Edward Hunter Christie
@ehunterchristie.bsky.social
Political and Strategic Affairs
Editor of the Journal of Geoeconomics
Former NATO official
PhD VUB & Royal Military Academy of Belgium
Views my own
Editor of the Journal of Geoeconomics
Former NATO official
PhD VUB & Royal Military Academy of Belgium
Views my own
If one wants Israel to agree, necessary if one wants a sustainable solution, then Israel needs security guarantees against the next possible October 7 attack.
Allowing a fully-fledged state to emerge, one that could import and produce weapons, and vote for lunatics like Hamas, is a hard sell.
Allowing a fully-fledged state to emerge, one that could import and produce weapons, and vote for lunatics like Hamas, is a hard sell.
September 24, 2025 at 2:14 PM
If one wants Israel to agree, necessary if one wants a sustainable solution, then Israel needs security guarantees against the next possible October 7 attack.
Allowing a fully-fledged state to emerge, one that could import and produce weapons, and vote for lunatics like Hamas, is a hard sell.
Allowing a fully-fledged state to emerge, one that could import and produce weapons, and vote for lunatics like Hamas, is a hard sell.
So what you're really saying is that Kurds, Uyghurs, Chechens don't have the same human rights as Palestinians?
By the way, if you marched openly and courageously 40 years ago, why not show your face and full name here?
By the way, if you marched openly and courageously 40 years ago, why not show your face and full name here?
September 23, 2025 at 4:55 PM
So what you're really saying is that Kurds, Uyghurs, Chechens don't have the same human rights as Palestinians?
By the way, if you marched openly and courageously 40 years ago, why not show your face and full name here?
By the way, if you marched openly and courageously 40 years ago, why not show your face and full name here?
Would you support recognising every national group that asks for it? And would you support BDS policies, or even force, against any established state that objects?
September 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Would you support recognising every national group that asks for it? And would you support BDS policies, or even force, against any established state that objects?
You are confusing two situations: already being a recognised state, which in principle is stable and permanent -- versus the moment when a decision is made to recognise a state.
In the 2nd situation, other states have leverage. There's no guarantee that a nation gets recognised as a state.
In the 2nd situation, other states have leverage. There's no guarantee that a nation gets recognised as a state.
September 23, 2025 at 2:50 PM
You are confusing two situations: already being a recognised state, which in principle is stable and permanent -- versus the moment when a decision is made to recognise a state.
In the 2nd situation, other states have leverage. There's no guarantee that a nation gets recognised as a state.
In the 2nd situation, other states have leverage. There's no guarantee that a nation gets recognised as a state.
15-15
And a masterclass in foreign policy reasoning from Singapore here. States don't often openly explain how they see themselves and how that may condition their positions. This is a welcome exception.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma61...
And a masterclass in foreign policy reasoning from Singapore here. States don't often openly explain how they see themselves and how that may condition their positions. This is a welcome exception.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma61...
[FULL] Vivian Balakrishnan’s statement on Gaza, situation in Middle East
YouTube video by The Straits Times
www.youtube.com
September 23, 2025 at 12:02 PM
15-15
And a masterclass in foreign policy reasoning from Singapore here. States don't often openly explain how they see themselves and how that may condition their positions. This is a welcome exception.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma61...
And a masterclass in foreign policy reasoning from Singapore here. States don't often openly explain how they see themselves and how that may condition their positions. This is a welcome exception.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma61...
13-15
Another interesting case is Singapore, which has also found a singular way of addressing the challenge.
Singapore has the marvellous quality of having a government that explains the Singaporean interest in clear language before laying out its position - a must-watch, link follows in 15-15.
Another interesting case is Singapore, which has also found a singular way of addressing the challenge.
Singapore has the marvellous quality of having a government that explains the Singaporean interest in clear language before laying out its position - a must-watch, link follows in 15-15.
September 23, 2025 at 12:02 PM
13-15
Another interesting case is Singapore, which has also found a singular way of addressing the challenge.
Singapore has the marvellous quality of having a government that explains the Singaporean interest in clear language before laying out its position - a must-watch, link follows in 15-15.
Another interesting case is Singapore, which has also found a singular way of addressing the challenge.
Singapore has the marvellous quality of having a government that explains the Singaporean interest in clear language before laying out its position - a must-watch, link follows in 15-15.
12-15
But if France and the UK believed that they were now living up to a higher level of responsibility, both as P5 nations and as former colonial powers in the Middle East, they may in fact have underperformed by deploying, unconditionally, a strategic diplomatic tool that can only be used once.
But if France and the UK believed that they were now living up to a higher level of responsibility, both as P5 nations and as former colonial powers in the Middle East, they may in fact have underperformed by deploying, unconditionally, a strategic diplomatic tool that can only be used once.
September 23, 2025 at 12:02 PM
12-15
But if France and the UK believed that they were now living up to a higher level of responsibility, both as P5 nations and as former colonial powers in the Middle East, they may in fact have underperformed by deploying, unconditionally, a strategic diplomatic tool that can only be used once.
But if France and the UK believed that they were now living up to a higher level of responsibility, both as P5 nations and as former colonial powers in the Middle East, they may in fact have underperformed by deploying, unconditionally, a strategic diplomatic tool that can only be used once.
11-15
It is hard not to detect, in both the UK and French positions, a motivation to assuage certain domestic audiences - whether from the proverbial street or from party political machineries.
It is hard not to detect, in both the UK and French positions, a motivation to assuage certain domestic audiences - whether from the proverbial street or from party political machineries.
September 23, 2025 at 12:02 PM
11-15
It is hard not to detect, in both the UK and French positions, a motivation to assuage certain domestic audiences - whether from the proverbial street or from party political machineries.
It is hard not to detect, in both the UK and French positions, a motivation to assuage certain domestic audiences - whether from the proverbial street or from party political machineries.
10-15
I mentioned political solidity earlier. Palestinian-friendly sentiments are widespread in Belgium, from both its large Muslim communities and from the political left. Roughly the same landscape as in France and the UK.
And yet Belgium is less wobbly and more pragmatic than both.
I mentioned political solidity earlier. Palestinian-friendly sentiments are widespread in Belgium, from both its large Muslim communities and from the political left. Roughly the same landscape as in France and the UK.
And yet Belgium is less wobbly and more pragmatic than both.
September 23, 2025 at 12:02 PM
10-15
I mentioned political solidity earlier. Palestinian-friendly sentiments are widespread in Belgium, from both its large Muslim communities and from the political left. Roughly the same landscape as in France and the UK.
And yet Belgium is less wobbly and more pragmatic than both.
I mentioned political solidity earlier. Palestinian-friendly sentiments are widespread in Belgium, from both its large Muslim communities and from the political left. Roughly the same landscape as in France and the UK.
And yet Belgium is less wobbly and more pragmatic than both.
9-15
Nobody can guarantee that the conditions will be met. But they make sense. Hamas must be clearly out of the picture. The hostages must all be returned. The Palestinian polity needs to get its house in order.
As for the call on Arab states, it isn't a condition, but the call is well put.
Nobody can guarantee that the conditions will be met. But they make sense. Hamas must be clearly out of the picture. The hostages must all be returned. The Palestinian polity needs to get its house in order.
As for the call on Arab states, it isn't a condition, but the call is well put.
September 23, 2025 at 12:02 PM
9-15
Nobody can guarantee that the conditions will be met. But they make sense. Hamas must be clearly out of the picture. The hostages must all be returned. The Palestinian polity needs to get its house in order.
As for the call on Arab states, it isn't a condition, but the call is well put.
Nobody can guarantee that the conditions will be met. But they make sense. Hamas must be clearly out of the picture. The hostages must all be returned. The Palestinian polity needs to get its house in order.
As for the call on Arab states, it isn't a condition, but the call is well put.
8-15
But Belgium has probably hit the sweet spot within Western Europe. While larger friends leap forward - first Spain, then France and the UK - Belgium worked out a way of getting applause at the UN while nailing in some conditionality that embeds a strategic consideration.
But Belgium has probably hit the sweet spot within Western Europe. While larger friends leap forward - first Spain, then France and the UK - Belgium worked out a way of getting applause at the UN while nailing in some conditionality that embeds a strategic consideration.
September 23, 2025 at 12:02 PM
8-15
But Belgium has probably hit the sweet spot within Western Europe. While larger friends leap forward - first Spain, then France and the UK - Belgium worked out a way of getting applause at the UN while nailing in some conditionality that embeds a strategic consideration.
But Belgium has probably hit the sweet spot within Western Europe. While larger friends leap forward - first Spain, then France and the UK - Belgium worked out a way of getting applause at the UN while nailing in some conditionality that embeds a strategic consideration.
7-15
...should always be thought of as *strategic* tools of the diplomatic arsenal, and not as tactical acts to do or appear to be doing "something" in an uncomfortable situation.
Once a wave of recognitions is in motion, it is hard for small states not to go along.
...should always be thought of as *strategic* tools of the diplomatic arsenal, and not as tactical acts to do or appear to be doing "something" in an uncomfortable situation.
Once a wave of recognitions is in motion, it is hard for small states not to go along.
September 23, 2025 at 12:02 PM
7-15
...should always be thought of as *strategic* tools of the diplomatic arsenal, and not as tactical acts to do or appear to be doing "something" in an uncomfortable situation.
Once a wave of recognitions is in motion, it is hard for small states not to go along.
...should always be thought of as *strategic* tools of the diplomatic arsenal, and not as tactical acts to do or appear to be doing "something" in an uncomfortable situation.
Once a wave of recognitions is in motion, it is hard for small states not to go along.
6-15
Recognising a state in the current era is an irreversible step. Those who complain that the moves by the UK, France, Canada and others won't solve the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict miss the longer-term picture. Those recognitions will matter ultimately. Indeed such decisions...
Recognising a state in the current era is an irreversible step. Those who complain that the moves by the UK, France, Canada and others won't solve the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict miss the longer-term picture. Those recognitions will matter ultimately. Indeed such decisions...
September 23, 2025 at 12:02 PM
6-15
Recognising a state in the current era is an irreversible step. Those who complain that the moves by the UK, France, Canada and others won't solve the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict miss the longer-term picture. Those recognitions will matter ultimately. Indeed such decisions...
Recognising a state in the current era is an irreversible step. Those who complain that the moves by the UK, France, Canada and others won't solve the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict miss the longer-term picture. Those recognitions will matter ultimately. Indeed such decisions...