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Max Bergmann

@maxbergmann.bsky.social
12K followers 762 following 1.1K posts

Director of the Europe, Russia, Eurasia Program at CSIS. Podcasts EuroFile and Russian Roulette. Fmr State Department official. DC sports, Tottenham

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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 2h
The UK-EU relationship is like a bad rom-com. The UK broke up with the EU. The EU was shocked and sad about it. But soon realized there was a lot about the UK that was annoying (opt outs, hostility to federalism, America’s poodle) and they moved on. 1/2
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Noah Barkin @noahbarkin.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
It's unnerving for the EU to watch Xi Jinping being feted in Washington at a time when the bloc is veering towards a trade conflict with China. My comments to @scmpnews.bsky.social www.scmp.com/economy/glob...
scmp.com
Why Xi’s US trip leaves Europe relieved by trade truce – but wary of the future
The summit in Washington eases near-term uncertainty over rare earths, but analysts fear the bloc could have less say over decisions shaping its economic interests.
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Manuel Müller @manuelmueller.foederalist.eu · 24/09/2026
That juxtaposition of "a Europe of nation states, a Europe capable of being a genuine global power" is striking. Does he truly believe these things are positively correlated? How does he think such an EU would function? Or is it just that after so many years I still haven't got used to cakeism?
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CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program @erep.csis.org · 22/09/2026
On The #Eurofile: Max + Lexi discuss Ursula von der Leyen's State of the Union address. Plus, Emily Benson joins the show with an update on uneasy state of U.S.-EU tech relations. Full episode below. @maxbergmann.bsky.social @lexi-linafelter.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=abSq...
youtube.com
The (Associate) European Union and a Transatlantic Tech Update
YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies
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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Gross outcome. France makes it really hard to defend France.
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Becca Wasser @beccawasser.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The Iran war is rapidly eating US readiness. The blockade is tying up the fleet, forces are stretched, maintenance deferred, and critical munitions are running low — all risking the US military being less prepared for future crises. My research in @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
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Alex Hern @hern.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
One of those things you don’t notice until it’s pointed out
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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Congrats to all those who celebrate the end of DC summer
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CSIS | Center for Strategic & International Studies @csis.org · 21/09/2026
The summit will not fail because expectations have been whittled down to almost nothing. Beijing would likely prefer a long list of deliverables and Washington a shorter list, but neither has much ambition for path-breaking arrangements, writes Scott Kennedy. Read: bit.ly/4ymgFlz
bit.ly
The U.S.-China Summit: Too Big and Too Small to Fail
Scott Kennedy argues that although the Trump-Xi summit will likely extend the current period of stability, the gap between the convening’s limited ambitions and the growing challenges facing the world...
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Andrew Chakhoyan 🇺🇦 @andrewchak.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
russian culture manifests itself This is a polling station, in case you are wondering, in what moscow wants you to call an “election”
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James Ball @jamesrball.com · 18/09/2026
Isn't this the deal the US has had over Greenland since WW2? It sounds *awfully* similar to the existing security arrangement.
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Wessel van Rensburg @wildebees.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The Eurofile podcast is very good again. @maxbergmann.bsky.social with Emily Benson on the latest re transatlantic tech. Here is a summary and the odd disagreement. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-a… 1/12
podcasts.apple.com
The (Associate) European Union and a Transatlantic Tech Update
Podcast Episode · The Eurofile · September 17 · 43m
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Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Just over 24 hours to go! If QMV makes you go "OMG", you can't resist a good trilogue & you read the OJEU while drinking your morning OJ, this may be the job for you
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Ian Bond @cerianbond.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
It's not an election, it's a Special Political Operation. I'm baffled by the Western commentators who act as though Putin is on tenterhooks, waiting to see whether his war of aggression against Ukraine has cost him votes in Nakhuygrad South-West. @andrewchak.bsky.social offers an antidote...
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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The State of the European Union feels like some bizarro future Sci-fi world. Modern space-age parliament, a leader that shuffles between three languages, and a speech that sanely and astutely assesses issues, lays out ideas and weirdly acknowledges climate change and supports democracy. Terrifying!
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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
static.klipy.com
The Wonder Years - Fred Savage and Girl
ALT: The Wonder Years - Fred Savage and Girl
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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
It looks like the EU and Canada are going steady.
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Simone Tagliapietra @tagliapietra.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
SOTEU speeches represent a good indicator of Europe's policy priorities. Here it is a quick overview of how priority areas have evolved since 2020. Tomorrow at 14:00-15:00 CET we will unpack the speech with Bruegel colleagues in a live podcast - link here: www.bruegel.org/event/sound-...
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Christian Odendahl @codendahl.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Greek finance minister Pierrakakis encourages Germany to undertake reforms. The country had „enormous potential“. 🧑‍🍳💋 www.handelsblatt.com/cmsid/100253...
handelsblatt.com
Handelsblatt
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Gideon Rachman @gideonrachman.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
My new book; out on October 22nd
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Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 12/09/2026
And another one www.dw.com/en/bulgaria-...
dw.com
Bulgaria: Fire at factory making munitions for Ukraine
Bulgarian authorities are investigating a fire at a munitions factory for links to an explosion at a similar facility in August. Arms maker EMCO says no human error was involved, as investigators look...
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Matthew Yglesias @mattyglesias.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Global War on Terror 1 was craaaaazy www.slowboring.com/p/911-was-a-...
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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
But regulating tech will just create loads of bureaucratic red tape, making it much costlier and time-consuming to destroy humanity.
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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
EU money buying American weapons for Ukraine. Whatever it takes.
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Janis Kluge @jakluge.de · 09/09/2026
Lots of gas stations in Russia sell only diesel.
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Janis Kluge @jakluge.de · 09/09/2026
Russian gasoline prices reached a new all-time high last week, according to Rosstat.
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CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program @erep.csis.org · 09/09/2026
Brussels is back! @maxbergmann.bsky.social + @ottosvendsen.bsky.social discuss Iceland's EU accession vote, Elbridge Colby's visit to NATO, and Ratcliffe's surprise Moscow trip. Plus, @henryjfoy.ft.com maps out the EU's packed fall agenda. Listen to The #Eurofile: www.csis.org/podcasts/eur...
csis.org
Brussels is Back: the EU's Autumn Agenda with Henry Foy | The Eurofile | CSIS Podcasts
Max and Otto discuss discuss the week's biggest transatlantic stories before turning to a conversation with Henry Foy, Brussels Bureau Chief at the Financial Times, to map out the EU's packed fall age...
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Mujtaba Rahman @mijrahman.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Contextual point given the Saxony-Anhalt result: the AfD has no plausible route to federal power. In France, unless Le Pen radically alters her economic platform (unlikely) she will struggle to get to 50%+1 on 2 May The EU tends to be more resilient than consensus suggests
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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
This is just such great news for Sweden www.theatlantic.com/science/2026...
theatlantic.com
The Netherlands Will Never Be Rid of Louisiana Crawfish
What will it take for the Dutch to eat them?
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Wessel van Rensburg @wildebees.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
This, The Eurofile, is one of the best podcasts for the grand view on matters European politics. And this particular episode is excellent with @henryjfoy.ft.com from the FT. Congrats to @maxbergmann.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-e…
podcasts.apple.com
Brussels is Back: the EU
Podcast Episode · The Eurofile · 3 September · 40min
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Janis Kluge @jakluge.de · 04/09/2026
Russian oil & gas revenues fell in August. The Iran war led to a small revenue bump this year, but no windfall. Domestic gasoline subsidies ate up a big portion of the price effect.
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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I've been off for a bit so am catching up on EU-China trade war - here's what we missed: A negotiating team led by Denis Redonnet is in Beijing this morning for talks with Ling Ji at Mofcom. Online talks through Aug delivered no major breakthroughs A timeline of what changed:
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Stanley Pignal @spignal.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Just as Trump was readying for a second term last year, I wrote on "Why Canada should join the EU". Mark Carney will be visiting Brussels soon to attend Ursula von der Leyen's "State of the Union" speech -- something not even EU leaders do! www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
economist.com
Why Canada should join the EU
Europe needs space and resources, Canada needs people. Let’s deal
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Jeremy Cliffe @jeremycliffe.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Interesting read on the post-Trump "new right" and its Schmittian civilizationism. Including this warning for Europe that belies wishful thinking about a post-2028 return to Atlanticist business as usual ⬇️ www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Me book writing this August.
static.klipy.com
Shawshank Crawling Through Dark Tunnel
ALT: Shawshank Crawling Through Dark Tunnel
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Minna Ålander 🌻 @alanderminna.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
There’s a tendency in northeastern Europe to complain about southern Europe, and especially about Italy and Spain - that they ”don’t get it” re: the Russian threat etc. But in Latvia it was Italians and in Romania Spaniards who shot down drones.
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CSIS | Center for Strategic & International Studies @csis.org · 06/08/2026
Operation Epic Fury is the U.S.'s most munitions-intensive military campaign in decades. @tomkarako.bsky.social & Mark Cancian discuss the state of U.S. stockpiles, replenishment challenges, & what depleted inventories mean for deterrence, allies, & future conflicts. Watch: bit.ly/45KRqfM
youtube.com
Munitions Shortages After Epic Fury
YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies
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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Art exhibits in big international airports should be a thing… what a great way to kill an hour!
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CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program @erep.csis.org · 03/08/2026
Germany's China Problem: What Can Europe Do About It? @sandertordoir.bsky.social joins @maxbergmann.bsky.social on The #Eurofile to discuss how surging Chinese exports impact Europe's economic model –– and whether Brussels has the tools and political will to push back. www.csis.org/podcasts/eur...
csis.org
Germany's China Problem: What Can Europe Do About It? | The Eurofile | CSIS Podcasts
Max sits down with Sander Tordoir, Chief Economist at the Centre for European Reform. They dig into whether Brussels has the tools and political will to push back on Beijing, and how one October deadl...
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Nathalie Tocci @nathalietocci.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
With Russia at the door and the US backing away, Europe has to build its own ‘way of war’. But even in a Europe-focused Nato 3.0, Washington would still want to call the shots. We need an insurance policy. My piece @guardian www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
With Russia at the door and the US backing away, Europe has to build its own ‘way of war’
Even in a Europe-focused Nato 3.0, Washington would still want to call the shots. We need an insurance policy, says Guardian Europe columnist Nathalie Tocci
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Noah Barkin @noahbarkin.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
“We are experiencing a China Shock 2.0," says Tanja Gönner of the BDI. "It is affecting not just individual sectors, but the industrial economy as a whole: through dependencies on CRMs, a significantly undervalued currency, state-induced overcapacity …” www.handelsblatt.com/politik/konj...
handelsblatt.com
Deutsche Wirtschaft: China-Konkurrenz belastet laut BDI die Wirtschaft
Der wirtschaftliche Druck lastet auf allen: Von außen als auch von innen ist die deutsche Wirtschaft einem harten Stresstest ausgesetzt. Brauchen wir mehr Widerstandsfähigkeit?
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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
An industry in crisis: VW confirmed 100,000 job cuts on July 24, Audi lowered revenue guide 8% July 27, Porsche extended its program to roughly 9,000 positions by 2035, BMW launched 8,000-place voluntary redundancy scheme July 29, Mercedes posted 22% EBIT rise on falling revenue
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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Perfect Brussels response: EU warns FIFA World Cup sell-off could breach competition law
euractiv.com
EU warns FIFA World Cup sell-off could breach competition law | Euractiv
The reported scheme to effectively auction off the World Cup could breach EU rules, commissioner warns
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msnegovaya.bsky.social @msnegovaya.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
On the #RussianRoulette, @maxbergmann.bsky.social & I spoke with @drjademcglynn.bsky.social about how the war is reshaping Russian public opinion & what those shifts mean for the Kremlin.We also discussed other news from Melnichenko's Economist interview to Ukraine's military leadership changes. 1/2
csis.org
Russian Attitudes Are Shifting as the War’s Effects Come Home
Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russian refineries combine military and economic pressure in ways previous shocks did not. While unlikely to transform public opinion, they raise the Kremlin's domestic...
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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
German officials are working behind the scenes to identify Chinese economic vulnerabilities that they could exploit if the EU finds itself in a trade war with Beijing Berlin is informally mapping China’s weaknesses by analysing trade flows, supply chains and company-level data
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Max Bergmann @maxbergmann.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Deep thought. If America hadn't blocked Tony Blair's effort at St. Malo to create EU defense (an EU rapid reaction force), I don't think Brexit happens. The UK would have been a pillar and leader in EU defense, shifting the frame in Britain about what the EU was about.
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Christian Odendahl @codendahl.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
The winning design. 🇪🇺💶
Italian DJs of meme fame on a 20€ note.
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Nahal Toosi @nahaltoosi.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Ran into @maxbergmann.bsky.social at the #EUdefense summit (or forum?!), and asked him to share why such events matter these days:
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Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Both Kaja Kallas and Wang Yi attended this week's Asean forum in the Philippines. But they did not meet and Wang has left for the SCO summit. Now more than a year since they met properly, in Brussels. They briefly spoke at last year's Asean forum, but nothing meaningful
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Stanley Pignal @spignal.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
EU agrees 21st sanctions package but at great cost: allowing Greek shipping firms (essentially one firm) to keep exporting Russian LNG. My read: While this exemption may help Mitsotakis at home, it will severely dent the PM's hopes of landing a top EU job one day. Memories are long in Brussels.
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