Director of the Europe, Russia, Eurasia Program at CSIS. Podcasts EuroFile and Russian Roulette. Fmr State Department official. DC sports, Tottenhamhttps://bsky.app/profile/maxbergmann.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/maxbergmann.bsky.social/post/3mrnttxyyps23Deep 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.27 Jul 2026 21:32 +0000at://did:plc:2senatvpompmth4jg4z2iu53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrnttxyyps23https://bsky.app/profile/maxbergmann.bsky.social/post/3mqzi7geu2c2xConditions for this game could not be better and still insane playing at 3pm in New York in summer19 Jul 2026 19:10 +0000at://did:plc:2senatvpompmth4jg4z2iu53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqzi7geu2c2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/maxbergmann.bsky.social/post/3mqrjsqtfzc2gHuge new report from us at CSIS. Bottom line, don't sleep on the Russian defense industry. They can produce at Soviet-style scale (their CEOs aren't waiting for long term contracts), they have market-competition, and are learning from the battlefield. Not as innovative as Ukraine, but a big concern. [contains quote post or other embedded content]16 Jul 2026 15:17 +0000at://did:plc:2senatvpompmth4jg4z2iu53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrjsqtfzc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/maxbergmann.bsky.social/post/3mq5ga6dzsk2bA day later, it is really amazing how this farcical in game decision did not trigger Europe but the FIFA Balogun decision did. Quite revealing. [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Jul 2026 15:20 +0000at://did:plc:2senatvpompmth4jg4z2iu53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq5ga6dzsk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/maxbergmann.bsky.social/post/3mpzlk3rj7k2xYou can’t show up in an elimination game at a World Cup, on home soil, and play like that. Just unacceptable. What a disaster. What a waste. What an embarrassment - an increasingly familiar feeling for Americans on the world stage.07 Jul 2026 02:44 +0000at://did:plc:2senatvpompmth4jg4z2iu53/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpzlk3rj7k2x