🇲🇩 🇪🇺 The coming decade will determine whether Moldova completes its progress along EU accession or slips into indefinite geopolitical limbo. The stakes are existential—not only for Moldova, but for the resilience of democracy in a region under siege. 🔗@dimker.bsky.social's analysis:

Ahead of the elections in Moldova, my @gmfus.bsky.social colleague @dimker.bsky.social writes that Bulgaria's diaspora policy toward the country's ethnic minorities (which goes under most analysts' radar, I guess) offers an opportunity to counter Russian influence in these communities.

Excellent testimony & recommendations from @gmfus.bsky.social @danielhegedus.bsky.social at the U.S. Congressional @tlhumanrights.bsky.social hearing on “Laws Regulating Foreign NGOs: Human Rights Implications” — touches on Slovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gu4B...

What to think of Trump's 2nd state visit? In my latest piece for @gmfus.bsky.social, I argue that it was a success -- but that doesn't mean the UK and US relationship will always be smooth. Thread: www.gmfus.org/news/calcula...

🇨🇳 "[China's] growing dominance in the German technology landscape threatens both Germany’s national security and its long-term economic resilience." Read a new report from GMF's Sharinee Jagtiani, assessing the digital footprint of PRC entities in Germany’s technology ecosystem:

🇩🇪 Using a five-layer “tech stack” framework—network infrastructure, data infrastructure, device, application, and governance—a new GMF Technology report maps China’s presence across Germany’s tech ecosystem, and links it to Beijing’s strategic ambitions. Read now: www.gmfus.org/news/risky-c...

🇺🇦 "...even after rights [to active combat roles for women] were equalized, things didn’t change overnight." GMF grantee Women's Veterans Movement supports Ukrainian female service members from active combat to reintegration. Read about their work and its impact:

Russian state media’s English and Spanish-language accounts adopted contradictory positions on Trump’s immigration and border policies to exacerbate friction between the United States and Latin America. See my findings from my new @securedemocracy.bsky.social @gmfus.bsky.social analysis below ⤵️

🇲🇩 "Moldova is confronted with a growing web of internal and external threats as well as risks to electoral integrity." 🗳️ Ahead of the this September's election in Moldova, read a risk assessment from GMF's Transatlantic Foundation with support from the European Union:

"As an 🇪🇺 EU and NATO member, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria must balance economic opportunities with 🇨🇳 China against risks to national security, Western alliances, the rule of law, and democracy. Yet, its awareness of 🇨🇳 China’s influence remains underdeveloped." @gmfus.bsky.social Read my & Asya Metodieva's report:

🖼️ GMF's Alliance for Securing Democracy successfully mapped the domestic and international dissemination networks of images originating from Sputnik Media Bank, a Russian state media operation. 🇷🇺 Read more about the research by Senior Investigative Research Officer Peter Benzoni:

🇷🇴 How can Romania revitalize its defense industry in light of increasing regional threats? GMF's Bogdan Cozma provides recommendations for reforms for its fragmented defense industry:

🇲🇩 🇷🇴 🇺🇦 In response to common threats & an increasing need for cooperation in a volatile geopolitical context, Ukraine, Moldova & Romania are increasing their mutual engagement. Read an analysis of the implications of this mini-alliance, by Laurențiu Pleșca & Iohana-Georgia Burcea: buff.ly/77dTAxk

🇷🇸 Serbia has emerged as a key player in the PRC’s Digital Silk Road (DSR) initiative within the Western Balkans. 🔎 A report by GMF's Sharinee Jagtiani delves into the evolution and scope of the PRC’s DSR in Serbia and the risks that it brings.

♟️ In the West, "the failure to define who are the adversaries of democracy left a void that the illiberal radical right has used to contest democracy and pluralism," write Daniel Hegedüs and Goran Buldioski. 🔗 Read their new piece: buff.ly/6kT3uWH

🇨🇳 China’s increasing control over the Central Asia's “technology stack” could have an outsized impact on the future of digital connectivity, cybersecurity, and geopolitical competition across Eurasia, writes GMF's Dylan Welch in an edition of GMF's China Tech Stack reports. ➡️

🇹🇼 GMF's Taiwan-US-Europe Policy Program (TUPP) encourages young professionals from the United States and Europe to include Taiwan in their research and activities and help Taiwan to expand its global networks. 💡 Read new insights from this year's TUPP Fellows:

🇧🇬🇨🇳 Great and comprehensive overview of #China–#Bulgaria relations and the PRC’s influence in Bulgaria by my always sharp colleagues Asya Metodieva and @dimker.bsky.social . Highly recommended reading 👇 www.gmfus.org/news/chinas-... @gmfus.bsky.social @engagingce.bsky.social

🇧🇬 As an EU and NATO member "Bulgaria must balance economic opportunities with China against risks...Yet, its awareness of China’s influence remains underdeveloped," write GMF's @dimker.bsky.social and Asya Metodieva. Read their new report on China's "quiet strategy" in Bulgaria.

🪖 Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has prompted European countries to increase their defense budgets to levels unseen since the Cold War, and Romania could contribute to this effort by revitalizing its defense industry, writes GMF's Bogdan Cozma.

🇹🇼 Now available: Next-Generation Perspectives on Taiwan: Insights from the 2025 Taiwan-US-Europe Policy Program 🔎 Explore insights on critical issues related to Taiwan, from technology to security to alliances, from young professionals from the US & Europe: www.gmfus.org/news/next-ge...

Penned together with the great @gbuldioski.bsky.social, our piece argues that even democratic societies need clear concepts of adversaries—and if democratic centrists don’t define them, the radical right and other opponents of democracy will. www.gmfus.org/news/it-or-n... @gmfus.bsky.social

♟️ In the West, "the failure to define who are the adversaries of democracy left a void that the illiberal radical right has used to contest democracy and pluralism," write Daniel Hegedüs and Goran Buldioski. 🔗 Read their new piece:

🇧🇬 Bulgaria presents an opportunity for China to increase its presence & pursue its strategic interests in Central and Eastern Europe. A new report from GMF's @dimker.bsky.social and Asya Metodieva analyzes the Bulgaria-China relationship & provides recommendations for its future:

"🇧🇬 Bulgaria presents an opportunity for 🇨🇳 China to expand its footprint in Central and Eastern Europe—primarily through economic channels, but with growing attention to security and soft-power influence." Read my and Asya Metodieva’s latest report: @gmfus.bsky.social

🤝What role for Central Europe in Ukraine's reconstruction? 📌 July 15|4.00 p.m. CET|Online #ReThinkCEE fellow Dominik Istrate, Bogdan Zawadewicz (Polish Development Bank), Ievgeniia Bodnya & @veghzsuzsanna.bsky.social explore CE's recovery efforts: www.gmfus.org/event/centra... @gmfus.bsky.social

The rise of anti-gender movements threaten democratic values in the Western Balkans. Watch #ReThinkCEE fellow Angel Dimitrievski,Adriana Zaharijevic(Uni Belgrade), Irena Cvetkovic(Coalition Margins) & @danielhegedus.bsky.social @gmfus.bsky.social discuss their impact. www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVtx...

🤝Local collaboration among authorities & civil society is crucial for Ukraine's future. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ODw... @gmfus.bsky.social

🔋 A coordinated US-EU approach to energy grid and transmission technology "could enhance resilience, foster competitiveness, reduce reliance on rivals and drive innovation and job creation," write GMF's Antonia Wunnerlich, Penny Naas and Julia Tréhu.

📣 Breaking news: The city of Korosten, in the Zhytomyr Oblast, is the first municipality to join the Ukraine Cities Partnership for Sustainable Local Recovery (UCP), a GMF initiative to support the sustainable, resilient & inclusive recovery of smaller Ukrainian cities. Learn more: buff.ly/NJcjYJ0

🆕 On this week's episode of the China Global podcast, host Bonnie Glaser talks to Dr. Yun Sun, Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center, about the Israel-Iran War and China's response to this conflict, as well as China's strategy in the Middle East region. Listen now: buff.ly/pPvc48L

🤝 Inspired by the Marshall Plan, UCP brings together cross-sector, transatlantic partners to co-develop innovative urban solutions with smaller Ukrainian cities, many of which face acute recovery needs but limited access to international support.

🤝 At today's #URC2025 side event on Ukraine's reconstruction, GMF's newly-announced Marshall Plan Initiative and the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine signed Memorandum of Understanding.

📺 Watch the announcement from managing director and senior fellow of GMF’s Strategic Democracy Initiatives Josh Rudolph above, and learn more about the Marshall Plan Initiative: www.gmfus.org/marshall-pla...

🆕 A new report by GMF's Olena Prokopenko and partners presents key assessments of the state of Ukrainian government institutions and of critical vulnerabilities for the EU accession negotiations. Read now: www.gmfus.org/news/ukraine...

👇Closing thoughts from GMF Senior Fellow Valeriia Ivanova at GMF and Istituto Affari Internazionali's #URC2025 side event, Marshall Plan Governance: A forum on the eve of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 📺 Catch up on the entire day's discussions now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iKS...

🇺🇦 How should a comprehensive reconstruction law for Ukraine look like? In a report from earlier this year, GMF's Valeriia Ivanova presents recommendations for a comprehensive reconstruction law to address the existing chaos, reduce risks, and build trust. Read now: buff.ly/oVVuT9Z #URC2025

🚀 Just announced: Building on years of its thought leadership, GMF is launching the Marshall Plan Initiative (MPI), a premier international program to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.

🇺🇦 MPI will lead efforts to shape coalitions for reform, craft policy frameworks, and support Ukraine’s EU accession by embedding anti-corruption standards across all recovery sectors. Learn more: buff.ly/Fht7BKX #URC2025

Explore the speakers and agenda: buff.ly/vMKpsDP

🇲🇩 🇪🇺 Last week’s EU-Moldova summit demonstrated a strategic effort by the EU to strengthen Moldova's European trajectory, writes GMF’s Laurențiu Pleșca. Read his analysis of the meeting and reactions to it: www.gmfus.org/news/more-sy...

🇺🇦 Now available: the full agenda for tomorrow's #URC2025 side event, Marshall Plan Governance: A forum on the eve of the Ukraine Recovery Conference, hosted by GMF and Istituto Affari Internazionali. 📺 Explore and tune in live tomorrow starting at 10:00 CEST: www.gmfus.org/marshall-pla...

🏛️ July 9, 10:00–14:30 CEST, Rome — Marshall Plan Governance Forum @gmfus.bsky.social‬ & IAI gather reformers, donors, and partners on the eve of #URC2025. Focus: transparency & accountability in UA recovery. 🎥 Livestreamed 🔗 Read more: www.gmfus.org/event/marsha...

📰 As another week that promises major tariff news out of the United States begins, catch up on the most recent transatlantic tariff updates with the latest GMF Competitiveness Check. Read now: www.gmfus.org/news/competi...

🇦🇿 🇷🇺 Recent law-enforcement raids in Russia and the response in Azerbaijan come on the heels of a string of incidents over the past year heightening regional tensions. Read an analysis of how this could into a broader rift between the two by Mehriban Rahimli: www.gmfus.org/news/azerbai...

We're now @bsky.app verified! ✅

📊 What have been the key developments in transatlantic trade in the last few weeks? The latest edition of the Competitiveness Check from GMF's Allied Strategic Competitiveness program brings you a summary. Read now: www.gmfus.org/news/competi...

🎧 On the latest episode of the China Global podcast: 🇺🇦 🇨🇳 GMF's Bonnie Glaser discusses China’s evolving posture toward the war in Ukraine and China’s relationship with Ukraine with Dr. Vita Golod, Junior Research Fellow at National Academy Sciences of Ukraine. Listen now:

🌎 Apply to be GMF Marshall Memorial Fellow! 🤝 This program offers a unique chance for mid-career transatlantic leaders to enhance their understanding and foster collaboration between the United States and Europe. Applications close at the end of July - learn more: buff.ly/6CUWjMO

📫 The July Edition of Watching China in Europe, a column by GMF's Noah Barkin, is here. 🇨🇳 In this edition, an analysis of an economically emboldened China and the upcoming EU-China Summit, new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz' potential China policy, and more. Read now: lnkd.in/e6TCpmVt