"Understanding Turkish Foreign Policy" with Soner Çağaptay and @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social. [5/5]

#Turkey has always had to manage its relations between Europe and the West, #Russia, and the Middle East. In recent years, the balancing act has extended to Africa and Central Asia. How well has it managed? Really great talking through all this with Soner Çağaptay youtu.be/i6hJQVzo5wU

Had a great discussion with @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social about the EU-US relationship, and how it's much more unidirectional than most Europeans realise.

The #EU decision to cave in to #Trump tariffs threats caused frustration and alarm in many quarters. But what exactly lay behind it? And just how do the EU and US now see each other? Brilliant to talk to @davekeating.substack.com about all this and more youtu.be/uA19Dih0VLs

m.youtube.com/watch?v=QSJf... Here’s me in the day job discussing the current situation in Kosovo being interviewed by @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social

Fed up with luddites and contrarians insisting AI is useless and overhyped. It isn’t. Everyone who really engages with it knows how powerful it is. But, like any tool, its true power lies in correct use by experts. When you say it’s no good you just advertise that you don’t know how to use it.

If someone mugs you, handing over your wallet doesn’t mean that you’ve reached a peace agreement. It just means that you’ve been robbed. #Ukraine #Russia

Can Tuvalu be saved as a country ? Will climate change make them disappear ? @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social on this #microstate m.youtube.com/watch?v=S2ap... #self-determination @diegovaladares.bsky.social #tuvalu

Thank you, @JamesKerLindsay, for inviting me to discuss my country with you!👇 youtu.be/D2PVSqN1MPQ

#Germany has long been an economic power in Europe, but it is still finding its way as a foreign policy actor. It was therefore really great to talk to @constelz.bsky.social about how Berlin sees the world and its main priorities youtu.be/D2PVSqN1MPQ

The idea that recognising Palestine would be contrary to international law is, frankly, utter nonsense. 🧵https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78z69x61e6o.amp

The videos of @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social always reveal what the news headlines miss. Apart from explaining the past that still devides Croatia 🇭🇷, I agree that ALL countries have dark chapters in their history. Some are at peace with it, others deny it (like Russia 🇷🇺) youtu.be/DXGH4FEAIOM?...

Among the interesting pieces in TooLong005🗽 is @alonso-gd.bsky.social's great article, plus insights from several other experts, including an interview with Prof. @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social, conducted by Zac and I, on the weakening of the international order. 🌐 Make sure to pick up your copy!🗞️

#Tirana will host the 2027 #NATO summit. It's a proof that #Albania of #EdiRama transformed from isolation and collapse and become one of Europe’s most promising emerging democracies. But how sustainable is this rise? Nice video from @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0KL...

I highly recommend the new informative video from @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social if you’re interested in the subject.

The United Nations is turning 80 "in an advanced state of disarray." Me @foreignpolicy.com 👇 foreignpolicy.com/2025/06/25/u...

As a long-time fan of @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social's influential YouTube channel, I was delighted to talk with him about the themes of my new book, "Unfinished Empire" We had long, discursive and wide-ranging discussion on the roots of Russian imperialism www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEmQ...

A shame he is not Blue Sky, but nice article about Alberta secessionism of Philip Dröge in the @fd.nl (photo from his X) Earlier there was also a nice explainer from @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social : www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6wv... #alberta #self-determination (1/2)

This is such a profound summation of our global moment I can hardly process it.

There's no placating the Brexiters, no reasoning with them, no basic comprehension or adulthood. You can't debate papers behaving like the Sun or the Mail this morning. There's nothing to debate with. They view all trading relations with Europe as humiliation.

Brexit was a failure. You know it. The Brexiters know it. The bitter irony is that today’s EU-UK deal will have made them far happier than any Remainer. Apart from fixing some of the problems they face from their idiotic decision, they can again moan on about the EU. They are utterly shameless.

I talked to @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social about "existential angst" and "good reasons for gloom" at the United Nations. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy5v...

Grateful to have joined @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social to discuss key issues around #Orthodoxy & #geopolitics on his YouTube channel. We covered several topical issues: Estonia, Ukraine's autocephaly, the Balkans, ROC in Africa, and Vatican -Moscow relations. www.youtube.com/watch?v=srQE...

Where is tge #Cyprus problem headed, if anywhere? Excellent discussion w @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social, @nasiahadjigeorgiou.bsky.social & Fesile Osum. youtu.be/fLWSe8x2un8?...

A discussion on recent developments on the Cyprus problem, as well as the bicommunal Technical Committees on the island.

Watch this from @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social youtube channel interview with @stephengethins.bsky.social on Scottish independence. One the best conversation I've seen in ages youtu.be/6Lo-dRC49_s?...

Europeans' belief in the importance of the EU has surged to record levels, according to a survey released yesterday. 74% now say their country benefits from being in 🇪🇺 - up from 50% in 2010. And the biggest reason is about security, *not* the economy. europa.eu/eurobaromete...

Scottish independence is still very much on the agenda. But what would it mean in terms of foreign policy? How would #Scotland join the EU? Where would it see itself in the world? Many thanks to @stephengethins.bsky.social for discussing all this with me. youtu.be/6Lo-dRC49_s

The impact of Trump’s foreign aid cuts on Armenian civil society, which has been very dependent on US funding, has been devastating. A whole field in a whole country collapsing - everyone’s programming getting slashed or outright closed down. Imagine this across the world

The United States just voted with Russia against peace in Ukraine.

This is a really excellent editorial from @wpr.bsky.social. How to cover Trump and his utter dominance of the news, but balance this against other important but less covered developments, is a problem all of us who are trying to provide commentary on international affairs are currently facing.

Ukraine has fought too hard for its freedom, only to have its future dictated by Putin and Trump behind closed doors. Any peace must guarantee Ukraine’s sovereignty and security on terms acceptable to Ukrainians, not just to Moscow and Mar-a-Lago.

Very interesting take (and in under 15 mins) on the #Greenland threat, by @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social youtu.be/ZaQ7uZWvFvs?...

What is the unspoken by-product of warmer #Cyprus-US relations? What kind of #Cyprob settlement is possible now? Free to read from our Director, @FionaMullenCY.

Another masterclass from @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social youtu.be/fYnHfOS_D8w?...

I use my account here to try to help make sense of what's going on in the world. If you find what I do of interest, please also give WPR a try. We've got a special trial offer going on right now, and I'll explain in this thread all the reasons I think you'll be happy to take advantage of it. 🧵

Huge news from #Romania. For some background on this, here’s a video I did a few days ago. youtu.be/JE9EncjnIuU

I try to watch every video by @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social because I learn something new every time. His content is not only insightful but also a joy to watch - he excels at breaking down even the toughest topics into something easy to understand. www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE9E...

When are Western countries going to realise that their actions have profound implications for how others see the international rule of law. If France makes an exception for Netanyahu, others will do it for Putin. This is an appallingly short sighted decision. www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...

It seems a lot of people in #Kosovo and #Serbia are having a hard time getting their heads around the fact that Kosovo’s unilateral secession went against established international principles (and set an unwelcome precedent), but that Kosovo should nevertheless be independent. youtu.be/cdRrddYNhzo

For anyone still drawn back to X/Twitter, the best way to wean yourself off the habit is to take the app away from your home screen and replace it with this. Get used to opening this one for your information fix. Then, after a few days, switch off the notifications. It gets easier, I promise. :-)

#Caucasus has been active again in recent months. While #Georgia is moving closer to Russia, #Abkhazia is railing against #Russia. @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social explains the background of Abkhaz's uneasiness...👇

Protests recently erupted in #Abkhazia over relations with #Russia. This highlights the very real difficulties that can arise between de facto states and their patrons. But does it mean the territory is turning against Moscow? #Georgia youtu.be/4GxWx5Q9OAU

I love the detach quote feature on Bluesky. I always disliked how some on Twitter refused to engage in civil debate by just replying to a comment. Instead, they’d “grandstand” by quoting the comment to show off their reply to their audience. So good to be able to withdraw from such interactions now.

youtu.be/cdRrddYNhzo?... A good video by @jameskerlindsay.bsky.social on Kosovo now, implications for the int'l order & ways of resolving the situation & how we got here.

📢 As more people join BlueSky from 𝕏 I wanted to highlight some of the go-to guys I listen to on #geopolitics and international issues. I’ll update this starter park as time goes on go.bsky.app/9hKy5qF Be sure to give it a share and comment other suggestions below ⬇️

Self-determination is one of the core principles of the modern international system. It is also one of the most misunderstood, and misused. So, what exactly do we mean by the term? youtu.be/o5zCUknZhfA