Dimitar Bechev

Dimitar Bechev is the director of the Dahrendorf Programme at St. Antony’s College’s European Studies Centre. He is the author of Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe and Turkey Under Erdogan.

Articles by Dimitar Bechev
Erdogan and Trump sit beside each other in gold-upholstered chairs in front of an ornate gilded fireplace. Trump is speaking, whereas Erdogan is slightly slumped while wearing an exhausted expression, his hand splayed to cover part of his face. An aide sits beside him holding a folder and a pen, leaning closer to speak.
Erdogan and Trump sit beside each other in gold-upholstered chairs in front of an ornate gilded fireplace. Trump is speaking, whereas Erdogan is slightly slumped while wearing an exhausted expression, his hand splayed to cover part of his face. An aide sits beside him holding a folder and a pen, leaning closer to speak.

U.S.-Turkish Relations Have Gotten Duller, Not Better This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Dimitar Bechev
A member of the Peoples Armed Police stands guard in front of the European Delegation in Beijing on April 6, 2023.
A member of the Peoples Armed Police stands guard in front of the European Delegation in Beijing on April 6, 2023.

Europe and China’s Tepid Anniversary This article has an audio recording

Analysis
Dimitar Bechev
Putin and Khamenei sit beside each other in upholstered armchairs, a coffee table between them. Putin gestures with both hands as he speaks, while Khamenei smiles slightly at him.
Putin and Khamenei sit beside each other in upholstered armchairs, a coffee table between them. Putin gestures with both hands as he speaks, while Khamenei smiles slightly at him.

Why Russia Is Sitting Out This Round of the Israel-Iran Conflict

Analysis
Dimitar Bechev
Turks wave national and EU flags as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul on Dec. 18, 2004.
Turks wave national and EU flags as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul on Dec. 18, 2004.

Turkey Wants to Be a European Power Now

Analysis
Dimitar Bechev
A view shows a private beach as a cargo and a container ship sail across the horizon at Venice Lido, Italy, on Sept. 7, 2020.
A view shows a private beach as a cargo and a container ship sail across the horizon at Venice Lido, Italy, on Sept. 7, 2020.

Italy’s Mediterranean Belt and Road

Argument
Michaël Tanchum, Dimitar Bechev
The Pioneering Spirit vessel, which will carry out construction of the offshore section of the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline, passes the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge on the Bosporus in Istanbul on May 31, 2017.
The Pioneering Spirit vessel, which will carry out construction of the offshore section of the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline, passes the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge on the Bosporus in Istanbul on May 31, 2017.

Turkey’s Plans to Become a Regional Energy Giant Just Got a Boost

Argument
Dimitar Bechev
Zoran Zaev, leader of the ruling Social Democratic Union party, celebrates victory in the general elections in Skopje, North Macedonia, on July 16.
Zoran Zaev, leader of the ruling Social Democratic Union party, celebrates victory in the general elections in Skopje, North Macedonia, on July 16.

North Macedonia’s Success Story May be About to End

Argument
Dimitar Bechev
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani attend a news conference in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 14.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani attend a news conference in Sochi, Russia, on Feb. 14.

Putin Is Trolling the United States in the Persian Gulf

Argument
Dimitar Bechev
Kyriakos Mitsotakis addresses a preelection rally in Athens on July 4.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis addresses a preelection rally in Athens on July 4.

Greece Is Getting Good at Geopolitics

Argument
Dimitar Bechev
A construction worker works on the TurkStream pipeline in the Black Sea on June 23, 2017. (TurkStream Project/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
A construction worker works on the TurkStream pipeline in the Black Sea on June 23, 2017. (TurkStream Project/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Russia’s Pipe Dreams Are Europe’s Nightmare

Argument
Dimitar Bechev
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Fight Club: Erdogan and Putin Square Off

Argument
Dimitar Bechev
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The Geopolitics of a Grexit Are Actually Pretty Boring

Argument
Dimitar Bechev
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Playing the Putin Card

Argument
Dimitar Bechev
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