Ivo Daalder

About to join @stephruhle.bsky.social on @msnownews.bsky.social to talk the latest on Iran

We're Intensifying the Fight, But to What End? I spoke to Bloomberg TV about the Trump Administration's war against Iran and the lack of clarity as to what their real goals are for the war.

I sat down with Bloomberg TV to talk about the latest news about the US war against Iran. My biggest fear: without a clear goal, we seem to be escalating without knowing what we want or how long it will take to get there. newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/were-inten...

So Trump said today that Iran was going to strike US bases first and that’s why we had to go to war.

But he told Jake Tapper yesterday that his “biggest surprise” was that Iran struck Arab countries … which is where US bases are located.

Got it.

A War Driven by Hubris, Not Necessity My conversation with Diane Rehm about US-Iran war

Is the U.S. strike on Iran a strategic necessity or a product of "Trumpian" hubris? I joined Diane Rehm to discuss why the "imminent threat" justification doesn't hold up.

📽️ Watch my analysis: open.substack.com/pub/ivodaald...

Deleted prior post. Let me be clear, blaming Israel for war whose consequences Trump & co didn’t think thru is outrageous. If Trump didn’t want to go to war he shouldn’t have deployed the largest naval/air force since 2003. And he could have told Bibi no and made clear he’d stop supplying weapons.

What Caught My Eye (no. 51) Some interesting articles and podcasts that caught my eye this week

Here’s what caught my eye this week — including some interesting details on the decision to go to war against Iran and what comes next. newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/what-caugh...

From Peacemaker to Warmonger Donald Trump campaigned on being a peacemaker but has spent the better part of a year becoming a warmonger--striking seven countries, most without much rhyme or reason.

The Peacemaker-in-Chief has become the Warmonger-in-Chief. But Trump is no more likely to be successful at making war than he was at making peace. But making war is far more dangerous and consequential than failing to make peace. newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/from-peace...

Europe Moves On I joined Ian Bremmer on PBS's GZERO World in Munich.

I joined Ian Bremmer in Munich to talk about how Europe is moving on from its old relationship with the United States, more out of sorrow than spite, but moving on nevertheless. We also talked Ukraine, any why a ceasefire alone isn’t in Ukraine’s interest. open.substack.com/pub/ivodaald...

What Caught My Eye (no. 50) Some interesting articles and podcasts that caught my eye this week

This week, Tom Friedman on the real threat to Israel, Nancy Youssef on what war with Iran might look like, and the Guardian’s deep dive on US-UK intel on Russia’s invasion plans, caught my eye. Plus a bunch of interviews I did this week. Enjoy! open.substack.com/pub/ivodaald...

To Strike Iran, America Needs Europe Trump has often dismissed Europe and NATO as a drain on American resources, But assembling the military forces need to strike Iran show how central Europe is to America's military power and reach

Trump dismissed Europe and NATO for having ever done anything for the US. But the “armada” he’s assembling to strike Iran couldn’t operate without the direct support of Europe. open.substack.com/pub/ivodaald...

In Trump’s world, look to the middle powers for hope The U.S. may have abandoned its role in leading a rules-based system. But there is every reason to hope that others will take up the leadership mantle now.

Arguments that the rules-based order is dead, to paraphrase Mark Twain, are greatly exaggerated. The US-led Pax Americana is dead—by suicide. But Europe and other middle powers can preserve, reform, and advance it on their own. www.politico.eu/article/look...

The US is trying to end the economic stranglehold Putin is in, I told @levparnas.bsky.social earlier today.

NATO is Vital to US Security On CNN News Central with Kate Bolduan this morning

My interview on CNN this morning on NATO’s importance. newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/nato-is-vi...

NATO is Vital to US Security Sixteen US Ambassadors and Supreme Commanders who served at NATO this century issued a statement today on why NATO is vital to US national Security.

NATO is a strategic bargain that ensures the US remains the world’s most powerful and economically secure nation at a fraction of the cost of going it alone—statement by US Ambassadors and Supreme Allied Commanders who served at NATO this century. newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/nato-is-vi...

Just to be clear, as a matter of law, the United States is already obligated to help defend Greenland, which is part of NATO, if it is subject to armed attack.

Take Greenland, lose NATO

"For the president of the United States to say that NATO doesn't come and help us is, for those countries who fought alongside us, whose sons and daughters and husbands were killed in order to defend our interest, offensive," says @ivodaalder.bsky.social.

Imagine Putin and Xi watching CNN’s interview with Steven Miller about the US attack on Venezuela. Here’s what could happen next. My take for @notusperspectives.bsky.social
www.notus.org/perspectives...

Take Greenland, lose NATO

Here’s how we could lose NATO: Take Greenland. My interview with @politico.com West Wing Playbook. www.politico.com/newsletters/...

America’s Strategic Alliance with Denmark and NATO A statement by 14 former officials in Democratic and Republican Administrations—including four NATO Ambassadors, 3 Assistant Secretaries of State for Europe, and 3 NSC Senior Directors

I joined 14 colleagues who served in multiple Republican and Democratic Administrations at NATO, the White House, and the Defense and State Departments to explain the strategic importance of Denmark and NATO to US security.
open.substack.com/pub/ivodaald...

Opinion | Cartoon by Nick Anderson Nick Anderson cartoon on NATO and Greenland.

🤦‍♂️

Former US ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder on Greenland and the future of the alliance A recording from Ivo Daalder and Elise Labott's live video

I talked with Elise Labott of Cosmopolitics about Greenland and NATO earlier today. Watch and let us know what you think! newsletter.ivodaalder.com/p/former-us-...

The problem with Trump’s oil obsession The U.S. president is betting on becoming the world’s largest — and last — petrostate, while China is betting on becoming its largest and lasting electrostate.

The attack on Venezuela wasn’t about drugs or democracy. It was about oil. With Trump, it’s always about oil.

But that’s yesterday’s obsession. China meanwhile is embracing renewables and winning the future. And that’s a problem. My latest for @politico.eu. www.politico.eu/article/the-...

The Consequences of Taking Greenland Trump is determined to make Greenland part of the United States. The consequences for the United States—and the world—will be severe

Trump may find it easy to take Greenland. But the consequences for the United States are likely to be much bigger than he realizes. open.substack.com/pub/ivodaald...

I agree. The taking is easy. The keeping is quite another matter.

That’s not the point. The United States has already committed to defending Greenland, which is a member of NATO. If the only way the US believes it can defend Greenland is by owning it, it tells all other members NATO that they’re on their own.

US Threats to Greenland Threaten NATO If the only way to ensure US national security is by owning Greenland, then that signals the end of NATO, I told CNN's Richard Quest

The idea that the US can only be secure if Greenland is part of the United States is an effective declaration of the end of NATO, I told @richardquest.bsky.social on @cnnipr.bsky.social i just now. open.substack.com/pub/ivodaald...

🚨Breaking News: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are now the US Heads of State. Wonder how Trump feels about that

Running Venezuela without Governing It Trump's announcement that the US will "run the country" leaves a lot of questions unanswered

You can't actually "run" a country without governing it, I told CNN earlier today. open.substack.com/pub/ivodaald...

The simple truth..