweg about the implications for the EU, NATO and Turkey’s European trajectory.

Sophia Besch talks to John Springford, Camino Mortera-Martinez and Ian Bond on what role the UK could play in the EU following a vote to stay in on June 23rd. This podcast refers to the recent policy brief 'Europe after Bremain: A strong team?' which can be read here.

John Springford explains the results from new research by the CER and Groningen University which shows that eurosceptic regions have the most to lose from a Brexit. He talks to Sophia Besch about euroscepticism and hostility to immigration in England’s regions outside of London and the South East – despite the fact that these regions sell more of their output to the EU.

Sophia Besch talks to her fellow CER colleagues Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, Christian Odendahl, Camino Mortera-Martinez, Rem Korteweg, Paola Buonadonna and Shahin Valeee from the LSE, about how their home country's capitals view the Brexit debate in the UK.

In the fourth episode of a series of podcasts on the implications of a Brexit for the EU, Sophia Besch talks to CER research fellow Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska.

In the third episode of a series of podcasts on the implications of a Brexit for the EU, Sophia Besch talks to CER's Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) research fellow Camino Mortera-Martinez.

In the second episode of a series of podcasts on the implications of a Brexit for the EU, Sophia Besch talks to CER's deputy director Simon Tilford.

Sophia Besch talks to CER director of foreign policy Ian Bond in the first episode.

Sophia Besch talks to the CER's JHA expert Camino Mortera-Martinez about the details of this week's migration summit deal and broader implications for the sustainability of Schengen.