Ziya Meral

Turkey-Syria defense cooperation in effect: “One source said around 300 Syrians, mostly soldiers, but also some police officers, are currently being trained at two bases in central and eastern Turkey.” www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-...

In other words, the coalition of the willing is unwilling to help until Ukraine doesn't need its help. Surely at some point someone has to realise that this approach just incentivises Putin to keep the war going?

Outstanding news that should be shared.

War and Power: Who Wins Wars — and Why by Phillips Payson O'Brien 'Phillips O'Brien is one of the keenest observers of modern strategy, and his new book takes a deep historical look at the evolution of warfare and its implications for conflicts like the ongoing one ...

Hi All, Book deals on both sides of the Atlantic for War and Power: Who Wins Wars and Why--my latest book. If you want to buy a signed first edition from the UK bookseller Toppings, you can order it from this link. www.toppingbooks.co.uk/books/philli...

Jennifer Hattam Freelance journalist in Istanbul covering culture, environment, social issues, and urban spaces

📣 I'm actively looking for new journalism assignments, writing or editing gigs, or other work that uses my communications skills, ideally to make positive social, cultural, or environmental impact. Check out what I do and hit me up if you have projects that might be a match! www.jenniferhattam.com

Strangely reassuring

Wow!

I have found that Musk's support of Advance UK and Operation Raise the Colours (the flags campaign) has skewed the X algorithm so that Tommy Robinson posts now have greater reach than those of Nigel Farage.

Statistics in this thread.

Elon Musk, one of the world’s most powerful and richest men is posting far right ideology. Remigration is commonly seen as a far right concept of ethnic cleansing. To deport migrants and their descendants to their place of racial ancestry. That would include me. Why are we not talking about this?

The EU is weighing legal ways to bypass unanimity in foreign policy, Bloomberg reports. A group of 12 countries backs shifting to qualified majority voting to speed up decisions on Ukraine and Russia, often blocked by Hungary.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The first ever successful & impactful cyber-physical attack on European critical infrastructure outside of Ukraine? “Russian hackers took control of a Norwegian dam this year, opening a floodgate and allowing water to flow unnoticed for four hours, Norway’s intelligence service has said.”

In Boko Haram's birthplace, USAID's collapse threatens a school for victims of extremism The disappearance of U.S. aid in Nigeria’s northeast has threatened a school that supports children who are victims of Boko Haram extremists.

The disappearance of U.S. aid in Nigeria's northeast has threatened a school that supports children who are victims of Boko Haram extremists.

Key question:

What it's like to be a Middle East Studies professor in 2025 Basically, it sucks. Last week, Tuft's Dan Drezner and my GW colleague Dave Karpf published really good pieces on what it's like to be, respectively, a dean of international affairs and a professor o...

What it’s like to be a Middle East Studies Professor in fall 2025 - my new post surveys the field, and my colleagues.

Basically it sucks and it’s getting worse. But we haven’t given up.

abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/what-its-lik...

Europe is selling its soul to Trump What masquerades as pragmatism is self-harming opportunism

“Europe is risking its political soul. It has put itself in a situation in which leaders cannot say publicly what they are actually trying to do. That is a recipe for distrust and a poison for democracy”

on.ft.com/3HH41Ze

Talking With Phillips O'Brien As the war goes on ...

Conversation with Paul Krugman appeared just a little while ago. We discuss the war in Ukraine, and the appalling state of military analysis, the power of groupthink, etc. We also delve into my new book, War and Power. Enjoy.

open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...

Reassurance Force Redux: Ukraine and the Allies On deploying western forces to Ukraine

With the recent flurry of diplomatic activity this past week, there has been renewed interest in the proposed 'Multinational Force Ukraine'.

I write here on the proposed structure of this Reassurance Force, its pros, cons, and the question over its strategic utility.

Trump unpromptedly shows reporters a photo of Putin and himself, who he says may be a guest at next year's World Cup in the US:

"I'm going to sign this for him... I thought it was a nice picture of him."

Putin bombed an American non-military factory in Ukraine yesterday.

Agree

Ukrainian suspected in the Nord Stream pipeline blasts arrested in Italy, German prosecutors say German prosecutors have announced the arrest of a Ukrainian citizen suspected of involvement in the 2022 Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions.

BREAKING: A Ukrainian citizen suspected of participating in the undersea explosions in 2022 that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany has been arrested, German prosecutors said.

I have not heard anything at all from government ministers nor the opposition nor many media outlets about the dangers of this epidemic of sweeping casual racism. It is sometimes seen as comical - as with Rupert Lowe and the rowers - but it is dangerous and dehumanising

Lol

People applying to live or work in the United States will now be screened for "anti-Americanism," including having their social media checked, authorities announced, in a tightening of restrictions that has alarmed immigration advocates and lawyers. https://cnn.it/4oJGgA8

Family in fear after Tommy Robinson shares video of black man with white granddaughters Exclusive: Olajuwon Ayeni racially abused and falsely labelled a paedophile as far right weaponises clip of family in park

More dangerous and inflammatory casual racism from Tommy Robinson and his online army having dangerous consequences in the north-east of England in promoting everyday xenophobia, online & real world racism against anybody who is not white.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Hi all, my latest book, War and Power, is out in 8 days time in the U.K. and Europe (a little longer in the USA and Canada). I was allowed to release an excerpt in my Substack of yesterday. I hope you like it.
,

War And Power: An Excerpt Plus: Trump Worked Himself Up Into A Lather--Then TACO'D (For Now)

Hi All, As we are now less than 10 days from the release of my latest book, War And Power, I have been able to send out this piece which has an excerpt from the introduction if you want to know more. I hope you find it worthwhile. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Reminder that Putin has never said he wants a trilateral meeting, had never said he would respect Ukrainian sovereignty, and has never said he wants to end the war. Not to be a downer, but the discussion of security guarantees is premature.

Trump pressures Zelenskyy ahead of high-stakes meeting U.S. president’s late-night social media post put the onus on Ukraine to end the war with Russia, setting a potentially tense tone for Monday’s talks in Washington.

"U.S. President Trump put the onus on Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to end the war with Russia ahead of their meeting in Washington on Monday — a stark contrast to the red carpet he rolled out days earlier for Russia’s leader Putin."
@politico.eu
www.politico.eu/article/trum...

Huge crowds gather in Israel calling for hostage deal and end to Gaza war Large crowds fill 'Hostages Square' in Tel Aviv to call for fighting to cease and the release of all remaining hostages by Hamas.

"Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered in Israel to call for an end to the Gaza war and a deal to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas."
@bbcnews-world-rss.bsky.social
www.bbc.com/news/article...