banner
LightNews LightNews
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
@rmomtaz.bsky.social
2.6K followers 240 following 170 posts
🇱🇧&🇺🇸(Paris-based) Editor-in-chief Strategic Europe, Carnegie Europe. Ex-IISS on Eastern Mediterranean. Ex-Politico on Macron. Ex-ABC News on Syria/Iraq/Lebanon/Israel. Multiple Emmy winner.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
noahbarkin.bsky.social
Noah Barkin @noahbarkin.bsky.social · Jul 7
With the clock ticking down on Trump’s tariff deadline, and EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič in Washington, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick took a family vacation to Italy, according to Politico’s Brussels Playbook

www.politico.eu/newsletter/b...
2 2 8
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
agathedemarais.bsky.social
Agathe Demarais @agathedemarais.bsky.social · Jul 4
US trade deficit with the EU has climbed to record-high levels since Trump's return to White House
• US trade deficit with EU widened by 97% year on year in first quarter of 2025, to US$96bn
• Data highlight how US firms frontloaded imports ahead of implementation of Trump's tariffs
1 9 22
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
antongerashchenko.bsky.social
Anton Gerashchenko @antongerashchenko.bsky.social · Jul 7
More of Lavrov's statements from an interview with a Hungarian Magyar Nemzet media. If you've been following the war for any time, you will see nothing new here. So Russia has no willingness to end the war.

Source: magyarnemzet.hu/kulfold/2025/0…
6 17 120
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
ecfr.eu
ECFR @ecfr.eu · Jul 7
Away from the discussions at the BRICS summit today, Russia is pursuing an independent policy agenda in the arctic.
"Europeans need to situate Russia’s growing ambitions in the region within Moscow’s broader strategic aims", write Mikhail Komin and Joanna Hosa in their policy brief 👉
The bear beneath the ice: Russia’s ambitions in the Arctic
Russia is rapidly developing—and militarising—its Arctic territory as a strategic priority, even amid its war on Ukraine. Add Trump’s coveting of Greenland to the mix, and the next confrontation in…
bit.ly
2 3
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · Jul 7
😁😁
Je ne sais pas si c'est bon signe ou mauvais signe vu les enjeux...
2 4
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · Jul 1
Despite their geopolitical impotence on UKR and Gaza, Euros cld be helpful on 3 central aspects:restoring inspections of Iran nuke facilities, influencing Tehran’s LT calculus, and helping get a broader agreement that reduces the ISR gov’s pretexts to resume war
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
The Small Window for an EU-U.S. Diplomatic Push on Iran
To turn U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear program into a long-term resolution, Washington should seize the moment and cooperate with France, Germany, and the UK on diplomatic talks.
carnegieendowment.org
1 7
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
fbermingham.bsky.social
Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · Jun 5
Sefcovic is the latest EU official to call time on the end of freewheeling global trade

"Those days are behind us"
1 1 4
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · Jun 5
OH the irony.
theatlantic.com The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · Jun 5
In an effort to attract more conservative faculty, some elite universities are borrowing tactics long used to promote racial diversity, Rose Horowitch writes.
The Era of DEI for Conservatives Has Begun
In an effort to attract more right-leaning faculty, some elite universities are borrowing tactics long used to promote racial diversity.
bit.ly
1 11
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · Jun 5
Ahead of the July 11 Polish parliament confidence vote on Tusk's govt (which he called for), read this by
@susmonika.bsky.social assessing just how responsible Tusk and his coalition were for the presidential win by Nawrocki, the populist backed by PiS.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Razor-Thin and Deeply Divided: The Polish Election Shock
The election of populist Karol Nawrocki as Poland’s president poses challenges to the country’s reform agenda and deeper EU integration. Yet, the narrow result underscores that Poland still has a stro...
carnegieendowment.org
6
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
anablzk.bsky.social
Hannah Blzk @anablzk.bsky.social · May 18
🎙️ Excellent épisode du Collimateur d’ @alexjubelin.bsky.social avec @rmomtaz.bsky.social, @rikefranke.bsky.social et @elietenenbaum.bsky.social.
Discussions très pertinentes et éclairantes sur la place de l’Europe et la notion de pouvoir géopolitique.
2 12
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
didiervincent.bsky.social
Didier Vincent 🇨🇵🇺🇦 @didiervincent.bsky.social · May 18
le possible "une zone d'interdiction aérienne" ça ne se fait pas Pourquoi? Parce qu'on a peur des Russes nous dit @rmomtaz.bsky.social d'où les rodomontades européennes Excellent épisode merci @alexjubelin.bsky.social @elietenenbaum.bsky.social @rikefranke.bsky.social
lerubicon.org/collimateur-...
Ukraine : ce que peuvent les négociations [Le Casque et la Plume #12]
Alors que des négociations s'ouvrent une nouvelle fois à Istanbul entre Russie et Ukraine, le "Casque et la plume" revient sur leurs perspectives et le rapport de force, avec @RymMomtaz, @RikeFranke e...
lerubicon.org
1 3
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
ifri.bsky.social
Ifri - Institut français des relations internationales @ifri.bsky.social · May 21
🇪🇺🇮🇱 Should the European Union suspend its association agreement with Israel?
@amelieferey.bsky.social, Research Fellow at Ifri's Security Studies Center, shares her analysis in @carnegieendowment.org's latest commentary. ⤵️
www.ifri.org/en/media-ext...

@rmomtaz.bsky.social
4 3
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
carnegieeurope.bsky.social
Carnegie Europe @carnegieeurope.bsky.social · May 27
At the #NATO summit, Europeans have an opportunity to set new conditions for decades to come.

They can strengthen the alliance by committing to a timeline that allows for a US drawdown while preserving American strategic enablers, argues @rmomtaz.bsky.social.

carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
The Irresistible Plan Europeans Can Offer Trump to Save NATO
At the next NATO summit, Europeans have an opportunity to set new conditions for decades to come. They can strengthen the alliance by committing to a timeline that allows for a U.S. drawdown while pre...
carnegieendowment.org
2 1
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
fheisbourg.bsky.social
François Heisbourg @fheisbourg.bsky.social · May 17
Moscow's way of signalling that "denazification" is still part of its game ( along with neutralisation, demilitarisation and annexation)
kyivindependent.com The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · May 17
⚡️Moscow questions Kyiv's authority, says Ukraine's choice of signatory key to any peace deal.

"The most important and principal matter when signing documents between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations is the identity of the person authorized to sign on behalf of Ukraine," Kremlin spokes said.
Russian strikes kill at least 13, injure over 30 across Ukraine in past 24 hours
Russian forces launched a massive drone assault across Ukraine overnight, using 62 drones including Shahed-type attack UAVs and decoy drones from Russia and occupied Crimea.
kyivindependent.com
7 16
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · May 17
When they roll out and enforce the so-called "massive sanctions" *in coordination with the US* as they threatened Sunday then we can say they did it. Half measures and incremental measures aren't good enough anymore.
mssummerblossom.bsky.social Dominus Ontologicus Animae @mssummerblossom.bsky.social · May 17
Did you miss that there WERE new sanctions???

The EU immediately (within days) 🔽 and is working on package 18 ALREADY.

bsky.app/profile/vond...
vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu · May 14
I welcome the agreement on our 17th sanctions package against Russia.

We are further restricting access to battlefield technology.

And we have listed an additional 189 shadow fleet vessels to target Russia's energy exports.

This war has to end. We will keep the pressure high on the Kremlin.
1 9
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · May 16
Also serving in the US military is one of the fast-tracks to citizenship for foreigners...
radleybalko.bsky.social Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · May 16
500K Mexican-Americans served in the U.S. armed forces in WWII, as did millions of 1st and 2nd-gen immigrants, and 109K noncitizens.

Mexican immigrant Macario Garcia won the Medal of Honor in Normandy. When he returned to the US, he was was arrested for trying to eat at a segregated restaurant.
1 11
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · May 16
In the space of 5 days we’ve gone from a 24h ultimatum and “massive sanctions” bearing down on Russia, supposedly in coordination w/US, to Euros saying “we’ll continue to coordinate [with US etc] to define a united response”
12 24 120
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · May 15
START'EM YOUNG!
1 1 21
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · May 15
Rubio: only way to get breakthrough is for Trump and Putin to meet.
Basically rewarding Putin w/summit for rejecting every demand.

So much for terrible consequences the Euros threatened, claiming coordination w/US, if Putin refused unconditional ceasefire +no progress in TUR.
1 12
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
rikefranke.bsky.social
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · May 15
Narrator’s voice “Germany did not, in fact, spend 5% on defence”.

(This is still helpful in the debate)
rmomtaz.bsky.social Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · May 15
Interesting but let's actually see how that would happen concretely.
rikefranke.bsky.social Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · May 15
New German foreign minister reportedly supports a new 5%/GDP goal for defence expenditures. Not sth you hear every day in Germany.

www.spiegel.de/politik/deut...
1 3 59
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · May 15
Interesting but let's actually see how that would happen concretely.
1 10
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · May 15
FR FM says Euro sanctioning 194 RUS oil tankers, 31 entities providing weapons, banks etc.

Why not start by stopping Euro purchasing of RUS oil and gas. Since the price cap was intro, the EU as a whole has been the 4th largest purchaser as I wrote here:

carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Why Europeans Should Impose a Ceasefire in Ukraine
The meeting of EU leaders in Ukraine underscored their reliance on the United States for game-changing actions to end Russia’s war. But Europeans can influence military efforts on the ground, includin...
carnegieendowment.org
3 12
rmomtaz.bsky.social
Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز @rmomtaz.bsky.social · May 15
With Putin now ridiculing his own Turkey talks proposal, Re-upping this from me on Tuesday:

"Instead of hollow ultimatums [Europeans] cannot enforce, it is now time they create military facts on the ground that impose a ceasefire in at least parts of Ukraine."
3 9
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
rikefranke.bsky.social
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · Apr 30
Unfortunately, there is also this, in the CDU 👇
(By @rmomtaz.bsky.social carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...)
Recent closed-door discussions with various officials—including some from the CDU—reveal how difficult the process is. Many recoil at explicitly recognizing that the United States no longer wishes to be the ultimate guarantor of European security.
2 5 77
Reposted by Rym Momtaz ريم ممتاز
rikefranke.bsky.social
Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · Apr 30
And I am dismayed that the SPD still lives in past-time lalaland
politico.eu POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · Apr 30
German Social Democrats are dismayed by calls from French President Emmanuel Macron and incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss how French nuclear weapons could protect Europe.
German Social Democrats pour cold water on French nuclear deterrent
German lawmaker Nils Schmid argues there is no need to open the subject as the U.S. has not said it would withdraw its nuclear umbrella.
ow.ly
20 42 290