# Geopolitical Europe Welcome to Geopolitical Europe! This Substack focuses on European security, geopolitics, and grand strategy - and bridges the gap between policy and academia. Page: Feed: --- ## [The France dilemma of European defence](https://geopoliticaleurope.substack.com/p/the-france-dilemma-of-european-defence) _2026-08-19 · Gesine Weber_ European partners are concerned about France's political trajectory. The bet on cooperation with France is risky - but probably their best one. ## [What a post-American Middle East means for Europe](https://geopoliticaleurope.substack.com/p/what-a-post-american-middle-east) _2026-08-10 · Gesine Weber_ The latest dynamics in the region indicate a profound regional reordering - with significant implications for Europe. ## [Beyond "the West": rethinking Europe's place in global order](https://geopoliticaleurope.substack.com/p/beyond-the-west-rethinking-europes) _2026-07-22 · Gesine Weber_ Europe needs a better framing than an idea that denies realities of international politics. ## [Geopolitical Europe Summer Reading List 2026](https://geopoliticaleurope.substack.com/p/geopolitical-europe-summer-reading-39d) _2026-07-13 · Gesine Weber_ Under the shade of a tree or on the beach: a summer vacation (or even, more generally, every good summer season) always gets better with a good read. ## [A European post-Ankara roadmap](https://geopoliticaleurope.substack.com/p/a-european-post-ankara-roadmap) _2026-07-10 · Gesine Weber_ Europe has stepped up on defence spending since The Hague, but now it needs concrete plans and a vision. Four steps should be prioritised. ## [Think strategy: why Europe needs its own tradition of strategic studies](https://geopoliticaleurope.substack.com/p/think-strategy-why-europe-needs-its) _2026-06-26 · Gesine Weber_ Europe does not have a genuine tradition of strategic studies. But a European strategy also needs collective thinking and approaches. ## [Road to Ankara: building NATO 3.0 amidst geopolitical shifts](https://geopoliticaleurope.substack.com/p/road-to-ankara-building-nato-30-amidst) _2026-06-15 · Gesine Weber_ This year's NATO summit is not just about capability but broader questions of the alliance's future - and three main challenges related to shifts in global politics. ## [What Germany's UN defeat reveals about global politics and for Europe](https://geopoliticaleurope.substack.com/p/what-germanys-un-defeat-reveals-about) _2026-06-05 · Gesine Weber_ Germany's candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council failed. That's not only a message to Berlin. ## [No, not everyone has become a realist](https://geopoliticaleurope.substack.com/p/no-not-everyone-has-become-a-realist) _2026-05-20 · Gesine Weber_ Realism is back in fashion since 2022, but not every observer who calls themselves a realist is one. Rather, the time of actual realists has come. ## [Make any domain metal (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/Y8oqRYTNpxu0) _2026-05-20 · **Sponsored**_ Turn any domain into a blacked-out metal landing page with an email waitlist ## [A case for EU optimism: not all doom and gloom](https://geopoliticaleurope.substack.com/p/a-case-for-eu-optimism-not-all-doom) _2026-05-09 · Gesine Weber_ The EU and Europe have more potential in security and defence than many think. Public support has perhaps never been higher. A case for optimism.