Ian Lesser

Distinguished Fellow, Advisor to President @gmfus; Chair in Transatlantic Affairs @collegeofeurope; Dir Ian Lesser BV. Opinions mine.

[German Marshall Fund @gmfus]

🇹🇷 What does the new US National Security Strategy mean for Türkiye?

🌍@ian_lesser's latest analysis explores how the strategy’s priorities—from a reduced US role in Middle East security to sharper transatlantic debates—could reshape Ankara’s choices and its engagement with NATO and Europe. It highlights both risks and openings for cooperation in a world of shifting alignments.

➡️ Read the piece: 👉 https://t.co/MTXfzsXIOZ

[German Marshall Fund @gmfus]

On Monday, GMF Brussels hosted a conference together with the @PLintheEU and @PISM_Brussels, exploring the challenges of boosting the EU’s defence.

GMF’s @ian_lesser and Bart Szewczyk joined the two conference panels as speakers.

Key takeaways👇
🔹 Russia’s aggression and shifting US policy have forced EU states to rearm. Defence budgets are rising, but Europe still lags in innovation: only 4% of EU defence spending goes to R&D compared to 16% in the US.
🔹 With just 18% of procurement done jointly, Europe is still missing the economies of scale it needs. Aggregating demand would speed up production, lower costs, and give the industry the confidence to invest.
🔹 EU member states must support established defence giants while scaling start-ups that bring deep tech into military innovation. Bridging this gap is essential to shorten acquisition cycles to under 24 months.
🔹 Europe’s dependence on US and Chinese raw materials is unsustainable. Building resilient supply chains is critical if the EU wants to be ready to deter aggression by 2030.

🌍 GMF thanks our speakers, partners, and attendees for contributing to the discussion.

[German Marshall Fund @gmfus]

📓 In response to the overnight release of the Trump administration's 2025 National Security Strategy, GMF Distinguished Fellow @ian_lesser explained that “many Europeans will find this highly disturbing,” and that it sharpens existing concerns about the transatlantic relationship, Russia, and the war in Ukraine.

⤵️ Read full analysis in the @nytimes here: https://t.co/Mh9xqeN4qq

[Ian Lesser @ian_lesser]

A privilege and pleasure to have been present at the creation of #AtlanticDialogues. Look forward to the 2025 edition!

[Policy Center for the New South @PolicyCenterNS]

🌍 Hear the voices shaping the #AtlanticDialogues community!
📍 North America, #USA
📺 @ian_lesser, Vice President of @gmfus, has attended every edition of the Atlantic Dialogues, witnessing its growth over the years. He highlights how this international conference fosters a unique dialogue between the North and South of the Atlantic, and beyond, at a time when such conversations are more important than ever. #AD2025
🔗https://t.co/rr4vfs3o7b

[Ian Lesser @ian_lesser]

A pleasure to contribute to this terrific conversation!

[EU Institute for Security Studies @EU_ISS]

Europe isn’t alone in facing an erosion of trust with the US. Lizza Bomassi, @Ross_Marangio, @PelayoCastroUE & @ian_lesser explore how partners around the world are adapting to this new reality.

[Formiche @formichenews]

Dall’Africa ai Caraibi, l’amministrazione Trump ha moltiplicato minacce e dichiarazioni, sorprendendo chi la considerava isolazionista

L'intervista di @LorenzoPiccioli a @ian_lesser

https://t.co/vS9cEAJiQz

[Ian Lesser @ian_lesser]

My sincere thanks for the invitation and the good discussion!

[European Union Diplomatic Academy @EUDiploAcademy]

Many thanks to @ian_lesser for guiding us through the intricacies of transatlantic ties and dynamics today 🇪🇺🇺🇸🇨🇦

From trade to tech, climate to security, this interesting module deepened our understanding of EU diplomacy in a shifting global landscape.

#EUDiplomacy

[German Marshall Fund @gmfus]

🚨 As drone sightings disrupt airports across Europe, the question of how to respond is becoming urgent.

In the @nytimes, GMF’s @ian_lesser compares the threat of drones to cyberattacks, where even small actors can cause outsized damage. The challenge for governments? Finding fast, cost-effective solutions to a risk that’s cheap, accessible, and increasingly disruptive.

📰 Read the article: https://t.co/nkBrJKZJBE

[Ian Lesser @ian_lesser]

@andreaterenzio @ispionline Look forward to seeing you and catching up in Naples!

[Ian Lesser @ian_lesser]

@londonvinjamuri @ChicagoCouncil Great news! Congratulations and best wishes!

[Ian Lesser @ian_lesser]

@CharlesTPowell I was the coxswain a year or so later. Not sure I helped. But it was fun. Sank the boat in February.

[Ian Lesser @ian_lesser]

@declanwalsh Many, many congratulations and best wishes, Declan

[The Belgian Navy 🇧🇪 @TheBelgianNavy]

It’s getting closer… 🚢✨

Soon we’ll welcome the Oostende, the first of our new mine countermeasure vessels.
Belgium and the Netherlands will each receive six of these state-of-the-art ships, designed to keep sea lanes open and safe for global trade. 🌍

📸 Spotted in August.

[Gabriel Mitchell @GabiAMitchell]

Honored to have contributed to @gmfus' compendium on #October7 and its global impact alongside @OzgurHisarcikli @kristinakausch @ian_lesser @DaliaZinaGhanem & Hermine Sam
https://t.co/iWBZaniacq

[Özgür Ünlühisarcıklı @OzgurHisarcikli]

In my piece, I discuss how the Hamas attack and Israel’s response overturned the Middle East’s shift to a more integrated regional order.

[German Marshall Fund @gmfus]

🇮🇳🇪🇺🇺🇸 The 27th India Trilateral Forum, organized by GMF's @GarimaMo and the @SweMFA, begins today.

This two-day forum brings together senior policymakers, experts, and industry leaders from the U.S., Europe, and India for closed-door conversations on key issues shaping global cooperation.

🛡️This edition will focus on security, defense, and defense-industrial collaboration, exploring new opportunities to strengthen partnerships between the US, India, and Europe.

[Ian Lesser @ian_lesser]

Great news! Congratulations and best wishes!

[CSDS @CSDS_Brussels]

We are delighted to welcome Diego Ruiz Palmer to CSDS as a Distinguished Associate Fellow. Diego brings to our team decades of expertise from defence policy and, in particular, NATO. We cannot wait to start collaborating with Diego. Welcome!

More info
https://t.co/al5u1DNBCU

[German Marshall Fund @gmfus]

🛡️ "NATO has not yet invested in the kinds of technologies at the scale that would be needed to deal with that kind of a threat in a cost-effective way," GMF's @ian_lesser told NPR, of an EU defense ministers' meeting to discuss dealing with the emerging threat of isolated drone incidents in Europe.

https://t.co/M29Vbg8wua

[Ian Lesser @ian_lesser]

A pleasure to join IKV delegation today!

[İktisadi Kalkınma Vakfı - İKV @ikv1965]

İKV Başkanı Ayhan Zeytinoğlu ve beraberindeki heyet, German Marshall Fund Brüksel Sorumlusu Ian Lesser ile çalışma yemeğinde bir araya geldi.

[İktisadi Kalkınma Vakfı - İKV @ikv1965]

İKV Başkanı Ayhan Zeytinoğlu ve beraberindeki heyet, German Marshall Fund Brüksel Sorumlusu Ian Lesser ile çalışma yemeğinde bir araya geldi.