Sophia Besch
Sophia Besch
Senior research fellow
Areas of expertise
EU Common Security and Defence Policy, European defence industry integration, NATO, German security and defence policy
Twitter
Nato summit: How will the Alliance handle Trump today?
Prospect
25 May 2017
Today, Donald Trump will be attending the NATO summit in Brussels, all signs point to a Europe eager to appease him.
CER podcast: The EU, Russia and China: Difficult neighbours?
17 May 2017
In the week of the One Belt One Road Summit, Ian Bond talks about the complex relationships and rivalries between Russia, China and the EU, and how the EU should move forward to defuse tensions.
Judy Asks: Is France Europe's redeemer?
Carnegie Europe
10 May 2017
Europe the sinner, at last redeemed by the grace of French President-elect Emmanuel Macron, set to the music of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony - Europhiles may be forgiven for enjoying this fantasy on the evening of 7 May.
CER podcast: What does Macron's victory mean for France, the UK, the EU and the world?
08 May 2017
Ian Bond talks to Sophia Besch about the next steps for the newly elected French president.
CER podcast: What UK-EU trade deal after Brexit?
25 April 2017
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.
Judy Asks: Does France need to change?
Carnegie Europe
20 April 2017
It has become popular to argue that France needs to change, not only for the country's own sake, but also for the sake of the EU's future.
CER podcast: Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska on the triggering of Article 50
30 March 2017
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.
CER podcast: Charles Grant on Theresa May's emerging Brexit deal
07 March 2017
Discussion on the process of deciding the British position in Brexit negotiations, the value of the UK’s ‘trump cards’ and why European officials are pessimistic about finding a good agreement.
Britische Trümpfe: London wird die Sicherheitspolitik in den Brexit-Verhandlungen nutzen wollen
German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)
01 March 2017
Premierministerin Theresa May hat signalisiert, bei den Austrittsverhandlungen mit der EU auch Großbritanniens militär- und sicherheitspolitisches Gewicht in die Waagschale werden zu wollen – ein riskantes Spiel für die EU, aber auch für die Briten.
A quantum solace - defence in Brexit negotiations
Berlin Policy Journal
01 March 2017
The UK's exit negotiations with the EU have not yet officially begun, but it is already becoming clear that no policy area will remain unaffected - not even security and defence policy cooperation.