This will be a somewhat emotional thread on @NATO After many years working for the Alliance I feel an imperative to share some thoughts. So: 1) pretending that we are not dealing with an existential crisis for NATO is no longer possible nor desirable. Action is required now. 1/n 2) Threats made by the current US administration towards Allies of 🇺🇸 regarding issue of territory and the use of economic blackmail are direct violations of Art. 1 and 2 of the North Atlantic Treaty. They cannot be ignored and downplayed. They must be discussed urgently. 2/n

A few personal observations on the dramatic developments concerning @tvrain First, my overwhelming and main feeling is sadness. I have had a long-standing experience of professional engagement with the channel - mainly in Russia when I worked there, and later outside, after ...1/ they were forced out. Irrespective of the complex manner in which the station came into being and variety of complicated political relationships it was involved in Russia, I have always found their work to be of high and independent quality. Like many who care about freedom...2/

Now, this is what a quality policy proposal on European defence looks like @benjaminhaddad @maxbergmann in @ForeignAffairs It is bold and concrete. Read it!
I like many parts, but disagree with others too. Deserves a thread🧵 1/n

https://twitter.com/benjaminhaddad/status/1461251732239958026

First, the things I like: a) article cuts through the chase and addresses one of the key issues of any designs on a more ambitious European defence: lack of capabilities; b) it rightly points to the optimum approach, i.e. concentrating on filling the gaps identified by @NATO 2/n

#Russia 's MFA calls its publishing of confidential correspondence with #France and #Germany counterparts on #Ukraine a "non-standard" move - others may call it a perversion, or abrogation, of diplomacy. Big picture: a) Moscow has decided to undermine or freeze dialogue 1/n

https://twitter.com/DrRadchenko/status/1461112812214837249

in formats that she believes stand in the way of a strategy of destroying the unity of the West; b) cutting ties with @NATO was an important beginning; c) in parallel, much is being done by the Kremlin to divide Europeans, make @OSCE meaningless and spread disinfo at the @UN 2/n

The only good news about today's text of US-Germany agreement on #NS2 is that it is finally published. The rest is bad. First, the deal has no new meaningful elements which will reduce the pernicious effects of NS2 for European (and now transatlantic) security and unity. 1/ Second,side-lining and de facto humiliating the most interested Allies and partners is not a sign of leadership, but a sign of bad habits from the past. Third, handing over a free gift to Putin and his enablers in Europe is a dangerous move when we need the opposite now. 2/