Ulrike Franke
@rikefranke.eu
Senior Fellow at European Council on Foreign Relations. #Drone politics PhD @ox.ac.uk. Teaches at @SciencesPo.bsky.social. Writes about all things #Germany #Defence #miltech. Podcast host at @SicherheitsPod.de & LeCollimateur
Pinned
Ulrike Franke
@rikefranke.eu
· Sep 24
Ulrike Franke erklärt Sicherheitspolitik wie keine andere. Was wir von ihr lernen können
Ulrike Franke ist eine der bekanntesten Sicherheitsexperten im deutschsprachigen Raum. Sie prophezeit das Schlechte und hofft auf das Gute. Europa kann viel von ihr lernen. Ein Porträt.
www.nzz.ch
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
"This is the first time in more than 50 years that there has been no growth in India’s coal power over a two-year period, even as electricity demand grew overall."
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-ind...
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-ind...
Analysis: India’s power-sector emissions flat for two years due to clean-energy surge - Carbon Brief
A surge in clean energy has kept carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in check across India’s power sector, with no growth from the first half of 2024 to the same period in 2026.
www.carbonbrief.org
September 17, 2026 at 9:29 AM
"This is the first time in more than 50 years that there has been no growth in India’s coal power over a two-year period, even as electricity demand grew overall."
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-ind...
www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-ind...
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Do you know the previous video, too? Absolutely great!
A Day in the Life of an Ensh*ttificator
YouTube video by Forbrukerrådet - Norwegian Consumer Council
youtu.be
September 17, 2026 at 9:25 AM
Do you know the previous video, too? Absolutely great!
This is very good indeed
Nice campaign by the Norwegian Consumer Council about the declining lifespan of products. Enjoy!
September 17, 2026 at 9:07 AM
This is very good indeed
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
It may be a shock to some on here, but team UvL have actually thought through potential paths to a different EU-Canada relationship and the reaction from member states is the start of the usual Brussels policy wrangling process.
The bigger issue is this EU routine takes time Ottawa might not have
The bigger issue is this EU routine takes time Ottawa might not have
September 17, 2026 at 7:48 AM
It may be a shock to some on here, but team UvL have actually thought through potential paths to a different EU-Canada relationship and the reaction from member states is the start of the usual Brussels policy wrangling process.
The bigger issue is this EU routine takes time Ottawa might not have
The bigger issue is this EU routine takes time Ottawa might not have
Finally got around to make my own website! (Mainly to have a cooler Bluesky handle, let’s be honest).
Nothing you don’t already know, but here we go:
www.rikefranke.eu
Nothing you don’t already know, but here we go:
www.rikefranke.eu
Dr. Ulrike Franke
www.rikefranke.eu
September 17, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Finally got around to make my own website! (Mainly to have a cooler Bluesky handle, let’s be honest).
Nothing you don’t already know, but here we go:
www.rikefranke.eu
Nothing you don’t already know, but here we go:
www.rikefranke.eu
September 17, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Reminder that just last week, a drone shut down Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in central Taiwan, diverting eight military aircraft and delaying a commercial flight.
Nice scoop, which raises a lot of alarming questions about defense procurement in Taiwan
Investigation: How Taiwan Botched a Plan to Counter Chinese Drones - Domino Theory
When Chinese drones buzzed the frontline island of Kinmen in 2022, the Defense Ministry in Taiwan pushed to install a counter-drone system. Four years later, it has yet to deliver
dominotheory.com
September 16, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Reminder that just last week, a drone shut down Ching Chuan Kang Air Base in central Taiwan, diverting eight military aircraft and delaying a commercial flight.
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
!!!
“Interestingly, the majority of Swiss people are also in favour of closer security cooperation with selected partners. When asked whether such cooperation is more important for security than relying as much as possible on their own national defence, a good 60% answered in the affirmative.”
“Interestingly, the majority of Swiss people are also in favour of closer security cooperation with selected partners. When asked whether such cooperation is more important for security than relying as much as possible on their own national defence, a good 60% answered in the affirmative.”
Die Angst vor dem Druck der Grossmächte wächst – und kaum jemand glaubt, dass die Schweizer Politik darauf vorbereitet ist
Nur ein knappes Drittel der Stimmbevölkerung findet, dass die Schweiz rasch auf globale Krisen reagieren kann. Und: Diese Skepsis überträgt sich auch auf die Problembewältigung im Inland.
www.nzz.ch
September 16, 2026 at 6:43 PM
!!!
“Interestingly, the majority of Swiss people are also in favour of closer security cooperation with selected partners. When asked whether such cooperation is more important for security than relying as much as possible on their own national defence, a good 60% answered in the affirmative.”
“Interestingly, the majority of Swiss people are also in favour of closer security cooperation with selected partners. When asked whether such cooperation is more important for security than relying as much as possible on their own national defence, a good 60% answered in the affirmative.”
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
“Less than a third of the electorate (31.6 %) believes that Swiss politicians are capable of responding to global crises at an appropriate pace.”
Made me chuckle because it reminded me of this (translation of screenshot in alt)
bsky.app/profile/rike...
Made me chuckle because it reminded me of this (translation of screenshot in alt)
bsky.app/profile/rike...
September 16, 2026 at 6:48 PM
“Less than a third of the electorate (31.6 %) believes that Swiss politicians are capable of responding to global crises at an appropriate pace.”
Made me chuckle because it reminded me of this (translation of screenshot in alt)
bsky.app/profile/rike...
Made me chuckle because it reminded me of this (translation of screenshot in alt)
bsky.app/profile/rike...
September 16, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Interesting polling results from Switzerland:
“Almost three-quarters of the electorate would like to see closer cooperation with small and medium-sized democracies in order to strengthen their ability to act in the face of the major powers.”
www.nzz.ch/schweiz/die-...
“Almost three-quarters of the electorate would like to see closer cooperation with small and medium-sized democracies in order to strengthen their ability to act in the face of the major powers.”
www.nzz.ch/schweiz/die-...
Die Angst vor dem Druck der Grossmächte wächst – und kaum jemand glaubt, dass die Schweizer Politik darauf vorbereitet ist
Nur ein knappes Drittel der Stimmbevölkerung findet, dass die Schweiz rasch auf globale Krisen reagieren kann. Und: Diese Skepsis überträgt sich auch auf die Problembewältigung im Inland.
www.nzz.ch
September 16, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Interesting polling results from Switzerland:
“Almost three-quarters of the electorate would like to see closer cooperation with small and medium-sized democracies in order to strengthen their ability to act in the face of the major powers.”
www.nzz.ch/schweiz/die-...
“Almost three-quarters of the electorate would like to see closer cooperation with small and medium-sized democracies in order to strengthen their ability to act in the face of the major powers.”
www.nzz.ch/schweiz/die-...
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Kindly disagree on this one. In my view, you could go quite far legally with an Associate Agreement based on Art. 217 TFEU.
Still requires unanimous support from member states and political will to go far, but in my view not treaty change or referenda.
Still requires unanimous support from member states and political will to go far, but in my view not treaty change or referenda.
A reminder that there is no such thing as "associate membership" of the EU, that to create one would require re-opening the EU treaties, which in turn requires referenda in several countries and probably a decade of haggling.
or it's a PR thing.
or it's a PR thing.
September 16, 2026 at 8:10 AM
Kindly disagree on this one. In my view, you could go quite far legally with an Associate Agreement based on Art. 217 TFEU.
Still requires unanimous support from member states and political will to go far, but in my view not treaty change or referenda.
Still requires unanimous support from member states and political will to go far, but in my view not treaty change or referenda.
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
"'Bei dem Stromausfall im Winter [2026 in Berlin] waren nur 2% der Bevölkerung betroffen, aber es hat dazu geführt, dass 20% der Polizei und 50% der Feuerwehr im Einsatz waren'.
Wären 10 oder 20% [...] betroffen gewesen, hätte das Land nicht mehr für die Sicherheit der ganzen Stadt sorgen können."
Wären 10 oder 20% [...] betroffen gewesen, hätte das Land nicht mehr für die Sicherheit der ganzen Stadt sorgen können."
"Denn Wasserwerke wären für Angreifer ideale Ziele. Bis zu 500 Liter pro Person verbraucht ein Krankenhaus am Tag. Es müssen nicht nur Patienten gewaschen, sondern auch Geräte gereinigt und Instrumente sterilisiert werden."
shorturl.at/DZgtv
shorturl.at/DZgtv
Kritische Infrastruktur: So verwundbar ist Deutschland
Die Angriffe auf Stromnetze, Bahnstrecken, Unternehmen und Verwaltungen nehmen zu. Die Täter haben leichtes Spiel. Wie lässt sich die Infrastruktur besser schützen?
shorturl.at
September 16, 2026 at 8:40 AM
"'Bei dem Stromausfall im Winter [2026 in Berlin] waren nur 2% der Bevölkerung betroffen, aber es hat dazu geführt, dass 20% der Polizei und 50% der Feuerwehr im Einsatz waren'.
Wären 10 oder 20% [...] betroffen gewesen, hätte das Land nicht mehr für die Sicherheit der ganzen Stadt sorgen können."
Wären 10 oder 20% [...] betroffen gewesen, hätte das Land nicht mehr für die Sicherheit der ganzen Stadt sorgen können."
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Haha, best comment on this idea so far
Another European institution named Council? This has to stop.
“Leaders from the EU, plus Ukraine, Britain, Norway, Canada and others, should convene in a new format to coordinate responses to mounting security threats, she will say”
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
September 16, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Haha, best comment on this idea so far
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
In der aktuellen Folge diskutieren wir mit Gast Alexander König, wie das ist mit den humanoiden Robotern (auf dem Schlachtfeld). Und was können - und sollen - eigentlich Mittelmächte?
sicherheitspod.de/2026/09/15/f...
sicherheitspod.de/2026/09/15/f...
Folge #111 Humanoide Roboter im Militär? | Was Mittelmächte bewirken können (und was nicht) - Sicherheitspod
“Sicherheitshalber” ist der Podcast zur sicherheitspolitischen Lage in Deutschland, Europa und der Welt. Anschließend an die Diskussion zu Künstlicher Intelligenz in der letzten Folge diskutieren Thom...
sicherheitspod.de
September 16, 2026 at 5:31 AM
In der aktuellen Folge diskutieren wir mit Gast Alexander König, wie das ist mit den humanoiden Robotern (auf dem Schlachtfeld). Und was können - und sollen - eigentlich Mittelmächte?
sicherheitspod.de/2026/09/15/f...
sicherheitspod.de/2026/09/15/f...
Today is State of the European Union day - aka the day of Ursula von der Leyen’s big speech at the European parliament. And it looks like we will get (the proposal for) a European Security Council
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
EXCLUSIVE: Von der Leyen to call for ‘European Security Council’ in SOTEU text | Euractiv
The potential rival to NATO will come with a call for an ‘Alliance for the future’ with Canada, according to a draft
www.euractiv.com
September 16, 2026 at 5:35 AM
Today is State of the European Union day - aka the day of Ursula von der Leyen’s big speech at the European parliament. And it looks like we will get (the proposal for) a European Security Council
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
“Leaders from the EU, plus Ukraine, Britain, Norway, Canada and others, should convene in a new format to coordinate responses to mounting security threats, she will say”
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
EXCLUSIVE: Von der Leyen to call for ‘European Security Council’ in SOTEU text | Euractiv
The potential rival to NATO will come with a call for an ‘Alliance for the future’ with Canada, according to a draft
www.euractiv.com
September 15, 2026 at 9:16 PM
“Leaders from the EU, plus Ukraine, Britain, Norway, Canada and others, should convene in a new format to coordinate responses to mounting security threats, she will say”
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
Die neue Folge ist online! Es geht um humanoide Roboter, und darum, was Mittelmächte in der neuen Weltunordnung bewegen können (oder nicht ). Plus Sicherheitshinweise mit Klatsch und Tratsch aus Brüssel und mehr.
sicherheitspod.de/2026/09/15/f...
sicherheitspod.de/2026/09/15/f...
Folge #111 Humanoide Roboter im Militär? | Was Mittelmächte bewirken können (und was nicht) - Sicherheitspod
“Sicherheitshalber” ist der Podcast zur sicherheitspolitischen Lage in Deutschland, Europa und der Welt. Anschließend an die Diskussion zu Künstlicher Intelligenz in der letzten Folge diskutieren Thom...
sicherheitspod.de
September 15, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Die neue Folge ist online! Es geht um humanoide Roboter, und darum, was Mittelmächte in der neuen Weltunordnung bewegen können (oder nicht ). Plus Sicherheitshinweise mit Klatsch und Tratsch aus Brüssel und mehr.
sicherheitspod.de/2026/09/15/f...
sicherheitspod.de/2026/09/15/f...
New episode!
Die neue Folge ist online! Es geht um humanoide Roboter, und darum, was Mittelmächte in der neuen Weltunordnung bewegen können (oder nicht ). Plus Sicherheitshinweise mit Klatsch und Tratsch aus Brüssel und mehr.
sicherheitspod.de/2026/09/15/f...
sicherheitspod.de/2026/09/15/f...
Folge #111 Humanoide Roboter im Militär? | Was Mittelmächte bewirken können (und was nicht) - Sicherheitspod
“Sicherheitshalber” ist der Podcast zur sicherheitspolitischen Lage in Deutschland, Europa und der Welt. Anschließend an die Diskussion zu Künstlicher Intelligenz in der letzten Folge diskutieren Thom...
sicherheitspod.de
September 15, 2026 at 5:01 PM
New episode!
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
We have seen Russia’s recklessness at full display in the past 48 hours.
A Russian warship fired flares at a Danish helicopter.
NATO jets had to shoot down a drone over Lithuania.
Russia struck a passenger train near the border with Ukraine.
And Poland pulled a drone from its shores. (1/2)
A Russian warship fired flares at a Danish helicopter.
NATO jets had to shoot down a drone over Lithuania.
Russia struck a passenger train near the border with Ukraine.
And Poland pulled a drone from its shores. (1/2)
September 15, 2026 at 3:42 PM
We have seen Russia’s recklessness at full display in the past 48 hours.
A Russian warship fired flares at a Danish helicopter.
NATO jets had to shoot down a drone over Lithuania.
Russia struck a passenger train near the border with Ukraine.
And Poland pulled a drone from its shores. (1/2)
A Russian warship fired flares at a Danish helicopter.
NATO jets had to shoot down a drone over Lithuania.
Russia struck a passenger train near the border with Ukraine.
And Poland pulled a drone from its shores. (1/2)
Cologne!! 🥳
September 15, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Cologne!! 🥳
Reposted by Ulrike Franke
I think we should have one day a week when no-one is allowed to talk about AI, so we can have a rest
September 14, 2026 at 12:24 PM
I think we should have one day a week when no-one is allowed to talk about AI, so we can have a rest
We recorded a @sicherheitspod.de episode *yesterday* discussing the problems of cohesion of the middle powers…
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... France in ‘astonishing’ push to lift EU sanctions on Russian oligarch
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... France in ‘astonishing’ push to lift EU sanctions on Russian oligarch
France in ‘astonishing’ push to lift EU sanctions on Russian oligarch
Paris replicates Viktor Orbán’s tactics in bid to free French nationals from Azerbaijan
giftarticle.ft.com
September 15, 2026 at 5:25 AM
We recorded a @sicherheitspod.de episode *yesterday* discussing the problems of cohesion of the middle powers…
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... France in ‘astonishing’ push to lift EU sanctions on Russian oligarch
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... France in ‘astonishing’ push to lift EU sanctions on Russian oligarch