Acute and lacerating criticism of MAGA's foreign policy myopia. A very fine piece.

The warlords’ insolence | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine President Donald Trump’s assault on Iran has been costlier, bloodier, and harder than its naïve architects expected. True, it has degraded Iran’s capabilities, written down its navy and hammered its…

My piece in @TheCriticMag, "The Warlords' Insolence." Lashing out at Europe for an ill-judged military adventure will compound the war's harm. Know-nothings should learn NATO is about defending Nth Atlantic, & so-called "free riders" bled in Afghanistan.
thecritic.co.uk/the-warlords...

Key line from @patporter76.bsky.social review of A. Wess Mitchell's new book: " #Diplomacy at its heart is the furthering of the national interest by means of negotiated compromise, conducted to rearrange power in space and time, with the central aim of concentrating strength ... 1/

Questions for the Munich hawks | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine There is a vocal group of “Munich hawks” who are fond of using one favourite analogy to accuse today’s leaders of weakness and fecklessness. With j’accuse energy, usually in short-form writing but…

My piece in @TheCriticMag. If you want to slur today's leaders by slurring Neville Chamberlain, do your homework first. Britain's predicament in the late 1930's was hard, the choices fraught. International relations is not a Boys Own storybook.
thecritic.co.uk/questions-fo...

I've reviewed A. Wess Mitchell's formidable book for @firstthingsmag, out in April. He calls for a rediscovery of diplomacy's core, not superficially as "comms" or as handmaiden to military force, but as art of arranging power in space & time, to concentrate it & limit threats.

If you heard (or even if you didn't hear) @therestpolitics.bsky.social's @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social talking about just this speech this week, how about giving this excellent @mileendinstitute.bsky.social lecture by @patporter76.bsky.social a watch?

Beyond the Iron Curtain: Prof Patrick Porter and Sophia Gaston YouTube video by Mile End Institute

Rare footage from yours truly at @mileendinstitute.bsky.social
talking about Winston Churchill, Fulton, the Anglo-American relationship, and the dangerous openness of the moment. Joined by the great @sophgaston.bsky.social and @robertsaunders.bsky.social:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrL4...

Churchill knew the relationship was never special Eighty years ago, a prime minister faced a a fickle president – and a shifting global order

“If a major burden shift is likely, Britain & its neighbours can try to negotiate a Fulton-in-reverse, receiving back the baton, creating a less American not a post-American Europe"

From @patporter76.bsky.social’s lecture in @newstatesman1913.bsky.social:

www.newstatesman.com/world/americ...

Prof Patrick Porter speaking at QMUL on Thursday 5 March 2026, taken by Gary Schwartz.

Close-up of Prof Patrick Porter speaking at QMUL on Thursday 5 March, taken by Gary Schwartz.

Sophia Gaston speaking at QMUL on Thursday 5 March, taken by Gary Schwartz.

Prof Patrick Porter, Sophia Gaston and Dr Robert Saunders at QMUL, taken by Gary Schwartz.

A magnificent lecture by @patporter76.bsky.social on Thursday, marking 80th anniversary of Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech.

We then had a fascinating response by @sophgaston.bsky.social on the challenges of the UK-US relationship today.

Thank you to everyone who joined us @qmulsse.bsky.social!

We then had a fascinating response by @sophgaston.bsky.social on the challenges of the UK-US relationship today, followed by some excellent questions from the floor.

If you're not on our mailing list, do sign up. We'd love to see you at our events - all of which are free.
www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/

Magnificent lecture by @patporter76.bsky.social at the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social last night, on the 80th anniversary of Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech.

It would have warmed Churchill's heart to see a speaker holding an audience rapt without notes or slides - just sheer rhetorical power!

Very handsome of you. I was lucky to have a compelling lineup of yourself and @sophgaston.bsky.social!

Strutting the boards at @mileendinstitute.bsky.social , a terrific event with @sophgaston.bsky.social and @robertsaunders.bsky.social, and a great audience to boot.

Beyond the Iron Curtain: Churchill's Fulton Speech, 80 Years On Join the Mile End Institute for Prof Patrick Porter's lecture marking 80 years since Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech in Fulton, Missouri!

Patrick will be exploring the 80th anniversary of the "Iron Curtain" speech at the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social tonight, 18:30. Do join us!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...

Churchill knew the relationship was never special Eighty years ago, a prime minister faced a a fickle president – and a shifting global order

"If a major burden shift is likely, Britain & its neighbours can try to negotiate a Fulton-in-reverse, receiving back the baton but in an orderly, stable & gradual way, creating a less American not a post-American Europe"
Key reading from @patporter76.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2026/0...

"If a major burden shift is likely, Britain and its neighbours can try to negotiate a Fulton-in-reverse, receiving back the baton, but in an orderly, stable and gradual way, creating a less American, not a post-American Europe."

Churchill knew the relationship was never special Eighty years ago, a prime minister faced a a fickle president – and a shifting global order

Eighty years ago, Winston Churchill at Fulton urged the US to take up the baton of primacy in Europe. He feared American abandonment, avoided the word "alliance", & warned of a baffling, anxious time. The moment was dangerously open. Me in The New Statesman:
www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2026/0...

Super! I will bring my pen.

See you there. Will bring my copy of Military Orientalism for you to sign at last 😊

Donald Trump barks that Keir Starmer is "no Winston Churchill." Likewise, Trump is no Harry Truman. But they both - and we- can learn from Churchill's Fulton address, eighty years ago tomorrow. Come to Mile End to join yours truly and @sophgaston.bsky.social as we look back to Fulton:

From Campbell Craig's rich, generous review of my book:

The case against war in Iran | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine The United States, in combination with Israel, is bombing Iran from the sea and air, while inciting rebels to rise and overthrow the regime in Tehran. Tehran retaliates with missile volleys far and…

"In war much is uncertain, unknown and volatile, a simple point that is still easily neglected. We argue about this in the dark".

Excellent piece by @patporter76.bsky.social, making the realist case against war in Iran.
thecritic.co.uk/the-case-aga...

The case against war in Iran | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine The United States, in combination with Israel, is bombing Iran from the sea and air, while inciting rebels to rise and overthrow the regime in Tehran. Tehran retaliates with missile volleys far and…

My piece in @TheCriticMag offering a prudential case against Operation Epic Fury. As ever, in wars there are many unknowns. We argue in the dark. That is also why the threshold for military action should be high, especially action to topple states.
thecritic.co.uk/the-case-aga...

Next Thursday, we will welcome @patporter76.bsky.social and @sophgaston.bsky.social to @qmulsse.bsky.social to mark 80 years since Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech.

All of our events are free-to-attend and tickets are still available so do join us if you can!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...

Beyond the Iron Curtain: Churchill's Fulton Speech, 80 Years On Join the Mile End Institute for Prof Patrick Porter's lecture marking 80 years since Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech in Fulton, Missouri!

This Thursday! The great @patporter76.bsky.social & @sophgaston.bsky.social will mark 80 years since Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech, with its call for a "special relationship", & ask how we might rethink that relationship now.

5 March 6:30: free tickets here!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...

My piece in this month's print @TheCriticMag, Trump the Imprudent King. Those who hoped this president would champion a return to disciplined, effective Realpolitik will worry about the show so far.

"An iron curtain has descended across the Continent..."

On 5 March we'll mark 80 years of Churchill's "Sinews of Peace" speech at Fulton Missouri.

Join @patporter76.bsky.social & @sophgaston.bsky.social at the @mileendinstitute.bsky.social to explore its history & the lessons for today. Book here!

Let’s be real about Ukraine | Patrick Porter | The Critic Magazine What are we, on this side of the Atlantic, really willing to do for Ukraine? Now the question is more urgent.

Contrary to former PM Boris Johnson's euphemistic view, the UK should not deploy forces to Ukraine if it lacks resolve to fight a major war there, just assuming HM forces will deter Russian attacks. There were reasons Johnson didn't try this bluff as PM.
thecritic.co.uk/issues/may-2...

Beyond the Iron Curtain: Churchill's Fulton Speech, 80 Years On

When Winston Churchill spoke at Fulton, 80 years ago next month, his nightmares were ours: U.S. abandonment, the nuclear shadow, European exhaustion, poverty & war. Join myself & @sophgaston.bsky.social at @MileEndInst to look back, & ahead.
www.qmul.ac.uk/mei/events/m...

Beyond the Iron Curtain: Churchill's Fulton Speech, 80 Years On Join the Mile End Institute for Prof Patrick Porter's lecture marking 80 years since Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech in Fulton, Missouri!

"An iron curtain has descended across the Continent".

On 5 March we'll mark 80 years of Churchill's "Sinews of Peace" speech at Fulton Missouri.

Join the brilliant @patporter76.bsky.social & @sophgaston.bsky.social to explore its history & the lessons for today
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...