Simone Pelizza
@spelizza.bsky.social
History & IR. Asia-Pacific, Russia, Central and Eastern Europe. Writer and editor at ilcaffegeopolitico.net
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
In retrospect a global order that relied on endless American military hegemony and Chinese economic growth was not sustainable
January 19, 2026 at 11:03 AM
In retrospect a global order that relied on endless American military hegemony and Chinese economic growth was not sustainable
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Growing sense of embarrassment at Fifa over Donald Trump peace prize
Growing sense of embarrassment at Fifa over Donald Trump peace prize
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Mid-level and senior officials uncomfortable with award
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Fifa says it still ‘strongly’ supports the peace prize
There is a growing sense of embarrassment among mid-level and senior officials within Fifa over the awarding of its peace prize to Donald Trump. The US president was handed the award at the World Cup draw in Washington DC in December with the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, telling Trump: “We want to see hope, we want to see unity, we want to see a future. This is what we want to see from a leader and you definitely deserve the first Fifa Peace Prize.”
Since then, the US has launched airstrikes across Venezuela and captured the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flown them to the US, where he was put in jail. Maduro appeared in court on 5 January, pleading not guilty to drugs, weapons and “narco-terrorism” charges. Trump has also threatened to invade Greenland because he said the US needs the territory “very badly”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Growing sense of embarrassment at Fifa over Donald Trump peace prize
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/
January 18, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
‼️🇫🇷🇬🇱 France will soon deploy a warship, aircraft and more soldiers to Greenland, President Emmanuel Macron said today. Although he made no direct link with Trump’s threats to seize the territory, Macron warned of a “new colonialism” and “comments which sow doubt, even among allies". 1/
January 15, 2026 at 12:41 PM
‼️🇫🇷🇬🇱 France will soon deploy a warship, aircraft and more soldiers to Greenland, President Emmanuel Macron said today. Although he made no direct link with Trump’s threats to seize the territory, Macron warned of a “new colonialism” and “comments which sow doubt, even among allies". 1/
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
🇨🇳🇷🇺 China's trade with #Russia in 2025 pulled back from a record level in 2024 and dropped for the first time in five years, Chinese data showed on Wednesday.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
China's 2025 trade with Russia posts first decline in 5 years
China's trade with Russia in 2025 pulled back from a record level in 2024 and dropped for the first time in five years, Chinese data showed on Wednesday.
www.reuters.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:36 AM
🇨🇳🇷🇺 China's trade with #Russia in 2025 pulled back from a record level in 2024 and dropped for the first time in five years, Chinese data showed on Wednesday.
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Two-thirds of UK voters wrongly think immigration is rising, poll finds.
Net migration to the UK fell by more than two-thirds to a post-pandemic low in the year ending June 2025, but 67% of the people polled thought it had increased
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Net migration to the UK fell by more than two-thirds to a post-pandemic low in the year ending June 2025, but 67% of the people polled thought it had increased
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Two-thirds of UK voters wrongly think immigration is rising, poll finds
Exclusive: Voters say they have little confidence that government can control borders despite sharp falls in net migration
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:29 AM
Two-thirds of UK voters wrongly think immigration is rising, poll finds.
Net migration to the UK fell by more than two-thirds to a post-pandemic low in the year ending June 2025, but 67% of the people polled thought it had increased
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Net migration to the UK fell by more than two-thirds to a post-pandemic low in the year ending June 2025, but 67% of the people polled thought it had increased
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Iran is facing the most serious and wide-ranging unrest in years. Over the past ten days, demonstrations have spread from Tehran’s Grand Bazaar to cities and towns across all 31 provinces - and they continue to grow in scale and intensity 1/5
January 9, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Iran is facing the most serious and wide-ranging unrest in years. Over the past ten days, demonstrations have spread from Tehran’s Grand Bazaar to cities and towns across all 31 provinces - and they continue to grow in scale and intensity 1/5
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
🧵 Trump foreign-policy is overwhelmingly reality-television optics. More sound and fury than shock and awe.
It doesn't put in the work. The deals it negotiates? Mostly vaporware. It announces "☮️ in our time" based on ceasefires. I'd bet good 💰 that 🇻🇪 will not be a vassal state for all that long.
It doesn't put in the work. The deals it negotiates? Mostly vaporware. It announces "☮️ in our time" based on ceasefires. I'd bet good 💰 that 🇻🇪 will not be a vassal state for all that long.
A Mercosur-EU shared market is post-American Transatlanticism
January 9, 2026 at 4:22 PM
🧵 Trump foreign-policy is overwhelmingly reality-television optics. More sound and fury than shock and awe.
It doesn't put in the work. The deals it negotiates? Mostly vaporware. It announces "☮️ in our time" based on ceasefires. I'd bet good 💰 that 🇻🇪 will not be a vassal state for all that long.
It doesn't put in the work. The deals it negotiates? Mostly vaporware. It announces "☮️ in our time" based on ceasefires. I'd bet good 💰 that 🇻🇪 will not be a vassal state for all that long.
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova making crystal clear that Russia opposes the peace deal Ukraine, the US, and Europe have been talking about for months. 2 observations: 1/3
mid.ru/ru/press_ser...
mid.ru/ru/press_ser...
January 8, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova making crystal clear that Russia opposes the peace deal Ukraine, the US, and Europe have been talking about for months. 2 observations: 1/3
mid.ru/ru/press_ser...
mid.ru/ru/press_ser...
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Saying this without judging religions or ideological beliefs as such, I find a dark amusement in watching millions who claim to be devout Christians and defenders of traditional family values cheer for the death of a woman, strip protections from the needy, separate families, and celebrate wars
January 9, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Saying this without judging religions or ideological beliefs as such, I find a dark amusement in watching millions who claim to be devout Christians and defenders of traditional family values cheer for the death of a woman, strip protections from the needy, separate families, and celebrate wars
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Trump is again claiming that other NATO states raised defence spending because of him. While the Trump admin may have had some effect, the main reason for increased spending on defence by NATO states has been Russian aggression: look at the change after 2014 and 2022.
January 8, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Trump is again claiming that other NATO states raised defence spending because of him. While the Trump admin may have had some effect, the main reason for increased spending on defence by NATO states has been Russian aggression: look at the change after 2014 and 2022.
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Danish soldiers are under standing orders to engage any hostile activity on Greenland, including unannounced US activity.
The standing order of 1952 is confirmed to be in force by both Danish Defence Command and Ministry of Defence to news site @berlingske.bsky.social
The standing order of 1952 is confirmed to be in force by both Danish Defence Command and Ministry of Defence to news site @berlingske.bsky.social
January 7, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Danish soldiers are under standing orders to engage any hostile activity on Greenland, including unannounced US activity.
The standing order of 1952 is confirmed to be in force by both Danish Defence Command and Ministry of Defence to news site @berlingske.bsky.social
The standing order of 1952 is confirmed to be in force by both Danish Defence Command and Ministry of Defence to news site @berlingske.bsky.social
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Lots of talk again about China, the US, and Russia dividing the world into spheres of influence. One problem with this idea is that after 30 years of trying, Russia's sphere is limited to Belarus, Georgia, and 20% of Ukraine. Another is that if China has a sphere, it includes Russia.
January 7, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Lots of talk again about China, the US, and Russia dividing the world into spheres of influence. One problem with this idea is that after 30 years of trying, Russia's sphere is limited to Belarus, Georgia, and 20% of Ukraine. Another is that if China has a sphere, it includes Russia.
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Another one for the "Reform voters are really unlike everyone else" file.
January 5, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Another one for the "Reform voters are really unlike everyone else" file.
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Some random thoughts besides the illegality of it all.
1. There's no tactical or strategic logic to it because to the extent Venezuela represents a problem, it is not one that military force can solve.
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1. There's no tactical or strategic logic to it because to the extent Venezuela represents a problem, it is not one that military force can solve.
🧵
January 3, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Some random thoughts besides the illegality of it all.
1. There's no tactical or strategic logic to it because to the extent Venezuela represents a problem, it is not one that military force can solve.
🧵
1. There's no tactical or strategic logic to it because to the extent Venezuela represents a problem, it is not one that military force can solve.
🧵
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Maduro is a brutal and oppressive dictator of Venezuela.
Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.
Both of those facts are simultaneously true.
Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.
Both of those facts are simultaneously true.
January 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Maduro is a brutal and oppressive dictator of Venezuela.
Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.
Both of those facts are simultaneously true.
Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.
Both of those facts are simultaneously true.
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Toh improvvisamente in Russia ricordano che esiste il diritto internazionale
Pagliacci
Pagliacci
January 3, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Toh improvvisamente in Russia ricordano che esiste il diritto internazionale
Pagliacci
Pagliacci
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
Never with Trump's America, never with Putin's Russia. As simple as this.
January 3, 2026 at 8:03 AM
Never with Trump's America, never with Putin's Russia. As simple as this.
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
The main problem is not that Putin lies. He has always lied and always will. The problem is that so many people desperately want to believe him. Putin's lies make their lives more comfortable. They free them from the moral obligation to help Ukraine.
December 30, 2025 at 11:41 AM
The main problem is not that Putin lies. He has always lied and always will. The problem is that so many people desperately want to believe him. Putin's lies make their lives more comfortable. They free them from the moral obligation to help Ukraine.
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
An essential development over the past decade-plus is that the ignorant went from feeling chastened when their ignorance was revealed to banding together and deciding that, actually, they were right. They might disagree at times, but they agreed that ignorance itself was an indicator of trust.
December 29, 2025 at 3:26 PM
An essential development over the past decade-plus is that the ignorant went from feeling chastened when their ignorance was revealed to banding together and deciding that, actually, they were right. They might disagree at times, but they agreed that ignorance itself was an indicator of trust.
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
🇷🇺📉 Russia's manufacturing sector contracted at its fastest rate since March 2022 in December, as output and new orders fell sharply, S&P Global reported on Monday.
www.reuters.com/business/rus...
www.reuters.com/business/rus...
Russian factory activity shrinks at fastest pace since March 2022, PMI shows
Russia's manufacturing sector contracted at its fastest rate since March 2022 in December, as output and new orders fell sharply, S&P Global reported on Monday.
www.reuters.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:30 AM
🇷🇺📉 Russia's manufacturing sector contracted at its fastest rate since March 2022 in December, as output and new orders fell sharply, S&P Global reported on Monday.
www.reuters.com/business/rus...
www.reuters.com/business/rus...
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
The deepest determinant of one's position on the Ru-Ukr war is how one perceives the prospects of Ru conquering, absorbing and dominating Ukraine again as it did for centuries. Those who think it's unacceptable to allow this national genocide support Ukr's resistance. Those who...
December 28, 2025 at 11:22 PM
The deepest determinant of one's position on the Ru-Ukr war is how one perceives the prospects of Ru conquering, absorbing and dominating Ukraine again as it did for centuries. Those who think it's unacceptable to allow this national genocide support Ukr's resistance. Those who...
Reposted by Simone Pelizza
These 20 points look pretty good for Ukraine. The chance of Russia accepting this plan is zero. There is no indication that the negotiations have moved anywhere substantially in terms of ending the war.
President Zelensky for the first time outlined 20 points from his Peace Proposal for Ukraine.
December 24, 2025 at 8:58 AM
These 20 points look pretty good for Ukraine. The chance of Russia accepting this plan is zero. There is no indication that the negotiations have moved anywhere substantially in terms of ending the war.