Davis Ellison
@davisellison.bsky.social
Writer on Civil-Military Relations - NATO - Political History - Central and Eastern Europe
PhD from King’s College London Department of War Studies
Check out my podcast and substack Official Positions!
Big into X-Files and Twin Peaks references 🛸🦉☕️
PhD from King’s College London Department of War Studies
Check out my podcast and substack Official Positions!
Big into X-Files and Twin Peaks references 🛸🦉☕️
Reposted by Davis Ellison
𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐤 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬: 𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞-𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐎?
“Based on Ukraine’s experience, deep-strike is going to be very much a part of NATO strategy and doctrine for a long time to come.” - @davisellison.bsky.social (@hcss.bsky.social)
thehig.eu/article/toma...
“Based on Ukraine’s experience, deep-strike is going to be very much a part of NATO strategy and doctrine for a long time to come.” - @davisellison.bsky.social (@hcss.bsky.social)
thehig.eu/article/toma...
Tomahawk missiles: a game-changer for Ukraine and NATO? - The HIG
At a time when the United States and European leaders are seeking a peace agreement for Ukraine, the country is struggling on the battlefield and with protecting its energy infrastructure over the win...
thehig.eu
December 8, 2025 at 12:33 PM
𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐤 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬: 𝐚 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞-𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐎?
“Based on Ukraine’s experience, deep-strike is going to be very much a part of NATO strategy and doctrine for a long time to come.” - @davisellison.bsky.social (@hcss.bsky.social)
thehig.eu/article/toma...
“Based on Ukraine’s experience, deep-strike is going to be very much a part of NATO strategy and doctrine for a long time to come.” - @davisellison.bsky.social (@hcss.bsky.social)
thehig.eu/article/toma...
I had low expectations, but seeing literal great replacement conspiracy language in the new National Security Strategy really takes it:
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov
December 5, 2025 at 9:54 AM
I had low expectations, but seeing literal great replacement conspiracy language in the new National Security Strategy really takes it:
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
Thanks again to @vanjackson.bsky.social for the great discussion and the cross-post!
podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/t...
Leaving Washington | NATO Hawk to NATO Dove | Teaching International Relations | Realities of PhD Life | Ep. 274
Podcast Episode · The Un-Diplomatic Podcast · 03/12/2025 · 1h 4m
podcasts.apple.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Thanks again to @vanjackson.bsky.social for the great discussion and the cross-post!
podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/t...
Parties in multi-party democracies each weird in their own little or big way cancelling each other out to prevent total disaster.
December 3, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Parties in multi-party democracies each weird in their own little or big way cancelling each other out to prevent total disaster.
Babe wake up there was another coup in West Africa 🇬🇼
November 26, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Babe wake up there was another coup in West Africa 🇬🇼
I love living on the North Sea
November 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I love living on the North Sea
Kat has made it all the way here to the Netherlands! 💪
@katmabu.bsky.social
@katmabu.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Kat has made it all the way here to the Netherlands! 💪
@katmabu.bsky.social
@katmabu.bsky.social
My wife learning Pashto:
“Whats a vaguely Islamic name for a cat?”
“Whats a vaguely Islamic name for a cat?”
November 17, 2025 at 6:05 PM
My wife learning Pashto:
“Whats a vaguely Islamic name for a cat?”
“Whats a vaguely Islamic name for a cat?”
Vaguely threatening updates from DHL….
November 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Vaguely threatening updates from DHL….
Reposted by Davis Ellison
Sommige analisten zien Trumps kernproefdreiging als een onderhandelingstactiek richting Peking en Moskou. Maar HCSS expert @davisellison.bsky.social stelt in @ad.nl: „Dreigen met kernproeven zal deze landen juist alleen maar aanmoedigen hiermee door te gaan.”
www.ad.nl/buitenland/o...
www.ad.nl/buitenland/o...
Ondergrondse schachten en miljoenen graden: zo worden kernproeven uitgevoerd
De Amerikaanse president Donald Trump wil weer kernproeven gaan houden, iets wat het land al meer dan dertig jaar niet meer heeft gedaan. Moet de wereld zich zorgen maken? Wat wordt er eigenlijk getes...
www.ad.nl
November 3, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Sommige analisten zien Trumps kernproefdreiging als een onderhandelingstactiek richting Peking en Moskou. Maar HCSS expert @davisellison.bsky.social stelt in @ad.nl: „Dreigen met kernproeven zal deze landen juist alleen maar aanmoedigen hiermee door te gaan.”
www.ad.nl/buitenland/o...
www.ad.nl/buitenland/o...
If the US resumes nuclear testing, NATO states hosting US bombs should end their involvement in nuclear sharing, and push hosted weapons and the associated USAF personnel out.
Why would you keep nuclear forces of an irresponsible power in your country?
It’s the one thing D.C. might listen to.
Why would you keep nuclear forces of an irresponsible power in your country?
It’s the one thing D.C. might listen to.
November 2, 2025 at 12:35 PM
If the US resumes nuclear testing, NATO states hosting US bombs should end their involvement in nuclear sharing, and push hosted weapons and the associated USAF personnel out.
Why would you keep nuclear forces of an irresponsible power in your country?
It’s the one thing D.C. might listen to.
Why would you keep nuclear forces of an irresponsible power in your country?
It’s the one thing D.C. might listen to.
I swear if I hear one more time about how the US is a “responsible nuclear power”. If I was a south Pacific islander or in Nevada I’d be nervous as all hell.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump says nuclear weapons testing to resume in US after more than 30 years
The testing is necessary to keep pace with weapons programmes in China and Russia, according to Trump.
www.bbc.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:36 AM
I swear if I hear one more time about how the US is a “responsible nuclear power”. If I was a south Pacific islander or in Nevada I’d be nervous as all hell.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Davis Ellison
What does the outcome of today’s general elections mean for the future of the Netherlands and Europe?
HCSS strategic analyst Dr. @davisellison.bsky.social was interviewed this morning by Oliver Crook, chief Europe correspondent for @bloomberg.com.
HCSS strategic analyst Dr. @davisellison.bsky.social was interviewed this morning by Oliver Crook, chief Europe correspondent for @bloomberg.com.
October 29, 2025 at 9:44 AM
What does the outcome of today’s general elections mean for the future of the Netherlands and Europe?
HCSS strategic analyst Dr. @davisellison.bsky.social was interviewed this morning by Oliver Crook, chief Europe correspondent for @bloomberg.com.
HCSS strategic analyst Dr. @davisellison.bsky.social was interviewed this morning by Oliver Crook, chief Europe correspondent for @bloomberg.com.
I had a fantastic talk on all things problematic in the defence and IR intellectual world with @vanjackson.bsky.social from the Un-Diplomatic podcast (among many other things) on my latest episode of official positions!
Be sure to check out all of Van’s stuff!
podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/o...
Be sure to check out all of Van’s stuff!
podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/o...
Talking IR academia and the state of the world with Van Jackson
Podcast Episode · Official Positions © · 28/10/2025 · 1h 14m
podcasts.apple.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I had a fantastic talk on all things problematic in the defence and IR intellectual world with @vanjackson.bsky.social from the Un-Diplomatic podcast (among many other things) on my latest episode of official positions!
Be sure to check out all of Van’s stuff!
podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/o...
Be sure to check out all of Van’s stuff!
podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/o...
Trying to rationalise what I’ve seen and heard on both sides of the Atlantic, I wrote this short piece for the Dutch Atlantische Perspectief magazine.
“Culture warriors” are aligning and fuelling each others’ violence, and politicians don’t help.
@hcss.bsky.social
www.atlcom.nl/magazine/the...
“Culture warriors” are aligning and fuelling each others’ violence, and politicians don’t help.
@hcss.bsky.social
www.atlcom.nl/magazine/the...
The transatlantic bridge of violence? - Atlantische Commissie
In the ‘culture war’ that is waged in both the US and Europe, political violence is increasingly seen as an acceptable tool.
www.atlcom.nl
October 6, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Trying to rationalise what I’ve seen and heard on both sides of the Atlantic, I wrote this short piece for the Dutch Atlantische Perspectief magazine.
“Culture warriors” are aligning and fuelling each others’ violence, and politicians don’t help.
@hcss.bsky.social
www.atlcom.nl/magazine/the...
“Culture warriors” are aligning and fuelling each others’ violence, and politicians don’t help.
@hcss.bsky.social
www.atlcom.nl/magazine/the...
Will definitely be using this, from @vanjackson.bsky.social 's latest Substack post...
September 25, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Will definitely be using this, from @vanjackson.bsky.social 's latest Substack post...
As much as there is to distrust from Russian leadership, this offer of maintaining quantitative limits under New START is for us advocates to be supportive of.
Arms control starts with small steps, and is not done between friends. Keeping New START is just smart.
www.reuters.com/world/putin-...
Arms control starts with small steps, and is not done between friends. Keeping New START is just smart.
www.reuters.com/world/putin-...
Putin offers Trump a temporary nuclear arms control deal that would extend status quo by one year
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that he was ready to extend by one year the last arms control treaty between Washington and Moscow that limits the number of nuclear weapons each side has if U.S. President Donald Trump does the same.
www.reuters.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:39 PM
As much as there is to distrust from Russian leadership, this offer of maintaining quantitative limits under New START is for us advocates to be supportive of.
Arms control starts with small steps, and is not done between friends. Keeping New START is just smart.
www.reuters.com/world/putin-...
Arms control starts with small steps, and is not done between friends. Keeping New START is just smart.
www.reuters.com/world/putin-...
Reposted by Davis Ellison
John Roberts's "there's no such thing as corruption" and "the president has the right to use the DOJ as his personal law firm" jurisprudence is really working out well for us.
September 20, 2025 at 10:53 PM
John Roberts's "there's no such thing as corruption" and "the president has the right to use the DOJ as his personal law firm" jurisprudence is really working out well for us.
So I've been working for a bit with the Project on Nuclear Issue's Arms Control Knowledge Transfer Initiative Archive, and it's cool to see my work on NATO and Warsaw Pact historical sources on the history of the NPT reflected in here!
ackti-archive.csis.org
ackti-archive.csis.org
Arms Control Knowledge Transfer Initiative Primary Source Archive | CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues
An archive of documents, interviews, and analysis dedicated to preserving arms control knowledge for future generations of experts.
ackti-archive.csis.org
September 2, 2025 at 1:52 PM
So I've been working for a bit with the Project on Nuclear Issue's Arms Control Knowledge Transfer Initiative Archive, and it's cool to see my work on NATO and Warsaw Pact historical sources on the history of the NPT reflected in here!
ackti-archive.csis.org
ackti-archive.csis.org
Honestly, how do security studies people in/from the U.S. do anything unrelated to the current political situation?
Like, how does someone do a research report on scenarios on Taiwan while troops are occupying the capital and security forces are making life hell?
Like, how does someone do a research report on scenarios on Taiwan while troops are occupying the capital and security forces are making life hell?
September 1, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Honestly, how do security studies people in/from the U.S. do anything unrelated to the current political situation?
Like, how does someone do a research report on scenarios on Taiwan while troops are occupying the capital and security forces are making life hell?
Like, how does someone do a research report on scenarios on Taiwan while troops are occupying the capital and security forces are making life hell?
Reposted by Davis Ellison
China gets Tank Man and we get Sandwich Guy.
It's alright, I'm assuming we'll have our Tank Person at some point, too.
It's alright, I'm assuming we'll have our Tank Person at some point, too.
Art depicting “Sandwich Guy” now at the scene of the alleged misdemeanor.
August 29, 2025 at 9:26 PM
China gets Tank Man and we get Sandwich Guy.
It's alright, I'm assuming we'll have our Tank Person at some point, too.
It's alright, I'm assuming we'll have our Tank Person at some point, too.
My latest on my Official Position substack, asking what does it do to someone psychologically to prepare for war for decades, and then it never comes?
Just some weird Friday ruminating really....
officialpositions.substack.com/p/what-if-th...
Just some weird Friday ruminating really....
officialpositions.substack.com/p/what-if-th...
What if the 'big one' never comes?
What does decades preparing for something that never happens do to someone?
officialpositions.substack.com
August 29, 2025 at 3:28 PM
My latest on my Official Position substack, asking what does it do to someone psychologically to prepare for war for decades, and then it never comes?
Just some weird Friday ruminating really....
officialpositions.substack.com/p/what-if-th...
Just some weird Friday ruminating really....
officialpositions.substack.com/p/what-if-th...
One of the more interesting cases of selective memory regarding the U.S. and NATO is "Article 5 and 9/11".
It is often brought up in relation to any U.S. skepticism about NATO, with an admonishment that it was invoked for the first time after 9/11.
While true, there is more...
#HistIR
It is often brought up in relation to any U.S. skepticism about NATO, with an admonishment that it was invoked for the first time after 9/11.
While true, there is more...
#HistIR
August 27, 2025 at 9:49 AM
One of the more interesting cases of selective memory regarding the U.S. and NATO is "Article 5 and 9/11".
It is often brought up in relation to any U.S. skepticism about NATO, with an admonishment that it was invoked for the first time after 9/11.
While true, there is more...
#HistIR
It is often brought up in relation to any U.S. skepticism about NATO, with an admonishment that it was invoked for the first time after 9/11.
While true, there is more...
#HistIR
Reposted by Davis Ellison
It will come down to implementation & enforcement by individual officials with whatever guidance or lack of guidance they receive on determining "anti-American ideologies."
Their discretion can do some damage, but it's the chilling effect that will do much more.
Their discretion can do some damage, but it's the chilling effect that will do much more.
The Trump administration plans to scrutinize social media for “anti-American ideologies” when deciding to grant visa or green-card applications.
Trump Administration to Screen Immigrants for ‘Anti-American’ Views
The new guidance builds on the agency’s policy of vetting social media for evidence of antisemitism.
on.wsj.com
August 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
It will come down to implementation & enforcement by individual officials with whatever guidance or lack of guidance they receive on determining "anti-American ideologies."
Their discretion can do some damage, but it's the chilling effect that will do much more.
Their discretion can do some damage, but it's the chilling effect that will do much more.
Reposted by Davis Ellison
Humvees and MRAPs driving through a city means it is only a matter of time before someone steals one, and when it does happen, it's going to be hilarious.
August 15, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Humvees and MRAPs driving through a city means it is only a matter of time before someone steals one, and when it does happen, it's going to be hilarious.