Joseph Ataman

@CNN in Paris, covering defense in Europe | Eyes on France, Ukraine, EU and the Middle East

@jataman.bsky.social

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

The day Russia invaded Ukraine was a special day for Elmira: her 5th birthday

Children in Kharkiv have suffered more than most from the war

Now even school is underground

“We won’t hear the bangs,” she told us

@fpleitgenCNN @TarasovaMarkina

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

BREAKING: France and Germany cancel the FCAS SCAF fighter jet

Industry couldn’t decide how to divide up the workload/leadership

As minds sharpen around what Europe really needs to win a war vs Russia, this exquisite project fell by the wayside

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

Sweden inks a 40B-euro deal for 4 🇫🇷 frigates - largest investment since the 1980s

Beating off 🇬🇧🇪🇸 competition, comes after 🇫🇷 bought 🇸🇪 aerial radar

Germany will before long be the military muscle in Europe. France (and UK) are up there but Sweden is becoming another key pole

[Emmanuel Macron @EmmanuelMacron]

La Suède a fait le choix de la frégate de défense et d'intervention de Naval Group pour moderniser sa marine.

Je remercie la Suède et je mesure la confiance faite à la France.

Après le choix fait par la France de se doter du Global Eye de Saab pour renouveler sa flotte d'avions radar Awacs, c'est une décision stratégique majeure, qui traduit la confiance mutuelle entre nos deux pays.

Notre partenariat n’a en effet cessé de se renforcer ces dernières années jusqu’à la participation de la Suède à la dissuasion avancée.

Une Europe forte et souveraine au sein de l'OTAN : voilà notre conception de notre défense et de notre sécurité commune. Elle se bâtit chaque jour.

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

The clearest sign of the current balance of power and real military weight in Europe

France sends a carrier group to the Red Sea

UK sends a single warship

(And it’s a joint 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 venture)

[Mark Urban @MarkUrban01]

Britain has ordered @HMSDragon forward from the Med to the Middle East in case a deal goes into place that allows the Uk/French led Hormuz clearance operation to go ahead. France’s carrier group has already deployed, passing through the Suez Canal a couple of days back

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

I have had more difficulty getting 🇫🇷 people to understand me saying burger in French than any other word

[Sly 🔎 @ykslyy]

I still think about this French girl trying to say “burger” almost every day 😭😭

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

“Taiwan is China”

The assorted French Left is still a major player today and @JLMelenchon is the presidential candidate for the largest bloc on the Left

It says a lot about where politics has gone that he considers this an acceptable opinion for a presidential campaign

[LCI @LCI]

🗣️ "Taïwan, c’est la Chine", lance @JLMelenchon

💬 "Si la Chine prend Taïwan et si je suis élu président de la République, nous ne nous en mêlerons pas. Nous ne ferons jamais la guerre à la Chine."

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

Macron set on a naval mission excluding the US/Israel.

Merz still looking for 🇺🇸 involvement and a legal resolution (UNSC) but willing to send ships.

Italy and UK both on board

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

Iran announces that the Strait of Hormuz is now open

Only the US is blockading the strait now …

This comes as UK, France and some 30 allies are discussing a defensive mission to protect shipping during a ceasefire. Call ongoing at the Elysee

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

Trump isn’t budging on Hormuz

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

I did not have Iran setting the cultural tone for the use of AI on my news bingo card

[Iran Embassy SA @IraninSA]

And today’s popular music: “blockade” by Trump.

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

Always nice when a colleague digs your lede

Thanks @kaitlancollins

[Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins]

"There’s no escape from the tax collector. At least that’s what Benjamin Brière must have felt after his return from three and half years as a hostage in Iran when he got that message that we all dread: he hadn’t filed his taxes."
https://t.co/FHqKZ8qf9P

[Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins]

"There’s no escape from the tax collector. At least that’s what Benjamin Brière must have felt after his return from three and half years as a hostage in Iran when he got that message that we all dread: he hadn’t filed his taxes."
https://t.co/FHqKZ8qf9P

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

Polish PM Donald Tusk to new Hungary PM:

“I’m so happy. I think I’m happier than you”

EU glee at finally freeing themselves of thorn-in-the-side Orban on full display (he chose to tweet this!)

[UNIFIL @UNIFIL_]

On two occasions today, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers rammed UNIFIL vehicles with a Merkava tank, in one case causing significant damage. The soldiers had blocked a road in Bayada that is used to access UNIFIL positions.

[Maya Gebeily @GebeilyM]

"We're waiting to find the deceased's foot so his family can put it with the rest of his body and bury him."

Cannot get these words from a civil defense worker yesterday out of my head

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

My all-time favourite correction

Thank you @nytimes

[Sara Germano @germanotes]

Still my favorite (love you, FT)

[Idrees Ali @idreesali114]

A woman trapped in a damaged building waits to be rescued following an Israeli strike, in Beirut, Lebanon, April 8, 2026. REUTERS/Emilie Madi

[Dalal Mawadدلال معوض @dalalmawad]

This is the largest number of Israeli airstrikes at once on Beirut since the beginning of the war. #Lebanon

[Joseph Ataman @JosephAtaman]

Two French hostages released by Iran after 3.5 years

French ship also transited the Strait of
Hormuz last week

Likely signs of back-channel diplomacy between Iran and Western powers (not USA).

In Tehran’s interest to see US and EU divided on the war

[Emmanuel Macron @EmmanuelMacron]

Cécile Kohler et Jacques Paris sont libres et en chemin vers le territoire français, après trois ans et demi de détention en Iran. C’est un soulagement pour nous tous et évidemment pour leurs familles.

Merci aux autorités omanaises pour leurs efforts de médiation, aux services de l’État et aux citoyens qui se sont mobilisés sans relâche et ont ainsi contribué à leur retour.

[Lizzie Porterلِيزي بورتر @lcmporter]

I was freelance for four years and i think things have only deteriorated since. People who don't work in this field are often shocked when you tell them how low the wages are. How long you wait to get paid and how much you have to beat down accounting departments' doors to get money you are owed for work you did months ago. How little support there is from media outlets who themselves are all stretched. How some editors (not all) can just change their minds half way through an assignment and decide that they don't want your work anymore (ie, you don't get paid, or get paid a fraction of the original agreed sum), or decide that they are going to get a staffer to do the job instead.

[Becky Anderson @BeckyCNN]

A French-owned container ship crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. Has there been any communication between French representatives and Tehran to ensure the vessel's passage? Here is what @PorteParoleMEAE had to say: (1/2)