Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes Signal scandal: The US and its shifting alliances
Mar 26, 2025
In this conversation, Jeremy Shapiro, ECFR's Director of Research and US Programme Director, shares his insights on startling geopolitical shifts. He discusses a scandal involving U.S. officials discussing military strategies in a Signal group chat, revealing their disregard for European allies. The dialogue then shifts to potential U.S.-Russia agreements, hinting at troubling implications for Ukraine and European defense. Shapiro’s analysis raises questions about America’s changing role on the global stage—and whether it might be leaving its traditional allies behind.
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Signal Scandal
- Senior US officials included Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat discussing military plans.
- Goldberg only realized the chat was real when the bombing commenced, as described.
Contempt for Europe
- The officials' carelessness exposed contempt for Europe and plans to extract economic advantages from allies.
- The incident highlights the administration's disregard for protocol and potential risks to US lives.
US-Russia Pact
- A tentative US-Russia pact seeks to restore Russian, not Ukrainian, access to agricultural markets.
- This pact overlooks Russia's attacks on Ukrainian ports and could benefit Russia more than Ukraine.