Mona Smitte
@monalisazelf.bsky.social
Let's find out what happens next
Reposted by Mona Smitte
About the distinction between the 'rule-based order' and international law, see this piece by John Dugard: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
The choice before us: International law or a ‘rules-based international order’? | Leiden Journal of International Law | Cambridge Core
The choice before us: International law or a ‘rules-based international order’? - Volume 36 Issue 2
www.cambridge.org
January 21, 2026 at 9:15 AM
About the distinction between the 'rule-based order' and international law, see this piece by John Dugard: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Mona Smitte
I interpret that speech, basically saying that it's Canada's time to veer away from US' version of the rules, and to shape new ways of 'ordering' its international relations. This could even mean going back to actual international law among like-minded countries.
January 21, 2026 at 9:15 AM
I interpret that speech, basically saying that it's Canada's time to veer away from US' version of the rules, and to shape new ways of 'ordering' its international relations. This could even mean going back to actual international law among like-minded countries.
Reposted by Mona Smitte
The 'rule-based order' has elements of international law, but several others are excluded/mutated: no judicial enforcement, no prohibition on the use of force, and self-defence on steroids, no clear sources of law etc. And, yes, there is selectivity in applying them.
January 21, 2026 at 9:15 AM
The 'rule-based order' has elements of international law, but several others are excluded/mutated: no judicial enforcement, no prohibition on the use of force, and self-defence on steroids, no clear sources of law etc. And, yes, there is selectivity in applying them.
Reposted by Mona Smitte
Some might read Carney’s speech below as a “the king (international law) is naked” moment: but the “rules-based order” he refers to isn’t international law, but a US remaking of it, with the rest of the West often grudgingly following.
🇨🇦PM Carney just schooled our cowardly European leaders at #Davos. This speech was clearly aimed at them:
"We must actively take on the world as it is, not wait around for a world we wish to be."
"What does it mean for middle powers to live the truth? First it means naming reality..." (🧵1/6)
"We must actively take on the world as it is, not wait around for a world we wish to be."
"What does it mean for middle powers to live the truth? First it means naming reality..." (🧵1/6)
January 21, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Some might read Carney’s speech below as a “the king (international law) is naked” moment: but the “rules-based order” he refers to isn’t international law, but a US remaking of it, with the rest of the West often grudgingly following.
Reposted by Mona Smitte
i feel like the viral bus thread resonates because at every step of the way you're like "ok surely this will be resolved shortly, any second now," which seems like what all the passengers are also thinking. then the fact that the situation doesn't resolve and the bus just keeps going is an Allegory
January 20, 2026 at 5:02 PM
i feel like the viral bus thread resonates because at every step of the way you're like "ok surely this will be resolved shortly, any second now," which seems like what all the passengers are also thinking. then the fact that the situation doesn't resolve and the bus just keeps going is an Allegory
Reposted by Mona Smitte
The European Committee of Social Rights has published its 2025 conclusions.
Key findings:
➡️Excessive working hours in some sectors
➡️Vulnerable workers lack adequate protection
➡️Gender pay gap remains largely unchanged
Read more: www.coe.int/en/web/europ...
Key findings:
➡️Excessive working hours in some sectors
➡️Vulnerable workers lack adequate protection
➡️Gender pay gap remains largely unchanged
Read more: www.coe.int/en/web/europ...
January 21, 2026 at 9:22 AM
The European Committee of Social Rights has published its 2025 conclusions.
Key findings:
➡️Excessive working hours in some sectors
➡️Vulnerable workers lack adequate protection
➡️Gender pay gap remains largely unchanged
Read more: www.coe.int/en/web/europ...
Key findings:
➡️Excessive working hours in some sectors
➡️Vulnerable workers lack adequate protection
➡️Gender pay gap remains largely unchanged
Read more: www.coe.int/en/web/europ...
Reposted by Mona Smitte
Polish president ducks and dodges on Greenland. Notably no expression of solidarity with Denmark. "We have 10,000 American soldiers in Poland, we buy American military equipment."
Denmark is partner "but I'm looking at Greenland as a strategic point and a geopolitical issue"
Denmark is partner "but I'm looking at Greenland as a strategic point and a geopolitical issue"
January 21, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Polish president ducks and dodges on Greenland. Notably no expression of solidarity with Denmark. "We have 10,000 American soldiers in Poland, we buy American military equipment."
Denmark is partner "but I'm looking at Greenland as a strategic point and a geopolitical issue"
Denmark is partner "but I'm looking at Greenland as a strategic point and a geopolitical issue"
Reposted by Mona Smitte
Listening to Rutte. Pressed on Greenland, cites precedent of Greece Turkey tensions and says shouldn't comment in public because if he does then won't be able to address the issue in private. "I'm working on this issue behind the scenes...statements from me will not add anything"
January 21, 2026 at 9:21 AM
Listening to Rutte. Pressed on Greenland, cites precedent of Greece Turkey tensions and says shouldn't comment in public because if he does then won't be able to address the issue in private. "I'm working on this issue behind the scenes...statements from me will not add anything"
The United State(s) of America no longer exists. It's Trump Unlimited now.
January 21, 2026 at 9:26 AM
The United State(s) of America no longer exists. It's Trump Unlimited now.
Reposted by Mona Smitte
This is the EU's main ally in the Western Balkans...
Serbian intelligence officers have tested sound cannons on dogs in collaboration with Russia’s notorious security service, according to government documents seen by POLITICO.
Serbia let Putin’s spies zap dogs with ‘sound cannons’
Documents show Belgrade brought in Russia’s FSB to conduct experiments on animals.
www.politico.eu
January 15, 2026 at 9:10 AM
This is the EU's main ally in the Western Balkans...
Reposted by Mona Smitte
Big news if true: Commission President tasking the Council Presidency with a new EU security strategy - constitutional innovation driven by a deteriorating security environment
Of course it's not true, just Politico being clueless
Of course it's not true, just Politico being clueless
January 16, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Big news if true: Commission President tasking the Council Presidency with a new EU security strategy - constitutional innovation driven by a deteriorating security environment
Of course it's not true, just Politico being clueless
Of course it's not true, just Politico being clueless
Reposted by Mona Smitte
Emergency member states' meeting later today. If Trump's unhinged threats over Greenland have one positive effect it's to drive home the point that a trade deal with the US isn't worth the paper it's written on. The US has gone rogue and that's becoming clear to even the most timid European leaders.
January 18, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Emergency member states' meeting later today. If Trump's unhinged threats over Greenland have one positive effect it's to drive home the point that a trade deal with the US isn't worth the paper it's written on. The US has gone rogue and that's becoming clear to even the most timid European leaders.
Reposted by Mona Smitte
I'm mocking him because it's comforting, but let's remind ourselves that we were put on notice re Greenland and Canada a year ago and have done f... all to prepare. You think Germany sending 13 soldiers who depart after a few days is going to impress him? We keep advertising our weakness.
January 20, 2026 at 7:22 AM
I'm mocking him because it's comforting, but let's remind ourselves that we were put on notice re Greenland and Canada a year ago and have done f... all to prepare. You think Germany sending 13 soldiers who depart after a few days is going to impress him? We keep advertising our weakness.
Reposted by Mona Smitte
Somebody needs to take his phone away at sunset
January 20, 2026 at 7:09 AM
Somebody needs to take his phone away at sunset
Reposted by Mona Smitte
Before we go on to decode Macron's text message, could we just agree that making it public is a shocking breach of trust between leaders?
Be careful sliding into the Donald Trump’s DMs.
The world might learn something about Trump — but more about you.
The world might learn something about Trump — but more about you.
Macron decoded: What he said in text to Trump — and what he really meant
The French president’s appeal speaks to a deeper subtext about the state of the geopolitical order.
www.politico.eu
January 20, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Before we go on to decode Macron's text message, could we just agree that making it public is a shocking breach of trust between leaders?
Reposted by Mona Smitte
Former reporter here
The White House press corps isn't doing its job
The White House press corps isn't doing its job
“Yet even with all this bluster and rancor, it was the rage at a small African nation and the unabashed racism that was truly extraordinary.
After speaking for over an hour, Trump took questions from the White House press corps. None of them pressed him on the comments about Somalia or its people”
After speaking for over an hour, Trump took questions from the White House press corps. None of them pressed him on the comments about Somalia or its people”
Trump's anniversary press conference was an extraordinary display of eugenics and rage inside the White House.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-m...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-m...
January 21, 2026 at 6:17 AM
Former reporter here
The White House press corps isn't doing its job
The White House press corps isn't doing its job
Reposted by Mona Smitte
“Yet even with all this bluster and rancor, it was the rage at a small African nation and the unabashed racism that was truly extraordinary.
After speaking for over an hour, Trump took questions from the White House press corps. None of them pressed him on the comments about Somalia or its people”
After speaking for over an hour, Trump took questions from the White House press corps. None of them pressed him on the comments about Somalia or its people”
Trump's anniversary press conference was an extraordinary display of eugenics and rage inside the White House.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-m...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-m...
Trump Marks First Year In Office With Unhinged Racist Rant Targeting ‘Very Low IQ’ Somalis
President Donald Trump spent the first anniversary of his second term on...
talkingpointsmemo.com
January 21, 2026 at 6:05 AM
“Yet even with all this bluster and rancor, it was the rage at a small African nation and the unabashed racism that was truly extraordinary.
After speaking for over an hour, Trump took questions from the White House press corps. None of them pressed him on the comments about Somalia or its people”
After speaking for over an hour, Trump took questions from the White House press corps. None of them pressed him on the comments about Somalia or its people”
Reposted by Mona Smitte
Trump's anniversary press conference was an extraordinary display of eugenics and rage inside the White House.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-m...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-m...
Trump Marks First Year In Office With Unhinged Racist Rant Targeting ‘Very Low IQ’ Somalis
President Donald Trump spent the first anniversary of his second term on...
talkingpointsmemo.com
January 20, 2026 at 10:52 PM
Trump's anniversary press conference was an extraordinary display of eugenics and rage inside the White House.
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-m...
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-m...
Reposted by Mona Smitte
I know the international system badly needs a reform but shouldn't a reform make things better?
Lukashenko joins Trump's 'Board of Peace' as US eases his isolation reut.rs/3YLROYb
Lukashenko joins Trump's 'Board of Peace' as US eases his isolation
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed an agreement on Tuesday to join U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, the latest step in a rapprochement with Washington after years of international isolation.
reut.rs
January 21, 2026 at 8:56 AM
I know the international system badly needs a reform but shouldn't a reform make things better?
Reposted by Mona Smitte
It is so pathetic and made things only worse. Anything what changes this trajectory is most welcome. Time to break this wheel.
January 21, 2026 at 8:54 AM
It is so pathetic and made things only worse. Anything what changes this trajectory is most welcome. Time to break this wheel.
Reposted by Mona Smitte
What we need is a zero-hour moment. Souring relations with this US administration is infinitely better than this submissive, on egg-shells walking, pseudo-diplomacy most European governments have been trying since day one.
January 21, 2026 at 8:54 AM
What we need is a zero-hour moment. Souring relations with this US administration is infinitely better than this submissive, on egg-shells walking, pseudo-diplomacy most European governments have been trying since day one.
Reposted by Mona Smitte
He wrecks the USA and he has even less qualms to do this with foreign countries.
January 21, 2026 at 8:54 AM
He wrecks the USA and he has even less qualms to do this with foreign countries.
Reposted by Mona Smitte
It is going to be extremely interesting today, when Trump speaks at Davos. I can only say that I hope for an absolutely deranged Trump. It will cause an absolute chaos in Davos, but this is needed for the last sleeping European who thinks that this is just another episode. It is not. This is Trump.
January 21, 2026 at 8:54 AM
It is going to be extremely interesting today, when Trump speaks at Davos. I can only say that I hope for an absolutely deranged Trump. It will cause an absolute chaos in Davos, but this is needed for the last sleeping European who thinks that this is just another episode. It is not. This is Trump.
Reposted by Mona Smitte
NEW: NEW: Standards commissioner finds Nigel Farage committed seventeen breaches of MPs code of conduct.
He failed to declare £333,000 in outside interests (more than 3x MPs annual salary)…
He failed to declare £333,000 in outside interests (more than 3x MPs annual salary)…
January 21, 2026 at 8:48 AM
NEW: NEW: Standards commissioner finds Nigel Farage committed seventeen breaches of MPs code of conduct.
He failed to declare £333,000 in outside interests (more than 3x MPs annual salary)…
He failed to declare £333,000 in outside interests (more than 3x MPs annual salary)…
Reposted by Mona Smitte
Europe Is Stronger Than Its Leaders Think, and at last they seem to realize so
@projectsyndicate.bsky.social prosyn.org/nsSlUOT #davos #wef
@projectsyndicate.bsky.social prosyn.org/nsSlUOT #davos #wef
Europe Is Stronger Than Its Leaders Think
Alberto Alemanno warns policymakers against panic-driven reforms that threaten to undo hard-won gains.
prosyn.org
January 21, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Europe Is Stronger Than Its Leaders Think, and at last they seem to realize so
@projectsyndicate.bsky.social prosyn.org/nsSlUOT #davos #wef
@projectsyndicate.bsky.social prosyn.org/nsSlUOT #davos #wef