A European Plan for Trump (and Harris)
A Trump win is still possible. Germany and Europe should develop innovative tactics to position themselves intelligently in case of transatlantic chaos. Even if Harris wins, these efforts wouldn’t be in vain.
experts
Sophia Besch
Senior Fellow, Europe Program
about
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.
Before joining Carnegie, Sophia was a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform (CER) in London and Berlin, where she led research on European armament policy, the EU’s role in European defense, transatlantic relations, German defense policy, and the security implications of Brexit.
Sophia has also worked with the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies and the Atlantic Council's Europe Centre, where she served as co-chair of the US-Germany Renewal Initiative. Earlier in her career, Sophia was a Carlo Schmid fellow in NATO’s Policy Planning Unit and a researcher for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. She is a member of the Atlantik Brücke Young Leaders program.
Sophia regularly comments on political and defense issues in print and broadcast media and has published opinion pieces in the Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Internationale Politik, Politico, Project Syndicate, War on the Rocks, and others. She has served as an expert witness for the UK House of Commons Defence Select Committee, the German Bundestag EU Committee, and the European Parliament Subcommittee for Security and Defence.
She holds a doctorate in European Studies from King’s College London, and degrees in international relations and international security from Sciences Po Paris and the London School of Economics.
affiliations
education
PhD, King’s College London; MSc, London School of Economics ; MA, Sciences Po Paris, BA, Münster Universitylanguages
English, French, GermanAll work from Sophia Besch
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56 Results
· July 16, 2024
Summer Special: Unpacking the Washington, DC Think Tank Scene
A summer special conversation on the Washington, DC think tank scene from a European perspective.
Cautious Optimism in Washington: Brussels Sprouts and Friends from the Halls of the NATO Public Forum
A discussion on the current situation in Ukraine, what a bridge to membership for Ukraine might look like, reflections on past NATO enlargement, the role of NATO in supporting freedom and democracy, the European industrial defense base, burden sharing, NATO partnerships and much more.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: NATO at 75
A discussion on NATO and European security. An explanation on the outcomes of NATO's 75th anniversary summit, and what Donald Trump’s return would mean for the alliance and for European security more broadly.
What the French Far Right Wants Next
After the recent election, the National Rally is learning from its mistakes.
- Sophia Besch,
- Tara Varma
Macron’s Election Gamble: What’s Next for France and Europe?
Did Macron's political gamble pay off or backfire? Tara Varma from the Brookings Institution joins Sophia to discuss the outcome of France's recent snap elections and how they might shape the future of Europe.
· July 11, 2024
Europe’s Conscription Challenge: Lessons From Nordic and Baltic States
As Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine reminds European countries about the importance of manpower, many are once again weighing the promise and perils of compulsory military service.
· July 8, 2024
Washington Wants to Avoid a Repeat of Last Year’s NATO Summit
The Vilnius summit achieved some breakthroughs for Ukraine, but both Kyiv and NATO member states are aiming for a calmer atmosphere this year.
· June 27, 2024
Ukraine at the NATO Summit
Eric Ciaramella joins Sophia to discuss the upcoming 75th anniversary NATO summit—and what it might mean for Ukraine. They explore how NATO allies are thinking about their support to Ukraine, what Kiev hopes for from its partners, and what deliverables the summit can provide.
· June 27, 2024
Resuscitating Europe's Defense Industry
A discussion on the urgency of making Europe’s defense industry fit for the demands of today’s security challenges.
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