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Dimitar Bechev @dimitarbechev.bsky.social · 1d

Full disclosure: the substack is linked to my forthcoming book with @oxfordacademic.bsky.social : The Scramble for Europe: Russia, China and Turkey Challenging Regional Order

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Dimitar Bechev @dimitarbechev.bsky.social · 1d

My substack - Scramble for Europe - is now on. Do subscribe.

open.substack.com/pub/scramble...

Moldova’s vote is one more sign of Russia’s weakness in its ‘near abroad’

Instead of boosting its geopolitical sway, the war in Ukraine has weakened Russia’s hold over its neighbours.

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

Clément Plaisant @cplaisant.bsky.social · 7d

Turkey’s flagship carrier Turkish Airlines plans to launch direct flights to Armenia, as Ankara steps up efforts to normalize relations with its neighbor after decades of hostility.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Turkish Airlines to Start Flights to Armenia as Ties Improve

Turkey’s flagship carrier Turkish Airlines plans to launch direct flights to Armenia, as Ankara steps up efforts to normalize relations with its neighbor after decades of hostility.

www.bloomberg.com

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Dimitar Bechev @dimitarbechev.bsky.social · 7d

My latest piece for @foreignpolicy.com

Erdogan’s visit to Washington showed that the United States and Turkey just don’t need each other as much as they used to.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/30/t...

U.S.-Turkish Relations Have Gotten Duller, Not Better

Erdogan’s visit to Washington showed that the United States and Turkey just don’t need each other as much as they used to.

foreignpolicy.com

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

ATLAS THINK @atlastc.bsky.social · 13d

atlasthink.org/how-rock-sol... by @dimitarbechev.bsky.social

How Rock-Solid is the UK-US “Special Relationship”? - Atlas Think Club

It will not be an exaggeration that Donald Trump has turned upside down America’s relations with Europe. From strong-arming NATO allies to commit to 5% of GDP in defence spending to raising tariffs, ...

atlasthink.org

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

Diego Cupolo @diegocupolo.bsky.social · 22d

Are markets the last check on Turkey’s democratic credentials?

I will ask just that in our live webcast today. Tune in below:

Turkey recap @turkeyrecap.bsky.social · 22d

🎙️ Live webcast today!

Teneo's @wolfpiccoli.bsky.social joins Recap radio to discuss Turkey's economy and how markets rate political risk.

Audience questions welcome. Livestream starts at 0900 BST / 1100 TRT:

LIVE SOON: How markets rate political risk in Turkey with Wolfango Piccoli

Starting Sep 16 at 4:00 AM EDT

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

Russia-Ukraine Daily News @rvps2001.bsky.social · 22d

🇷🇺 🇺🇦 U.S.-funded research has identified more than 210 sites where Ukrainian children have been taken for military training, drone manufacturing and other forced re-education by #Russia, as part of a large-scale deportation programme.

www.reuters.com/world/europe...

#Ukraine #RussianWarCrimes

Russia expands forced re-education of deported Ukrainian children, US research shows

U.S.-funded research has identified more than 210 sites where Ukrainian children have been taken for military training, drone manufacturing and other forced re-education by Russia, as part of a large-scale deportation programme.

www.reuters.com

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 23d

US President Donald Trump finally labeled Russia the aggressor in the war against Ukraine, further demonstrating a hardening of his position toward Moscow.

Trump finally calls Russia the ‘aggressor’ in war on Ukraine

After resisting the label for months, the U.S. president goes there.

ow.ly

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Dimitar Bechev @dimitarbechev.bsky.social · 26d

You are in for a treat.

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Dimitar Bechev @dimitarbechev.bsky.social · 27d

You are a man of taste (and hopefully, of wealth).

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

Ruth Deyermond @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social · 28d

This escalation has been expected by many of us since at least the point when it became clear that Trump would be re-elected. I hope European NATO has a plan to respond, given the ample warning they've had to develop one, because this won't be a one-off. 🧵

The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 28d

⚡️ 'Extremely dangerous' — European leaders condemn Russia after drones shot down over Poland.

'Extremely dangerous' — European leaders condemn Russia after drones shot down over Poland

World leaders condemned Russia on Sept. 10 after Polish forces downed multiple Russian drones in their airspace, marking the first time a NATO member has destroyed Moscow's military assets over its te...

kyivindependent.com

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 28d

Moscow sends “a big delegation” to Syria to woo the government that toppled its ole buddy Assad. If they can make friends with the Taliban, anything is possible.

www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Russia sends high-level team to Syria to discuss aid, energy

Russia on Tuesday sent a big delegation to Syria, headed by its top energy official, in its most visible effort yet to build relations with the government that toppled former President Bashar al-Assad, a key ally of Moscow, late last year.

www.reuters.com

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Dimitar Bechev @dimitarbechev.bsky.social · 28d

Thanks for the book. It also chronicles a generation of scholars whose legacy lives on - Sam Huntington, Stanley Hoffmann (godfather of my DPhil supervisor's children btw), Kissinger etc.

Dimitar Bechev @dimitarbechev.bsky.social · 28d

I cannot recommend enough the Brzeziński biography by @edwardluce.bsky.social It is a riveting read: rich, thorough, well-informed and erudite. Ed Luce made me read some of Zbig's own books, notably The Soviet Bloc: Unity and Conflict (1960).

Morning Joe @morningjoe-msnbc.bsky.social · Sep 8

This Wednesday, September 10, at @92ndstreety.bsky.social in New York — @mika-brzezinski.bsky.social & @joe-scarborough.bsky.social join @edwardluce.bsky.social to discuss his acclaimed biography 'The Life of Zbigniew Brzezinski.'

Grab your tickets here 👉 www.92ny.org/event/mika-b...

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Dimitar Bechev @dimitarbechev.bsky.social · Jun 30

One less contract for Timchenko

Piero Castellano 🇪🇺 @pierocastellano.com · Jun 30

"Citing contract violations and the corporation’s noncompliance, the Syrian government has successfully terminated a 2019 agreement with the Russian company Stroytransgaz (STG) to oversee the strategically important port of Tartus."
www.maritimegateway.com/russia-no-lo...

Russia no longer controls the port of Tartus in Syria - Maritime Gateway

Citing contract violations and the corporation's noncompliance, the Syrian government has successfully terminated a 2019 agreement with the Russian company Stroytransgaz (STG) to oversee the strategic...

www.maritimegateway.com

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Dimitar Bechev @dimitarbechev.bsky.social · Jun 29

Good thread. My 5c: globalisation has not reduced the importance of physical space in international politics. In fact, connectivity at the global scale means the maritime domain plays a key role.Not much new, except possibly data cables laid on the seabed. Though: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transat...

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

ATLAS THINK @atlastc.bsky.social · Jun 26

atlasthink.org/natos-hague-... by @dimitarbechev.bsky.social

NATO’s Hague Summit: a Post-Mortem - Atlas Think Club

Donald Trump must be feeling content after the summit NATO just wrapped up in The Hague. “Very big news”. That’s how he called the European allies’ commitment to raise the 2% GDP defence spending ta...

atlasthink.org

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

Carnegie Europe @carnegieeurope.bsky.social · Jun 19

The Black Sea is pivotal in Russia's war against Ukraine and the wider standoff between Moscow & the West.

To counter the Russian threat in the region, the EU has adopted a new strategy & Turkey is building up its capabilities, says @dimitarbechev.bsky.social.

carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...

The Black Sea Has Become the Fulcrum of Europe’s Security

The Black Sea is pivotal in Russia’s war against Ukraine and the wider standoff between Moscow and the West. To counter the Russian threat in the region, the EU has adopted a new strategy, and Turkey ...

carnegieendowment.org

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Dimitar Bechev @dimitarbechev.bsky.social · Jun 26

Russia has decided to watch the Israel-Iran fight from the sidelines because (1) it is too weak to make a difference, (2) its priority is subjugating Ukraine, (3) it values ties to Israel and wants to restore balance, and (4) Iran isn't as useful anymore.

Nicholas Danforth @nicholasdanfort.bsky.social · Jun 25

A great piece from @dimitarbechev.bsky.social on why Russia didn't come to Iran's aid:

foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/25/r...

Why Russia Is Sitting Out This Round of the Israel-Iran Conflict

As Putin’s dependence on Iran decreases, he seeks to maintain ties with Tehran’s regional rivals.

foreignpolicy.com

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

Carnegie Europe @carnegieeurope.bsky.social · Jun 12

The Georgian & Serbian leaders' pivots away from the EU accession path show the bloc's waning appeal.

To keep #enlargement on track, the EU should focus on candidate countries that are making genuine progress toward membership, says @dimitarbechev.bsky.social.

carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

The EU’s Waning Attractiveness

The Georgian and Serbian leaders’ pivots away from the path to EU accession show the bloc’s waning appeal. To keep EU enlargement on track, Brussels should focus on candidate countries that are making...

carnegieendowment.org

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG) @biepag.bsky.social · Jun 3

ℹ️Our BiEPAG Member @dimitarbechev.bsky.social is one of the authors of the latest Carnegie Europe article on #Kosovo and the various obstacles on its EU path.

🔹 Overcoming Inertia in Kosovo

Read the whole analysis and potential scenarios and ways forward👇

#Kosovo #EU #EUEnlargement

Overcoming Inertia in Kosovo

Kosovo continues to face significant obstacles on its path to EU membership. To move forward, Prishtina must revive its dialogue with Belgrade, while the union should provide a clear road map for easi...

carnegieendowment.org

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

David Phinnemore @dphinnemore.bsky.social · Jun 13

"membership is only one option.... countries like Georgia and Serbia can change over time and recommit. But in the meantime, the EU should devote its limited resources to those candidates that are fulfilling its conditions." - @dimitarbechev.bsky.social
carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

The EU’s Waning Attractiveness

The Georgian and Serbian leaders’ pivots away from the path to EU accession show the bloc’s waning appeal. To keep EU enlargement on track, Brussels should focus on candidate countries that are making...

carnegieendowment.org

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Reposted by Dimitar Bechev

Sinem Adar @sinemadar.bsky.social · May 17

Noteworthy remarks from the ANF interview with Cemil Bayik:

1) PKK's May 12 announcement of disbandment is perceived as the beginning of the 2nd phase of Kurdish resistance. Bayik sees the first phase as a successful effort to build the "Kurdish identity, Kurdish people and Kurdish society".

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Dimitar Bechev @dimitarbechev.bsky.social · May 8

A podcast Joe Nye recorded recently.

Ralph Ranalli @ralphranalli.bsky.social · Apr 10

What a joy to talk to HKS Professor (and former dean) Joe Nye. He coined the phrase "soft power" to describe ways that countries influence the world other than military or economic power. (Spoiler alert: he says US soft power is declining under Trump.) My latest PolicyCast: lnkd.in/ehvP2GWp

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Dimitar Bechev @dimitarbechev.bsky.social · May 8

Rest in peace. Joe Nye was a generous and kind person, not just an oustanding scholar. We met several times while I was at Harvard's Centre for European Studies. He would always find time to discuss my ongoing research projects and offer valuable advice. A huge loss.

Daniel Drezner @dandrezner.bsky.social · May 7

Sad news: Joe Nye has passed away. www.belfercenter.org/collection/r...

Remembering Joseph S. Nye

www.belfercenter.org

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