James Cameron
@jjjcameron.bsky.social
Associate Prof of Modern North American History at the University of Oslo, Norway. Nuclear strategy and arms control.
"I don't know what I'm doing. As usual!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
November 24, 2025 at 1:17 PM
"I don't know what I'm doing. As usual!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!"
Reposted by James Cameron
This is the kind of thing you would do if you had no idea how to achieve economic growth. It's a stunningly stupid move but only one of many that the government has been making over the last 10 months or so. All those years in opposition and they have no idea what to do while in office. Shameful
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 23, 2025 at 11:10 PM
This is the kind of thing you would do if you had no idea how to achieve economic growth. It's a stunningly stupid move but only one of many that the government has been making over the last 10 months or so. All those years in opposition and they have no idea what to do while in office. Shameful
I fear that a lot of elements on European defense (including the nuclear component) will be viewed as politically impossible until the moment they become absolutely necessary, by which point it will be too late.
November 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I fear that a lot of elements on European defense (including the nuclear component) will be viewed as politically impossible until the moment they become absolutely necessary, by which point it will be too late.
Reposted by James Cameron
Europe has a foreign policy problem. It does need to engage in these talks and doing so as 7 or 8 leaders just doesn't work. It makes it easy to work around Europe. So the EU should pick a special envoy - perhaps the fmr Finnish president Niinisto or a Draghi type to engage on behalf of Europe.
No formal "counter-proposal" from Europeans in Geneva - whose leaders instead agreed to try to dilute or amend US-Russian draft to keep Trump onside - but a list of demands on UA territory, size of army & EU control over frozen assets & sanctions
w @christopherjm.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/9e11...
w @christopherjm.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/9e11...
US, Ukrainian and European officials convene for peace talks
Meeting in Geneva follows rearguard diplomatic move to reshape US plan
www.ft.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Europe has a foreign policy problem. It does need to engage in these talks and doing so as 7 or 8 leaders just doesn't work. It makes it easy to work around Europe. So the EU should pick a special envoy - perhaps the fmr Finnish president Niinisto or a Draghi type to engage on behalf of Europe.
Any government with an ounce of shame would be completely humiliated by that second sentence. An utter shambles.
November 23, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Any government with an ounce of shame would be completely humiliated by that second sentence. An utter shambles.
Every time the Trump admin does this, US credibility crumbles a little more in the eyes of its European allies.
If the latter were not so heavily invested in the United States, US credibility would have evaporated by now.
If the latter were not so heavily invested in the United States, US credibility would have evaporated by now.
Russia-Ukraine war: US insists it authored peace plan
Russia-Ukraine war: US insists it authored peace plan
It comes after a group of senators said they were told by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the draft did not reflect Washington's position.
www.bbc.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Every time the Trump admin does this, US credibility crumbles a little more in the eyes of its European allies.
If the latter were not so heavily invested in the United States, US credibility would have evaporated by now.
If the latter were not so heavily invested in the United States, US credibility would have evaporated by now.
The US either wants to force this capitulation on Ukraine, or is deliberately setting the deal up for failure, giving it the excuse to walk away. Even if it backtracks, Putin will be emboldened.
In any event, European security is on the line and only Europe can take responsibility for its future.
In any event, European security is on the line and only Europe can take responsibility for its future.
November 22, 2025 at 8:27 AM
The US either wants to force this capitulation on Ukraine, or is deliberately setting the deal up for failure, giving it the excuse to walk away. Even if it backtracks, Putin will be emboldened.
In any event, European security is on the line and only Europe can take responsibility for its future.
In any event, European security is on the line and only Europe can take responsibility for its future.
Reposted by James Cameron
At least Munich had a strategic rationale based on Anglo-French weakness and need for time to rearm in the face of immediate escalation to a Europe-wide war.
The US can easily support Ukraine and is arguably an effective cost-imposition strategy vs Russia, even in nakedly instrumental terms.
The US can easily support Ukraine and is arguably an effective cost-imposition strategy vs Russia, even in nakedly instrumental terms.
November 22, 2025 at 7:38 AM
At least Munich had a strategic rationale based on Anglo-French weakness and need for time to rearm in the face of immediate escalation to a Europe-wide war.
The US can easily support Ukraine and is arguably an effective cost-imposition strategy vs Russia, even in nakedly instrumental terms.
The US can easily support Ukraine and is arguably an effective cost-imposition strategy vs Russia, even in nakedly instrumental terms.
Reposted by James Cameron
I'm not a big fan of the Munich analogy, but this is real Munich stuff -- probably worse.
www.ft.com/content/f411...
www.ft.com/content/f411...
November 22, 2025 at 7:18 AM
I'm not a big fan of the Munich analogy, but this is real Munich stuff -- probably worse.
www.ft.com/content/f411...
www.ft.com/content/f411...
For bigger profits, at least for Trump and his cabal.
It's even worse. The US is making a profit on the war right now, and apparently they are willing to give up that in order to force through this Munich thing.
November 22, 2025 at 7:47 AM
For bigger profits, at least for Trump and his cabal.
Reposted by James Cameron
It's even worse. The US is making a profit on the war right now, and apparently they are willing to give up that in order to force through this Munich thing.
November 22, 2025 at 7:43 AM
It's even worse. The US is making a profit on the war right now, and apparently they are willing to give up that in order to force through this Munich thing.
I'm not a big fan of the Munich analogy, but this is real Munich stuff -- probably worse.
www.ft.com/content/f411...
www.ft.com/content/f411...
November 22, 2025 at 7:18 AM
I'm not a big fan of the Munich analogy, but this is real Munich stuff -- probably worse.
www.ft.com/content/f411...
www.ft.com/content/f411...
This is key. Europe's courting of Trump has bought only short-term benefits at the cost of any belief that EUR will stand up for Ukraine's and its own interests when the chips are down. Now here we are.
you seriously when you need them to. The White House official who remarked "we don't care what the Europeans think" reflects the Washington mood. Europe will get in line when we tell them to. So will the EU unfreeze frozen Russian assets to go to US firms? Get rid of sanctions, etc? 5/
November 21, 2025 at 2:58 PM
This is key. Europe's courting of Trump has bought only short-term benefits at the cost of any belief that EUR will stand up for Ukraine's and its own interests when the chips are down. Now here we are.
Reposted by James Cameron
The Witkoff-Dmitriev plan is even more amateurish than I imagined. It favours Russia although does contain elements that Russia will not like. Premature leaking means that it is no more than work in progress. Here is an annotated version (This is free). open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...?
The Witkoff-Dmitriev peace plan annotated
We now know a bit more about the process which led to the new peace plan and we now have a copy of its contents, to which I will turn soon.
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:36 AM
The Witkoff-Dmitriev plan is even more amateurish than I imagined. It favours Russia although does contain elements that Russia will not like. Premature leaking means that it is no more than work in progress. Here is an annotated version (This is free). open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...?
Reposted by James Cameron
I'd translate "resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation" [presumably between NATO and Russia?] as NATO steps back from Russia's borders and the U.S. steps back from NATO so Russia can escalate....
November 21, 2025 at 11:18 AM
I'd translate "resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation" [presumably between NATO and Russia?] as NATO steps back from Russia's borders and the U.S. steps back from NATO so Russia can escalate....
Point 4 of Trump's 28-point peace plan:
"A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation..."
Mediated by the US! The US is a member of NATO (the last time I checked).
"A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation..."
Mediated by the US! The US is a member of NATO (the last time I checked).
Read the full text of Trump’s 28-point Ukraine-Russia peace plan
Proposed deal would limit size of Ukrainian forces and calls on Kyiv to withdraw troops from eastern Donetsk
www.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Point 4 of Trump's 28-point peace plan:
"A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation..."
Mediated by the US! The US is a member of NATO (the last time I checked).
"A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation..."
Mediated by the US! The US is a member of NATO (the last time I checked).
What's Europe's plan -- another joint transatlantic trip to Washington to try to talk Trump out of it and upping support to Ukraine to diminish the potential impact of the withdrawal of US aid/US leverage?
November 19, 2025 at 5:34 PM
What's Europe's plan -- another joint transatlantic trip to Washington to try to talk Trump out of it and upping support to Ukraine to diminish the potential impact of the withdrawal of US aid/US leverage?
"The draft plan wld require Ukraine to cede the remainder of the eastern Donbas region — including land currently under Kyiv control — & cut the size of its armed forces by half.
"... it also calls for Ukr to abandon key categories of weaponry & wld include the rollback of US military assistance"
"... it also calls for Ukr to abandon key categories of weaponry & wld include the rollback of US military assistance"
Story here with exclusive new details: The Trump admin and Russian officials have drawn up a sweeping new proposal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine that envisions major concessions from Kyiv and urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept it...
via @financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/2353...
via @financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/2353...
US and Russian officials draft new peace plan for Ukraine
Sweeping 28-point proposal would include territorial concessions and rollback of American military assistance
www.ft.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:27 PM
"The draft plan wld require Ukraine to cede the remainder of the eastern Donbas region — including land currently under Kyiv control — & cut the size of its armed forces by half.
"... it also calls for Ukr to abandon key categories of weaponry & wld include the rollback of US military assistance"
"... it also calls for Ukr to abandon key categories of weaponry & wld include the rollback of US military assistance"
Reposted by James Cameron
Story here with exclusive new details: The Trump admin and Russian officials have drawn up a sweeping new proposal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine that envisions major concessions from Kyiv and urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept it...
via @financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/2353...
via @financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/2353...
US and Russian officials draft new peace plan for Ukraine
Sweeping 28-point proposal would include territorial concessions and rollback of American military assistance
www.ft.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Story here with exclusive new details: The Trump admin and Russian officials have drawn up a sweeping new proposal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine that envisions major concessions from Kyiv and urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept it...
via @financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/2353...
via @financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/2353...
Reposted by James Cameron
This is also a straightforward dynamic in Moscow. Negotiations are ~ free to engage with until an agreement is reached, and people inevitably read into them more than is there in a way they can shape. They will *always* engage in negotiations, even if privately under no expectation they are close
November 19, 2025 at 9:02 AM
This is also a straightforward dynamic in Moscow. Negotiations are ~ free to engage with until an agreement is reached, and people inevitably read into them more than is there in a way they can shape. They will *always* engage in negotiations, even if privately under no expectation they are close
Reposted by James Cameron
I wrote to Garber: I ask you to take immediate action to sever Harvard's ties to Larry Summers. His conduct violates every norm of decency and faculty conduct imaginable. And it is all there in black and white. For the sake of his students and mentees, past, present and future, please do not delay.
November 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I wrote to Garber: I ask you to take immediate action to sever Harvard's ties to Larry Summers. His conduct violates every norm of decency and faculty conduct imaginable. And it is all there in black and white. For the sake of his students and mentees, past, present and future, please do not delay.
Reposted by James Cameron
Have to say that my pride in Harvard's stance against the Trump administration will dissolve if they do not do what Elizabeth Warren says and stat. 👇
Per CNN, Elizabeth Warren is calling on Harvard to cut ties with Larry Summers after Jeffrey Epstein's emails released last week by House Dems featured Summers making sexist comments + asking for Epstein’s romantic advice.
November 17, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Have to say that my pride in Harvard's stance against the Trump administration will dissolve if they do not do what Elizabeth Warren says and stat. 👇
Reposted by James Cameron
I simply do not understand how the govt can simultaneously believe (1) they don’t have enough political capital to breach the manifesto on tax and (2) they have enough to political capital to pick an unwinnable fight with their own MPs on immigration.
November 17, 2025 at 11:01 AM
I simply do not understand how the govt can simultaneously believe (1) they don’t have enough political capital to breach the manifesto on tax and (2) they have enough to political capital to pick an unwinnable fight with their own MPs on immigration.
If the Parliamentary Labour Party doesn't rebel over this, then I'm not sure what the point of Labour is, really.
Ministers now appear to be confirming in broadcast interviews that they would audit and could confiscate assets (including jewellery) excepting wedding rings from the jewellery that they could confiscate.
November 17, 2025 at 10:08 AM
If the Parliamentary Labour Party doesn't rebel over this, then I'm not sure what the point of Labour is, really.
A sufficient buildup to make it difficult for Trump to back down, but not enough to be sure of toppling Maduro, without any legal justification or the hint of a plan for the day after. What could go wrong?
"This marks the largest U.S. military presence in the Caribbean in decades, with nearly 20% of the Navy’s deployed warships in the region"
Gerald R. Ford strike group enters Caribbean Sea
The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group transited the Anegada Passage and entered the Caribbean Sea.
www.stripes.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:21 PM
A sufficient buildup to make it difficult for Trump to back down, but not enough to be sure of toppling Maduro, without any legal justification or the hint of a plan for the day after. What could go wrong?