@perthes.bsky.social
Scholar-Speaker-Advisor. Visiting Fellow and former CEO (2005-2020) Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Former UN Under-Secretary-General (2021-March 2024), SRSG for Sudan (2021-2023).
Longer article on the “ignored war” in Sudan in Süddeutsche Zeitung (22.11.2025): the meaning of RSF conquering al-Fashir; the “military component”, their war, and their backers; the RSF narrative and its historical background; and what it needs to end the war.
www.sueddeutsche.de/leben/geschi...
»Bislang und in absoluten Zahlen hat er die größte humanitäre Katastrophe des 21. Jahrhunderts ausgelöst.« Ein Gastbeitrag von @perthes.bsky.social über den Krieg im Sudan (Paywall): www.sueddeutsche.de/leben/geschi...
21.11.2025 12:14 — 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Radio interview on Sudan this morning n Germany‘s „Deutschlandfunk“. Fighting will not stop as long as the RSF (as well as the Army) receive enough material support from outside to continue their war.
www.deutschlandfunk.de/gibt-es-ausw...
Today‘s interview on Sudan in Germany‘s Süddeutsche Zeitung. One side is a murderous militia. The other expels the head of the World Food Program in Sudan when aid is more needed than anytime. This, and why the international community is not there, and who helps, and what needs to be done …
30.10.2025 12:49 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
We need to see the challenges of the Gaza ceasefire and ”peace plan”, but make it work nonetheless. Don’t expect everybody just being compliant and cooperative after two years of war.
My interview in Aargauer Zeitung and some other Swiss papers:
Thanks to stars - for Leaders of the Next Generation for inviting me to a quick half hour on international challenges and uncertainties.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_bp...
Syria holds indirect parliamentary elections this week. Despite a lot of domestic and external challenges, the country has a real chance to stabilize and take off again. Longer interview in Germany's Frankfurter Rundschau:
www.fr.de/politik/expe...
Danke! Wichtigste Frühstückslektüre heute Morgen. Und ein wichtiger Beitrag zu Rationalität und Humanität in der Debatte.
05.09.2025 06:37 — 👍 6 🔁 0 💬 2 📌 0
Radio Interview (in German) on the political and geopolitical nature of Israel’s cabinet decision to build the “E1” settlement in the West Bank:
www.ardaudiothek.de/episode/urn:...
Rather unusual article in Germany’s main tabloid on hunger in Sudan.
And some quotes from me on the human-made nature of the hunger catastrophe, hunger as a weapon, and the rather symbolic nature of airdrops (in Sudan as well as Gaza).
www.bild.de/politik/ausl...
Here is a rather long interview (print and video) I gave to Al Majalla on Sudan as well as on developments in the Middle East. It was recorded before the so-called “12 days war” between Israel and Iran, but only published on 12 July.
en.majalla.com/node/326421/...
Was macht gute wissenschaftliche Beratung für die Außenpolitik aus? Talkshowauftritte sicher nicht, Unabhängigkeit und Relevanz schon. Und dass Politik den Rat erhält, den sie braucht, nicht den, den sie sich wünscht.
Mein Essay in internationalepolitik.de
internationalepolitik.de/de/wegweiser...
Virtual, imagined reality now shaping real politics more than physical reality. It’s no longer important whether Iran’s nuclear program was “totally obliterated” or just “set back” for a few months. We don’t know. But as long as all agree it is “severely damaged”, all can maintain the ceasefire.
26.06.2025 06:39 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Some thoughts on Iran, the forgetfulness of policy-makers who phantasize about regime change, and the advantages of diplomacy. In a German-language interview with IPG Journal:
www.ipg-journal.de/interviews/a...
The discussion about regime change in Iran which we heard over the past week is so much an expression of refusing to learn from recent history. Remember Iraq in 2003, and the civil war that ensued? Yes, Iranians may again stand up against the regime. But not while being bombed.
22.06.2025 02:18 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0It seems we find ourselves in a spiral of insanity. Of course further escalation between Iran, Israel and the US can still be stopped. This would need a heroic decision from Iran not to seek retaliation, and from Washington to call it a victory and move to diplomacy again.
22.06.2025 02:18 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Some thoughts on the current war between Israel and Iran. And why there would be a good opportunity to end it today. On my @LinkedIn account:
16.06.2025 11:55 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Interview with DLF-Kultur (in German, from minute 4.50) on Israel’s attack on Iran and Iran’s reaction. Israel attacked because it could: because Iran is weak & to prevent a US-Iran deal. Not a “pre-emptive” strike. No need for any side to escalate.
www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/nach-angriff...
When Germany's Chancellor criticizes Israel publicly and its Commissioner for fighting antisemitism (rightly) says: "starving the Palestinians ... has nothing to do with safeguarding Israel’s right to exist", Israel's government has definitely driven its country into isolation. EU more aligned now.
27.05.2025 06:40 — 👍 36 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0Good that the EU eventually decided to lift economic sanctions on #Syria. Could have been done months earlier. It is a shame that the EU only followed the Trump administration rather than going ahead. This is about the EU’s neighborhood, and its strategic autonomy.
21.05.2025 18:56 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Pleasure to participate in Delphi Slemani (Sulaymaniyah) Forum
and speak on Iraq in a changing geopolitical environment. The meeting certainly helped to bring Iraqi Kurdistan on the map of (mainly) Greek and European businesspeople. Also brought thinkers and doers across regions together.
and some more views from a very relaxed city. Or so it seems:
17.05.2025 11:35 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
“Teach them love”: Mural from Sulaimani, Kurdistan Iraq.
17.05.2025 11:35 — 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0Concern that Germany's new government is weakened because Merz needed a second round of voting were clearly overblown. It’s a democratic parliament; it was an election, not a rubber stamp vote. New government will be as strong as it wants to be: they have an agenda, they need to pursue it together.
08.05.2025 07:42 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0I’d be a bit more cautious. If Merz loses a second vote, yes, then this hope has been dashed. If he wins it, which I think and hope he will, it only proves that not everyone in CDU/CSU and SPD are happy with him and the coalition arrangements. But still able to act as “responsible stakeholders”.
06.05.2025 10:36 — 👍 21 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
Glückwunsch an Katherina Reiche, die gerade als Wirtschaftsministerin nominiert worden ist.
Hier ist ein Artikel, den wir vor 15 Jahren zu einer effizienz- und nachhaltigkeitsorientierten Rohstoffstrategie veröffentlicht haben (FAZ, 20.20.2010). Er ließe sich - fast - so wieder veröffentlichen.
European Strategic Autonomy: mission impossible? No, but we need to define it realistically. And we need to plan and act European. Very useful discussion at the Delphi Forum, including myself, @kajsaollongren.bsky.social, Nik Gowing as moderator. Video now online.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=arZQ...
Video recording of our discussion on #Syria and the #MidEast at the Delphi Forum, 11 April 2025. With Anja Wehler-Schoeck as moderator, Greece’s national security advisor Thonos Dokos, Lina Khatib from Chatham House and myself. youtu.be/fEhFRhM1_vI?fe…
17.04.2025 16:53 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
