Thomas de Waal
@tomdewaal.bsky.social
Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe, all things Caucasus, Eastern Europe, Black Sea. Also Russian poetry.
Reposted by Thomas de Waal
The EU Parliament has adopted a new resolution condemning the human rights situation in Azerbaijan and the imprisonment of researchers Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov, on 18 December.
EU Parliament adopts resolution condemning human rights situation in Azerbaijan
The resolution ‘strongly’ condemns the arrest of Ali Karimli, chair of the opposition Popular Front Party, and calls for his immediate release.
oc-media.org
December 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
The EU Parliament has adopted a new resolution condemning the human rights situation in Azerbaijan and the imprisonment of researchers Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov, on 18 December.
Reposted by Thomas de Waal
U.S. President Donald Trump's claims to have ended eight wars may be debatable, but his #peace efforts raise valid questions.
Europe can learn lessons from Washington on how to break the deadlock in protracted conflicts, writes @tomdewaal.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Europe can learn lessons from Washington on how to break the deadlock in protracted conflicts, writes @tomdewaal.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Trump’s Peace Lessons for Europe
U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims to have ended eight wars may be debatable, but his peace efforts raise valid questions. Europe can learn lessons from Washington on how to break the deadlock in pr...
carnegieendowment.org
December 16, 2025 at 12:34 PM
U.S. President Donald Trump's claims to have ended eight wars may be debatable, but his #peace efforts raise valid questions.
Europe can learn lessons from Washington on how to break the deadlock in protracted conflicts, writes @tomdewaal.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Europe can learn lessons from Washington on how to break the deadlock in protracted conflicts, writes @tomdewaal.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
My piece just published. It's easy to be sniffy about Trump's "Art of the Deal" peace-making. Liberal peace is still the best variety, if rare. But Europe can still learn from Trump's willingness to shake things up and break the status quo. carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Trump’s Peace Lessons for Europe
U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims to have ended eight wars may be debatable, but his peace efforts raise valid questions. Europe can learn lessons from Washington on how to break the deadlock in pr...
carnegieendowment.org
December 16, 2025 at 12:58 PM
My piece just published. It's easy to be sniffy about Trump's "Art of the Deal" peace-making. Liberal peace is still the best variety, if rare. But Europe can still learn from Trump's willingness to shake things up and break the status quo. carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Reposted by Thomas de Waal
🎧 | Is Britain Becoming More Like Europe?
In this new #EuropeInsideOut episode, @tomdewaal.bsky.social, @peterkellner.bsky.social, & Anne McElvoy discuss the state of British politics and what it means for EU-UK relations.
Listen now 👉 europe-inside-out.simplecast.com/episodes/is-...
In this new #EuropeInsideOut episode, @tomdewaal.bsky.social, @peterkellner.bsky.social, & Anne McElvoy discuss the state of British politics and what it means for EU-UK relations.
Listen now 👉 europe-inside-out.simplecast.com/episodes/is-...
December 10, 2025 at 1:15 PM
🎧 | Is Britain Becoming More Like Europe?
In this new #EuropeInsideOut episode, @tomdewaal.bsky.social, @peterkellner.bsky.social, & Anne McElvoy discuss the state of British politics and what it means for EU-UK relations.
Listen now 👉 europe-inside-out.simplecast.com/episodes/is-...
In this new #EuropeInsideOut episode, @tomdewaal.bsky.social, @peterkellner.bsky.social, & Anne McElvoy discuss the state of British politics and what it means for EU-UK relations.
Listen now 👉 europe-inside-out.simplecast.com/episodes/is-...
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Should Europe be negotiating directly with Russia? Seven scholars respond to our latest @carnegieeurope.bsky.social (deliberately provocative) question
Should Europe be negotiating directly with Russia? Seven scholars respond to our latest @carnegieeurope.bsky.social (deliberately provocative) question
Taking the Pulse: Should Europe Negotiate with Russia?
By negotiating directly with the Kremlin, the Trump administration has broken the taboo on diplomatic contacts with Russia. With Ukrainian and European security at stake, is it time for Brussels to op...
carnegieendowment.org
December 5, 2025 at 9:32 AM
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Should Europe be negotiating directly with Russia? Seven scholars respond to our latest @carnegieeurope.bsky.social (deliberately provocative) question
Should Europe be negotiating directly with Russia? Seven scholars respond to our latest @carnegieeurope.bsky.social (deliberately provocative) question
Armenia's election, like it or not, is being fought by outside actors as well. Russia and parts of the US diaspora have a new candidate to unseat Nikol Pashinyan. Pashinyan needs help to demonstrate progress in his Real Armenia agenda. My latest for @carnegieeurope.bsky.social
Ahead of the 2026 Armenian election, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan faces fierce opposition from Russia and the diaspora.
He will need the help of Europe, the United States, and regional neighbours to advance his foreign policy, writes @tomdewaal.bsky.social
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
He will need the help of Europe, the United States, and regional neighbours to advance his foreign policy, writes @tomdewaal.bsky.social
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Armenia's Election Is a Foreign Affair
As the 2026 Armenian election approaches, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is facing fierce opposition from both Russia and the diaspora. He will need the help of Europe, the United States, and regional...
carnegieendowment.org
November 13, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Armenia's election, like it or not, is being fought by outside actors as well. Russia and parts of the US diaspora have a new candidate to unseat Nikol Pashinyan. Pashinyan needs help to demonstrate progress in his Real Armenia agenda. My latest for @carnegieeurope.bsky.social
A great line-up of experts, ahead of @cop30brazil.bsky.social, to consider if Europe still has a leadership role on climate change. Yes, it does, some say, it never had one, others contend!
❔| #TTP: Has Europe Given Up its Leadership on Climate Change? ➡️
COP30 takes place amidst increased pessimism about the world’s commitment to climate action.
Beset by a host of other challenges, can Europe still maintain a leading role?
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
COP30 takes place amidst increased pessimism about the world’s commitment to climate action.
Beset by a host of other challenges, can Europe still maintain a leading role?
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Taking the Pulse: Has Europe Given Up its Leadership on Climate Change?
COP30 takes place amidst increased pessimism about the world’s commitment to energy transition and ecological protection. Beset by a host of other challenges, can Europe still maintain its role as a d...
carnegieendowment.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:20 PM
A great line-up of experts, ahead of @cop30brazil.bsky.social, to consider if Europe still has a leadership role on climate change. Yes, it does, some say, it never had one, others contend!
Reposted by Thomas de Waal
❔| #TTP: Has Europe Given Up its Leadership on Climate Change? ➡️
COP30 takes place amidst increased pessimism about the world’s commitment to climate action.
Beset by a host of other challenges, can Europe still maintain a leading role?
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
COP30 takes place amidst increased pessimism about the world’s commitment to climate action.
Beset by a host of other challenges, can Europe still maintain a leading role?
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Taking the Pulse: Has Europe Given Up its Leadership on Climate Change?
COP30 takes place amidst increased pessimism about the world’s commitment to energy transition and ecological protection. Beset by a host of other challenges, can Europe still maintain its role as a d...
carnegieendowment.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:25 PM
❔| #TTP: Has Europe Given Up its Leadership on Climate Change? ➡️
COP30 takes place amidst increased pessimism about the world’s commitment to climate action.
Beset by a host of other challenges, can Europe still maintain a leading role?
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
COP30 takes place amidst increased pessimism about the world’s commitment to climate action.
Beset by a host of other challenges, can Europe still maintain a leading role?
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Europe is still struggling to cope with the second Trump presidency, writes Stefan Lehne for @carnegieeurope.bsky.social Echoing St Augustine, the message is “Lord, make us autonomous, but not just yet!” But the time to act is now. A great read. carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Can the EU Meet the Trump Moment?
The second term of U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing Europeans to strengthen their capacity for collective action. But their biggest challenge comes from within: U.S.-backed radical-right parties...
carnegieendowment.org
November 4, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Europe is still struggling to cope with the second Trump presidency, writes Stefan Lehne for @carnegieeurope.bsky.social Echoing St Augustine, the message is “Lord, make us autonomous, but not just yet!” But the time to act is now. A great read. carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Reposted by Thomas de Waal
How did the White House end up brokering a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
In a new article for @foreignaffairs.com, Senior Fellow Thomas de Waal unravels how a shared rejection of Russian dominance in the South Caucasus drove both parties down "an unlikely road to peace."
In a new article for @foreignaffairs.com, Senior Fellow Thomas de Waal unravels how a shared rejection of Russian dominance in the South Caucasus drove both parties down "an unlikely road to peace."
Just published, my piece on the U.S. Armenia-Azerbaijan deal and its prospects. There is a lot of hard work still to be done, I argue, but the shared coincidence of interests that neither country wants Russia as a guarantor has been transformative. www.foreignaffairs.com/armenia/unli...
An Unlikely Road to Peace in the South Caucasus
How common cause against Russia enabled an American deal.
www.foreignaffairs.com
September 23, 2025 at 3:15 PM
How did the White House end up brokering a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
In a new article for @foreignaffairs.com, Senior Fellow Thomas de Waal unravels how a shared rejection of Russian dominance in the South Caucasus drove both parties down "an unlikely road to peace."
In a new article for @foreignaffairs.com, Senior Fellow Thomas de Waal unravels how a shared rejection of Russian dominance in the South Caucasus drove both parties down "an unlikely road to peace."
Just published, my piece on the U.S. Armenia-Azerbaijan deal and its prospects. There is a lot of hard work still to be done, I argue, but the shared coincidence of interests that neither country wants Russia as a guarantor has been transformative. www.foreignaffairs.com/armenia/unli...
An Unlikely Road to Peace in the South Caucasus
How common cause against Russia enabled an American deal.
www.foreignaffairs.com
September 22, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Just published, my piece on the U.S. Armenia-Azerbaijan deal and its prospects. There is a lot of hard work still to be done, I argue, but the shared coincidence of interests that neither country wants Russia as a guarantor has been transformative. www.foreignaffairs.com/armenia/unli...
I was very glad of the opportunity to have a substantial conversation with @neweasterneurope.eu on the Trump deal with Armenia and Azerbaijan talkeasterneurope.eu/episodes/epi...
Episode 235: Behind the peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan
In this episode, Alexandra and Adam start off with some discussion on the news, including concerns over the upcoming Russia/Belarus Zapad 2025 militar...
talkeasterneurope.eu
September 16, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I was very glad of the opportunity to have a substantial conversation with @neweasterneurope.eu on the Trump deal with Armenia and Azerbaijan talkeasterneurope.eu/episodes/epi...
Reposted by Thomas de Waal
Ivanishvili has created "an illiberal and anti-European system which leaves no political space for either party opponents or civil society activists. Currently, almost all of Georgia’s major opposition party leaders are in prison. We call it a quasi-dictatorship."
Some details to quibble with but the main points are very solid -- GD has the bayonets but in the end will struggle to sit on them.
Stephen Jones & Gabriel Chubinidze on why Ivanishvili's rule may well crumble.
cacianalyst.org/publications...
Stephen Jones & Gabriel Chubinidze on why Ivanishvili's rule may well crumble.
cacianalyst.org/publications...
September 16, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Ivanishvili has created "an illiberal and anti-European system which leaves no political space for either party opponents or civil society activists. Currently, almost all of Georgia’s major opposition party leaders are in prison. We call it a quasi-dictatorship."
Reposted by Thomas de Waal
Check out the latest episode of Talk Eastern Europe!
Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
talkeasterneurope.eu/episodes/epi...
Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
talkeasterneurope.eu/episodes/epi...
Episode 235: Behind the peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan
In this episode, Alexandra and Adam start off with some discussion on the news, including concerns over the upcoming Russia/Belarus Zapad 2025 militar...
talkeasterneurope.eu
September 15, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Check out the latest episode of Talk Eastern Europe!
Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
talkeasterneurope.eu/episodes/epi...
Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
talkeasterneurope.eu/episodes/epi...
On #Georgia, its rapid descent into authoritarian rule and the EU's struggle to respond. My piece today for Carnegie, with advice for Brussels: don't punish ordinary people by cancelling visa liberalization @carnegieeurope.bsky.social carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Time for EU Decisions on Georgia
Since last year’s election, Georgia’s ruling party has rolled back democracy and sabotaged the country’s EU accession process. To avoid penalizing pro-European citizens, the union and its member state...
carnegieendowment.org
September 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM
On #Georgia, its rapid descent into authoritarian rule and the EU's struggle to respond. My piece today for Carnegie, with advice for Brussels: don't punish ordinary people by cancelling visa liberalization @carnegieeurope.bsky.social carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Reposted by Thomas de Waal
Since last year's election, Georgia's ruling party has rolled back democracy & derailed its EU accession process.
To avoid penalizing pro-European citizens, the EU should focus punitive measures on a small group in the elite, writes @tomdewaal.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
To avoid penalizing pro-European citizens, the EU should focus punitive measures on a small group in the elite, writes @tomdewaal.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Time for EU Decisions on Georgia
Since last year’s election, Georgia’s ruling party has rolled back democracy and sabotaged the country’s EU accession process. To avoid penalizing pro-European citizens, the union and its member state...
carnegieendowment.org
September 4, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Since last year's election, Georgia's ruling party has rolled back democracy & derailed its EU accession process.
To avoid penalizing pro-European citizens, the EU should focus punitive measures on a small group in the elite, writes @tomdewaal.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
To avoid penalizing pro-European citizens, the EU should focus punitive measures on a small group in the elite, writes @tomdewaal.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
My article on how the Philharmonic Orchestra in #Odesa/#Odessa has played on through all the travails of wartime, and the story of its amazing American conductor, Hobart Earle, who has been with them since 1991.
In today’s FT magazine (sorry, behind a paywall). www.ft.com/content/9dc6...
In today’s FT magazine (sorry, behind a paywall). www.ft.com/content/9dc6...
How Odesa’s Philharmonic Orchestra played on through the war
A Ukrainian orchestra and their American conductor withstood Russian missiles to bring music to the city
www.ft.com
July 12, 2025 at 12:38 PM
My article on how the Philharmonic Orchestra in #Odesa/#Odessa has played on through all the travails of wartime, and the story of its amazing American conductor, Hobart Earle, who has been with them since 1991.
In today’s FT magazine (sorry, behind a paywall). www.ft.com/content/9dc6...
In today’s FT magazine (sorry, behind a paywall). www.ft.com/content/9dc6...
oc-media.org/azerbaijani-... Outrageous news from Baku as young scholar and peace activist Bahruz Samadov is given a 15-year jail sentence for "treason." I'm afraid I hear that the news is even worse: Bahruz tried to take his own life by hanging in his cell over the weekend. He must be freed.
Azerbaijani researcher Bahruz Samadov sentenced to 15 years on charges of treason
Samadov, who has also contributed to OC Media, frequently wrote about authoritarianism in Azerbaijan.
oc-media.org
June 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
oc-media.org/azerbaijani-... Outrageous news from Baku as young scholar and peace activist Bahruz Samadov is given a 15-year jail sentence for "treason." I'm afraid I hear that the news is even worse: Bahruz tried to take his own life by hanging in his cell over the weekend. He must be freed.
Here's an essay I wrote for my college magazine about how it took me 35 years to translate Mandelstam's Tristia, the joys and tribulations of poetry translation and Osip M's amazing mysterious verse, which resonates anew with every generation. heyzine.com/flip-book/fl...
June 18, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Here's an essay I wrote for my college magazine about how it took me 35 years to translate Mandelstam's Tristia, the joys and tribulations of poetry translation and Osip M's amazing mysterious verse, which resonates anew with every generation. heyzine.com/flip-book/fl...
Since 2022 Central and Eastern Europe has undergone a fundamental shift away from reliance on Russian gas. Will it last? Join @maxhess.bsky.social, Sergey Vakulenko and me tomorrow for a Carnegie Europe webinar to discuss these issues. It will be insightful! carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/...
Securing Energy Independence: The Future of Eastern Europe’s Gas Supply
Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, nearly all of Central and Eastern Europe has cut its reliance on Moscow’s gas. While regional cooperation and expanded LNG access have helped diversify supplie...
https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/05/securing-energy-independence-the-future-of-eastern-europes-gas-supply?lang=en¢er=europe
June 4, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Since 2022 Central and Eastern Europe has undergone a fundamental shift away from reliance on Russian gas. Will it last? Join @maxhess.bsky.social, Sergey Vakulenko and me tomorrow for a Carnegie Europe webinar to discuss these issues. It will be insightful! carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/...
www.foreignaffairs.com/azerbaijan/p... Zaur's piece on Azerbaijan is excellent, authoritative, comprehensive and asks the hard questions about the country's future @zaurshiriyev.bsky.social
The Precarious Power of Azerbaijan
A delayed peace with Armenia endangers a new regional order.
www.foreignaffairs.com
May 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
www.foreignaffairs.com/azerbaijan/p... Zaur's piece on Azerbaijan is excellent, authoritative, comprehensive and asks the hard questions about the country's future @zaurshiriyev.bsky.social
Please read, share and repost this brave piece of journalism by Will Neal @willneal.bsky.social about Georgia and the dealings and Russia connections of London-based Hunnewell Partners which owns Imedi TV amongst other assets, is a close partner of Georgian Dream.
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/31/m...
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/31/m...
Moscow’s Ties to the Georgian Regime Ran Through Kensington and Chelsea
Leaked documents reveal how UK firm Hunnewell Partners, controlled by alleged enablers of Georgia’s ruling oligarch, facilitated a top Putin crony’s attempts to exploit the collapse of a more than $1....
bylinetimes.com
May 23, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Please read, share and repost this brave piece of journalism by Will Neal @willneal.bsky.social about Georgia and the dealings and Russia connections of London-based Hunnewell Partners which owns Imedi TV amongst other assets, is a close partner of Georgian Dream.
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/31/m...
bylinetimes.com/2025/03/31/m...
Reposted by Thomas de Waal
As the South Caucasus undergoes a strategic realignment, the EU & Turkey have an opportunity to recalibrate their engagement.
Converging interests might foster cooperation if long-standing assumptions are set aside, writes @zaurshiriyev.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Converging interests might foster cooperation if long-standing assumptions are set aside, writes @zaurshiriyev.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Why the EU Needs Turkey in the South Caucasus
As the South Caucasus undergoes a strategic realignment, the EU and Turkey have an opportunity to recalibrate their engagement. Converging interests in connectivity, stability, and regional integratio...
carnegieendowment.org
May 22, 2025 at 12:24 PM
As the South Caucasus undergoes a strategic realignment, the EU & Turkey have an opportunity to recalibrate their engagement.
Converging interests might foster cooperation if long-standing assumptions are set aside, writes @zaurshiriyev.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Converging interests might foster cooperation if long-standing assumptions are set aside, writes @zaurshiriyev.bsky.social.
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Reposted by Thomas de Waal
💡Registration is open for the 2025 Carnegie Endowment James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Conference, The Next Generation of Foreign Policy.
📅June 11, 11am-5pm EDT, in-person. Open exclusively to students and young professionals.
Learn more and register here: carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/...
📅June 11, 11am-5pm EDT, in-person. Open exclusively to students and young professionals.
Learn more and register here: carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/...
May 21, 2025 at 6:07 PM
💡Registration is open for the 2025 Carnegie Endowment James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Conference, The Next Generation of Foreign Policy.
📅June 11, 11am-5pm EDT, in-person. Open exclusively to students and young professionals.
Learn more and register here: carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/...
📅June 11, 11am-5pm EDT, in-person. Open exclusively to students and young professionals.
Learn more and register here: carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/...
Reposted by Thomas de Waal
"Can Turkey and Armenia Normalize Relations?" with @tomdewaal.bsky.social and Garo Paylan via @carnegieeurope.bsky.social. [3/5]
Can Turkey and Armenia Normalize Relations? | Europe Inside Out
Rym Momtaz, Thomas de Waal, and Garo Paylan examine why the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations remains stalled and how Europe might help revitalize the process.
europe-inside-out.simplecast.com
May 18, 2025 at 6:49 AM
"Can Turkey and Armenia Normalize Relations?" with @tomdewaal.bsky.social and Garo Paylan via @carnegieeurope.bsky.social. [3/5]