Navigating the storm:
We provide added value, analysis and advocacy on EU, NATO, democracy, and security matters.
How to navigate the storm? How can freedom-loving people around the globe contain the jungle and build a civilized world? And how can NATO and the EU survive Russia’s shadow war, US estrangement, and China’s coercion? These are key issues the Brussels Freedom Hub is pursuing.
Do you have a question on current NATO and EU affairs? Do you need advice or analysis, smart debate moderation or concise writing? Can we help you network in Brussels? With the Brussels Freedom Hub as a platform, we’d love to assist you and help strengthen democracy and freedom in difficult times.
Roland Freudenstein, from Bonn, Germany, has a lifelong addiction to politics – reflected by his career in global democracy support, the think tank world and public administration. He has lived and worked in Germany, the US and Poland before settling in Brussels more than 20 years ago. He never hesitates to provide concise commentary, speak up in defence of liberal democracy, and to support democrats around the world.
With her passion for peace, democracy, and freedom, Gerlinde Niehus has driven multilateral political and military reform processes in her different leadership roles in NATO and the EU. International cooperation and politics are part of her DNA. Staying true to her academic and journalistic backgrounds, Gerlinde excels in political analysis, and rejoices communications in all its forms.
UPDATES
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Europe’s Drone Moment: Turning Civilian Strength into Strategic Defence Advantage
Russia’s war against Ukraine, the constant probing of Europe’s airspace and borders, and the vulnerability of our critical infrastructure have made one thing crystal clear: drones are now a central feature of modern security. From the Black Sea to the Baltic and the Gulf region, cheap unmanned systems have challenged traditional military technology and exposed…
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Values-Based Realism and Its Enemies: How to Tackle the new Geopolitical ‘Realism’ from Left and Right
(Martens Centre Blog, together with Dr. Peter Hefele, uploaded on 24 February 2026) This year’s Davos World Economic Forum stood out for many things, not least the Greenland crisis, but it will also be known for two memorable speeches: Those of US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. While Trump’s 90 minute
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Would Péter Magyar Be a Better Hungarian Leader Than Viktor Orbán?
Asking for a friend… In all fairness, the short answer is: most likely, yes. Unless you’re Vladimir Putin or Donald Trump, both of whom emphatically agree that Orbán must stay in power. But from the point of view of most other people in Europe, Hungarian and non-Hungarian, the answer should be yes. Hungary’s parliamentary election
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Europe, Don’t Be a Scaredy-Cat!
Get onto your feet – now! While the tectonic plates below our feet keep shifting, and the global order keeps eroding, Europeans are still punching below their weight. The recent concerted push-back against Trump’s coercive plans for a US-annexation of Greenland illustrate how much Europe can gain from standing up to a bully. Here is
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Thinking beyond old silos!
Europeans and Canada need to be bolder and braver in charting out options for their future security. Feeling like Cassandra can be unsettling. In early 2025 I wrote the below as part of a broader policy paper on the future of NATO. With Trump now threatening to annex Greenland, thereby putting NATO’s future in further
Activities
Brussels Freedom Hub
We are active in the following fields:
Analysis, commentary, and publishing
We are regularly analysing, commenting and publishing about European integration, international security and defence, NATO and the Transatlantic Alliance, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, relations with China and many more. We value clarity and frankness, and avoid the bureaucratic lingo of too many of the stakeholders in the Brussels institutions.
Speaking engagements and event moderation
With our wealth of expertise, we are regularly participating as speaker or moderator in a broad range of international events. In case you are interested in one of us as a speaker or moderator, please use the contact form below.
Advocacy and networking
Should you look for good advice on how NATO and the EU work, or need contacts in the Alliance, the European Parliament, the Commission, the Council Secretariat and the European External Action Service, we are available to help you. If interested, please be in touch.
The Brussels Freedom Hub is an analysis, advocacy and networking platform for a resilient West, strong Transatlantic ties, and the global solidarity of democrats.
Topics
Brussels Freedom Hub
With our wealth of experience and insights, from NATO and EU, academia and politics, we are covering the following major topics:
European integration and EU institutions
How can Europe cope with D. Trump, and withstand the double onslaught of autocracies abroad and neo-nationalism, populism and democratic backsliding within?
NATO and transatlantic relations
NATO between Trump, Putin and Xi, juggling an increasing range of external and internal challenges.
International security and defence
From lack of leadership and courage in international politics, via Russia’s useful idiots to a crumbling global security order.
Central and Eastern Europe
Corroborated by the Ukraine war, but plagued by new autocracies
China
The biggest long term strategic challenge to the West, NATO and EU alike, – and leader of the new autocracies
Democracy
An endangered system – but hopefully more resilient than it seems
Arts and Culture
The interplay between politics and culture, especially popular culture, is notoriously understimated. Movies, serials, to an extent even music, are hugely influential on political debates and our collective subconscious. They reflect societal vibes, but also influence them in subtle ways. Here is some food for thought!