Patrick COSTELLO (@patrickcostello3) A big thanks to Nadim Houry and the Arab Reform Initiative for encouraging me to think through what a new EU Middle East strategy should look like https://www.arab-reform.net/publication/time-for-eur...

substack.com/@patrickcost...

Patrick COSTELLO (@patrickcostello3) For the Spanish speakers among you (or expert users of Google translate), this article on UK/US relations was substantially based on interviews with myself and my good friend Mariano Aguirre. https:/...

For the Spanish speakers among you (or expert users of Google translate), this article on UK/US relations was substantially based on interviews with myself and my good friend Mariano Aguirre.

www.infobae.com/espana/2026/...

substack.com/@patrickcost...

Far right firewall shattered — Chartist | Patrick Costello My latest piece for Chartist on how European deregulation is being achieved with the support of the far right. https://lnkd.in/e-BDRVaT

www.linkedin.com/posts/patric...

Letters to the Editor – week ending 11 January 2026 - LabourList Read what people are writing to us about this week and over the festive period.

“I … am crying at the willingness of a Labour MP to throw out the post World War 2 legal order in the interests of maintaining a transatlantic relationship with a far right President. One would have thought that we had learnt that lesson from Iraq.”

labourlist.org/2026/01/lett...

Except that Portugal was the only country in Europe that didn’t even have a far right party during the 2010s

My point is that Costa’s fall was in no small part linked to his failure to renew the popular front coalition that had made his first government so popular.

Portugal and the fourth way — Chartist defeat of the socialists in Portugal after a relative success story

Here’s one example from the last decade: www.chartist.org.uk/portugal-and...

Political lessons from France — Chartist Patrick Costello sees Macron on the back foot with the far right threatening and the left alliance fracturing Possibly the biggest irony of Emmanuel Macron’s political career is that he entered politi...

My article on Macron: much for Starmer and McSweeney to learn from where his political strategy has left him…

www.chartist.org.uk/political-le...

Interview with me on Gaza in Egyptian newspaper Al-Dustour

Gaza - Europe’s last chance to act — Chartist Patrick Costello sees much hand wringing with minimum action from Brussels Often, it is harrowing photos that change policy by forcing a sea change in public opinion that governments cannot resist. Th...

My piece on the EU and Gaza now online.

“In Brussels, those in power are continuing to wring their hands while doing the absolute minimum in response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”

www.chartist.org.uk/gaza-europes...

Important initiative by 110 former MEPs calling for suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in view of the Gaza war crimes. Failure to act, they write, would leave the EU institutions in breach of EU Treaties. You can read their letter at the link below.

www.politico.eu/wp-content/u...

Nobel Peace Prize for Francesca Albanese and the doctors of Gaza Netanyahu just nominated Trump for the Nobel peace prize. Let’s show that the world thinks - Francesca and Gaza doctors deserve it instead!

secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/...

Written together with Glyn Ford, a piece in the latest issue of Chartist explaining why Europe’s security doesn’t require huge boosts in defence spending:

“We could have the defence we need, neither playing Trump’s numbers game not at the expense of the welfare state.”

Bibi’s last gamble? — Chartist Patrick Costello looks behind Netanyahu’s military offensive against Iran seeing it as a dangerous escalation of his war against Palestinians Israel’s latest illegal military action, against Iran, is ...

My thoughts on Israel/Iran:
“It is frightening to think that global peace and security may be hanging on whether Steve Bannon’s whispering in Trump’s ear is successful.”

www.chartist.org.uk/bibis-last-g...

Looking forward to moderating this one next Thursday

Unleashing new Demons: How the US Invasion of Iraq Fueled Syria’s Collapse - Untold The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and its blunders dismantled the state, planting the seeds of ISIS and its Syrian spillover.

My latest article on how the US invasion of Iraq fuelled Syria’s collapse

untoldmag.org/unleashing-n...

Some initial thoughts on the German elections from me and Glyn Ford

www.chartist.org.uk/centre-right...

Interview in the Catalan newspaper ARA on the implications for Europe of US withdrawal of the security umbrella

Great panel in Barcelona last Thursday.

A big thanks to the La Caixa foundation, to my co-panellist Aude Darnal, and to Mariano Aguirre for bringing me to Barcelona for this discussion. Our interventions were in English.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=VaPJ...

So it appears that sovereign states can ban harmful social media owned by untrustworthy foreigners.

What Does the ‘Year of Elections’ Tell Us About Democracy? - European Democracy Hub The European Democracy Hub asked experts on democracy to reflect on the pivotal year of elections and its impact on democratic politics.

New article reviewing elections from 2024 ⬇️

Thanks to all the contributors @elenepanchulidze.bsky.social @patrickcostello.bsky.social, Christian Leffler, Francisco Alfaro Pareja, Ravio Patra, Sanje Vignaraja, Lukasz Kondraciuk and Adam Busuleanu

europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/what-does-th...

📕 With 80+ countries heading to the polls, 2024 was a 'year of elections'.

We asked experts on democracy to reflect on the pivotal year and its impact on democratic politics.

Explore their insights in our latest Democracy Spotlight:
europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/what-does-th...

Trump’s European buddies — Chartist Patrick Costello says it’s time to stop hoping for the best as the far right organise across nations As the new EU Commissioners appoint their senior staff (Cabinets) and move into their Berlaymont of...

My latest piece for Chartist on Trump and Musk’s European buddies: it’s time to stop hoping for the best.

www.chartist.org.uk/trumps-europ...

What Does the ‘Year of Elections’ Tell Us About Democracy? - European Democracy Hub The European Democracy Hub asked experts on democracy to reflect on the pivotal year of elections and its impact on democratic politics.

Happy to contribute to this publication by European Democracy Hub on last year’s “year of elections”.

My contribution is on the European elections.

europeandemocracyhub.epd.eu/what-does-th...

Mahbrouk to all my Syrian friends! But now let’s all work to ensure that Syria can move forward together beyond sectarianism and in the interests of Syrians, not the regional and international powers who have used it as their battleground for too many years.

MAG is now on BlueSky!

We work in 40+ conflict-affected countries, finding & destroying landmines, cluster munitions & unexploded bombs & working to limit the causes & address the consequences of armed violence.

Follow us for updates on our work around the world 🌍

Learn more here: buff.ly/2M3ztTB

MAG statement on the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon | MAG MAG welcomes the US and France-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon. The Lebanese people now face a huge reconstruction task that will be seriously hampered by the unexploded ordnance (UXO) left behind after...

Mines Advisory Group statement welcoming the ceasefire in Lebanon. Assuming it holds, the hard work of clearing unexploded ordnance and risk education for Lebanese communities can now begin.

www.maginternational.org/whats-happen...

My piece in Chartist international supplement that was distributed at Labour Party conference this year. Pity about the clumsy communications on reparations around the recent Commonwealth Summit.

chartist.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

Portents from Austria — Chartist As a party with Nazi roots tops the poll in Austria Patrick Costello examines the far right threat across Europe The clear win by Austria’s far right FPÖ in national elections on 30 September was furt...

My latest for Chartist, written before the US elections:

www.chartist.org.uk/portents-fro...

The extreme politics that drove Donald Trump to a decisive victory | Letters Letters: Readers respond to Rafael Behr’s article on the rise of far-right and nationalist politics

My letter in The Guardian today:

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...