Dimitar Bechev
@dimitarbechev.bsky.social
Director of the Dahrendorf Programme
St Antony's College, Oxford and Senior Fellow at Carnegie Europe
Author: Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe and Turkey under Erdoğan (Yale)
St Antony's College, Oxford and Senior Fellow at Carnegie Europe
Author: Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe and Turkey under Erdoğan (Yale)
We just published a paper on Europe-China by @jankaoertel.bsky.social
www.sant.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
www.sant.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
November 17, 2025 at 1:49 PM
We just published a paper on Europe-China by @jankaoertel.bsky.social
www.sant.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
www.sant.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/u...
Just read another book which boils down the discussion of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine to "oh God, why are Americans so Russophobic!?" Won't name names but some people in academia are beyond redemption.
November 14, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Just read another book which boils down the discussion of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine to "oh God, why are Americans so Russophobic!?" Won't name names but some people in academia are beyond redemption.
Reposted by Dimitar Bechev
Streets have been renamed, Ukrainian monuments removed, and murals painted over. Bellingcat investigates how apartment blocks in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol have been demolished to make way for a new Russian suburban utopia… www.bellingcat.com/uncategorize...
Building on Ruins: The Russification of Mariupol, One Apartment Block at a Time - bellingcat
Bellingcat has identified 23 multi-storey housing complexes being built in occupied Mariupol and advertised for sale to Russian citizens.
www.bellingcat.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Streets have been renamed, Ukrainian monuments removed, and murals painted over. Bellingcat investigates how apartment blocks in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol have been demolished to make way for a new Russian suburban utopia… www.bellingcat.com/uncategorize...
Reposted by Dimitar Bechev
🔔BiEPAG member @dimitarbechev.bsky.social
for @carnegieeurope.bsky.social
"The #WesternBalkans are on the path to become a net contributor to EU security, but much more needs to be done.
The 3 NATO members - Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro - should lead the way.
tinyurl.com/29cd6fj7
for @carnegieeurope.bsky.social
"The #WesternBalkans are on the path to become a net contributor to EU security, but much more needs to be done.
The 3 NATO members - Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro - should lead the way.
tinyurl.com/29cd6fj7
How the Western Balkans Can Contribute to European Defense
The Western Balkans’ defense industry offers Europe a chance to strengthen its security. But to become net contributors, governments across the region must modernize their militaries, attract investme...
carnegieendowment.org
November 7, 2025 at 8:57 AM
🔔BiEPAG member @dimitarbechev.bsky.social
for @carnegieeurope.bsky.social
"The #WesternBalkans are on the path to become a net contributor to EU security, but much more needs to be done.
The 3 NATO members - Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro - should lead the way.
tinyurl.com/29cd6fj7
for @carnegieeurope.bsky.social
"The #WesternBalkans are on the path to become a net contributor to EU security, but much more needs to be done.
The 3 NATO members - Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro - should lead the way.
tinyurl.com/29cd6fj7
Amazing. The architect and urban planner who built Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, was born in Bulgaria. Constantinos Doxiadis came from a Greek family in Stenimachos (Assenovgrad) in 1913, moving to Greece two years after.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constan...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constan...
Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Amazing. The architect and urban planner who built Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, was born in Bulgaria. Constantinos Doxiadis came from a Greek family in Stenimachos (Assenovgrad) in 1913, moving to Greece two years after.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constan...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constan...
Reposted by Dimitar Bechev
New: Trump cancelled his Budapest summit with Putin after a Russian memo to Washington holding firm to hardline demands on Ukraine was swiftly followed by a tense call between Rubio and Lavrov. Moscow would not negotiate.
w/ @maxseddon.bsky.social @a-mackinnon.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/d665...
w/ @maxseddon.bsky.social @a-mackinnon.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/d665...
Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin Budapest summit axed following Moscow memo
Russian foreign ministry’s maximalist demands for ending Ukraine war led US to scrap planned meeting
www.ft.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:33 AM
New: Trump cancelled his Budapest summit with Putin after a Russian memo to Washington holding firm to hardline demands on Ukraine was swiftly followed by a tense call between Rubio and Lavrov. Moscow would not negotiate.
w/ @maxseddon.bsky.social @a-mackinnon.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/d665...
w/ @maxseddon.bsky.social @a-mackinnon.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/d665...
“The fate of China, whose maritime gates have for a century been sagging under the pressure of the West and are now being battered down by Japan, will largely be determined by what happens at the inland gates that open toward, or from, Central Eurasia and Siberia.” Owen Lattimore in 1935.
October 31, 2025 at 6:20 PM
“The fate of China, whose maritime gates have for a century been sagging under the pressure of the West and are now being battered down by Japan, will largely be determined by what happens at the inland gates that open toward, or from, Central Eurasia and Siberia.” Owen Lattimore in 1935.
Charles King writing more than 20 years ago. The Black Sea: A History (Oxford UP: 2004), p. 4.
October 31, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Charles King writing more than 20 years ago. The Black Sea: A History (Oxford UP: 2004), p. 4.
Up there with the historic Delors one.
October 31, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Up there with the historic Delors one.
Reposted by Dimitar Bechev
The last survivor of the Crimean War died in 2004.
"Timothy" spent 40 years in the Navy. After retirement, having moved in with the Earl of Devon, she revealed she was a girl.
She would wander round his garden wearing a sign that said. "My name is Timothy. I am very old. Pease do not pick me up".
"Timothy" spent 40 years in the Navy. After retirement, having moved in with the Earl of Devon, she revealed she was a girl.
She would wander round his garden wearing a sign that said. "My name is Timothy. I am very old. Pease do not pick me up".
October 31, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The last survivor of the Crimean War died in 2004.
"Timothy" spent 40 years in the Navy. After retirement, having moved in with the Earl of Devon, she revealed she was a girl.
She would wander round his garden wearing a sign that said. "My name is Timothy. I am very old. Pease do not pick me up".
"Timothy" spent 40 years in the Navy. After retirement, having moved in with the Earl of Devon, she revealed she was a girl.
She would wander round his garden wearing a sign that said. "My name is Timothy. I am very old. Pease do not pick me up".
The closing chapter in my forthcoming book The Scramble for Europe: Russia, China and Turkey Challenging Regional Order discusses rearmament @oxfordacademic.bsky.social
Our cover this week
“Europe should take heart and recognise its own strength. Its military budget is already four times larger than Russia’s; its economy is ten times larger. Far from shying away from a financial contest with the Kremlin, Europe should embrace it—and win the war”
“Europe should take heart and recognise its own strength. Its military budget is already four times larger than Russia’s; its economy is ten times larger. Far from shying away from a financial contest with the Kremlin, Europe should embrace it—and win the war”
October 31, 2025 at 12:31 PM
The closing chapter in my forthcoming book The Scramble for Europe: Russia, China and Turkey Challenging Regional Order discusses rearmament @oxfordacademic.bsky.social
Reposted by Dimitar Bechev
Indian Oil Corp resumed buying Russian crude purchasing five cargoes from non-sanctioned entities for December delivery despite US pressure to stop, while other major Indian refiners paused purchases after sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Reuters reports.
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
October 31, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Indian Oil Corp resumed buying Russian crude purchasing five cargoes from non-sanctioned entities for December delivery despite US pressure to stop, while other major Indian refiners paused purchases after sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Reuters reports.
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
Listened to an old episode on
@restisclassified.bsky.social
on Russia's Bulgarian spy ring in the UK. At some point,
@gordoncorera.bsky.social & D. McClosley
struggle with the surname "Dzhambazov".It actually comes from the Persian jānbāz /جانباز (veteran) -> Turkish cambaz (daredevil/acrobat)
@restisclassified.bsky.social
on Russia's Bulgarian spy ring in the UK. At some point,
@gordoncorera.bsky.social & D. McClosley
struggle with the surname "Dzhambazov".It actually comes from the Persian jānbāz /جانباز (veteran) -> Turkish cambaz (daredevil/acrobat)
October 31, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Listened to an old episode on
@restisclassified.bsky.social
on Russia's Bulgarian spy ring in the UK. At some point,
@gordoncorera.bsky.social & D. McClosley
struggle with the surname "Dzhambazov".It actually comes from the Persian jānbāz /جانباز (veteran) -> Turkish cambaz (daredevil/acrobat)
@restisclassified.bsky.social
on Russia's Bulgarian spy ring in the UK. At some point,
@gordoncorera.bsky.social & D. McClosley
struggle with the surname "Dzhambazov".It actually comes from the Persian jānbāz /جانباز (veteran) -> Turkish cambaz (daredevil/acrobat)
"Saying buccaneering a lot" - Ganesh is in top form!
October 30, 2025 at 6:14 AM
"Saying buccaneering a lot" - Ganesh is in top form!
My new piece:
New measures from the United States and European Union confirm why Russian energy exports were always a double-edged sword. foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/29/p...
New measures from the United States and European Union confirm why Russian energy exports were always a double-edged sword. foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/29/p...
Why Putin’s Energy Weapon Failed
New measures from the United States and European Union confirm why Russian energy exports were always a double-edged sword.
foreignpolicy.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:12 AM
My new piece:
New measures from the United States and European Union confirm why Russian energy exports were always a double-edged sword. foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/29/p...
New measures from the United States and European Union confirm why Russian energy exports were always a double-edged sword. foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/29/p...
Reposted by Dimitar Bechev
The Western Balkans' defense industry can contribute to Europe's security.
But first, governments must modernize their militaries, attract investment, & gradually integrate into the EU's initiatives, say @dimitarbechev.bsky.social & @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
But first, governments must modernize their militaries, attract investment, & gradually integrate into the EU's initiatives, say @dimitarbechev.bsky.social & @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
How the Western Balkans Can Contribute to European Defense
The Western Balkans’ defense industry offers Europe a chance to strengthen its security. But to become net contributors, governments across the region must modernize their militaries, attract investme...
carnegieendowment.org
October 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
The Western Balkans' defense industry can contribute to Europe's security.
But first, governments must modernize their militaries, attract investment, & gradually integrate into the EU's initiatives, say @dimitarbechev.bsky.social & @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
But first, governments must modernize their militaries, attract investment, & gradually integrate into the EU's initiatives, say @dimitarbechev.bsky.social & @ilirianagjoni.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Reposted by Dimitar Bechev
⚡️Ukrainian drones target Moscow in overnight attack, mayor says.
Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports have temporarily suspended operations in response to the drone threat.
Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports have temporarily suspended operations in response to the drone threat.
Ukrainian drones target Moscow in overnight attack, mayor says
Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports have temporarily suspended operations in response to the drone threat.
kyivindependent.com
October 26, 2025 at 11:10 PM
⚡️Ukrainian drones target Moscow in overnight attack, mayor says.
Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports have temporarily suspended operations in response to the drone threat.
Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports have temporarily suspended operations in response to the drone threat.
Reposted by Dimitar Bechev
A Chinese LNG tanker owned by Pacific Gas was spotted receiving fuel from a sanctioned Russian vessel off Malaysia, the first documented case of a Chinese ship assisting blacklisted Russian LNG transport, Bloomberg reported.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
October 25, 2025 at 8:01 AM
A Chinese LNG tanker owned by Pacific Gas was spotted receiving fuel from a sanctioned Russian vessel off Malaysia, the first documented case of a Chinese ship assisting blacklisted Russian LNG transport, Bloomberg reported.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Dimitar Bechev
BIG NEWS if true: the Commission looks to have found a solution to use the frozen 🇷🇺 assets to fund 🇺🇦!
www.politico.eu/article/eu-d...
www.politico.eu/article/eu-d...
EU closes in on deal to use Russian frozen assets to fund Ukraine
Belgium will give the nod for the Commission to put forward a legal proposal outlining the €140 billion Ukraine loan.
www.politico.eu
October 22, 2025 at 5:10 AM
BIG NEWS if true: the Commission looks to have found a solution to use the frozen 🇷🇺 assets to fund 🇺🇦!
www.politico.eu/article/eu-d...
www.politico.eu/article/eu-d...
The EU is about as likely to break up economic ties with Israel as Middle Eastern countries severing relations with Russia.
October 21, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The EU is about as likely to break up economic ties with Israel as Middle Eastern countries severing relations with Russia.
Reposted by Dimitar Bechev
Interesting article. Paradoxically, Tufan Erhürman's victory in the presidential election in Northern Cyprus against the candidate supported by the AKP could benefit Ankara, which has not abandoned the negotiating table and intends to improve its relations with Europe.
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/bar...
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/bar...
Seçim sonuçları Ankara’nın işine gelir, artık Rumlar düşünsün
AK Parti liderliği KKTC seçim sonuçlarını vakit geçirmeden kabul etti, zira gelmekte olanın geldiğini çok önceden görmüştü. Sanki seçimlere kendisi müdahale etmemiş gibi Kıbrıs Türk halkının tebrik ed...
t24.com.tr
October 20, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Interesting article. Paradoxically, Tufan Erhürman's victory in the presidential election in Northern Cyprus against the candidate supported by the AKP could benefit Ankara, which has not abandoned the negotiating table and intends to improve its relations with Europe.
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/bar...
t24.com.tr/yazarlar/bar...
Trump and Putin do what they know best: smoke and mirrors.
open.substack.com/pub/scramble...
open.substack.com/pub/scramble...
The Trump-Putin Charade
When it comes to Ukraine peace talks, it's still the same old game of smoke and mirrors
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Trump and Putin do what they know best: smoke and mirrors.
open.substack.com/pub/scramble...
open.substack.com/pub/scramble...
Reposted by Dimitar Bechev
Check out Dr. Dimitar Bechev’s latest piece on Trump and Putin relations.
atlasthink.org/the-trump-pu... by @dimitarbechev.bsky.social
atlasthink.org/the-trump-pu... by @dimitarbechev.bsky.social
The Trump-Putin Charade - Atlas Think Club
Now that Gaza is done and dusted, Donald Trump appears to be getting ready to settle another war, Ukraine. But do not hold your breath. We are nowhere near a ceasefire, much less a peace. Rather, it ...
atlasthink.org
October 20, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Check out Dr. Dimitar Bechev’s latest piece on Trump and Putin relations.
atlasthink.org/the-trump-pu... by @dimitarbechev.bsky.social
atlasthink.org/the-trump-pu... by @dimitarbechev.bsky.social
Among the consequences of Ukrainian migration to Central and SE Europe is the cross-pollination btw Ukrainian and Russian and local Slavic languages. Just came across an example by a Russophone Ukrainian from Primorsk (Zaporizhiya) living in Sofia. "Жду на спирке" (остановке).
October 19, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Among the consequences of Ukrainian migration to Central and SE Europe is the cross-pollination btw Ukrainian and Russian and local Slavic languages. Just came across an example by a Russophone Ukrainian from Primorsk (Zaporizhiya) living in Sofia. "Жду на спирке" (остановке).
Just another day in Sofia. Source: www.facebook.com/share/p/19sE...
October 19, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Just another day in Sofia. Source: www.facebook.com/share/p/19sE...