Max Bergmann

Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Stuart Center
Max Bergmann

Max Bergmann is the director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and the Stuart Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Prior to joining CSIS he was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, where he focused on Europe, Russia, and U.S. security cooperation. From 2011 to 2017, he served in the U.S. Department of State in a number of different positions, including as a member of the secretary of state’s policy planning staff, where he focused on political-military affairs and nonproliferation; special assistant to the undersecretary for arms control and international security; speechwriter to then secretary of state John Kerry; and senior adviser to the assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs. Before serving in the State Department, Bergmann worked at the Center for American Progress as a military and nonproliferation policy analyst and at the National Security Network as the deputy policy director. Bergmann holds a master’s degree in comparative politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Bates College. His recent commentary has been published in outlets such as Politico (March 2022, August 2022), the Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, and Sasakawa USA.

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The Eurofile

Iran War Fallout and Hungary's Pivotal Election

Max and Donatienne discuss the Iran war and this week’s Hungarian election before turning to a conversation with Federico Steinberg on the war's economic costs for Europe.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Donatienne Ruy, and Federico Steinberg — April 9, 2026

CSIS
The Eurofile

Previewing Hungary’s Election: Will Orbán Be Defeated?

Max and Donatienne are joined by Zselyke Csaky, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, to preview the Hungarian election on April 12.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann and Donatienne Ruy — April 2, 2026

CSIS
Russian Roulette

How the Iran War and the Price of Oil Impact the Kremlin's Calculus

Max and Maria are joined by Hanna Notte and Janis Kluge for a deep dive on how the Iran war and turmoil in global energy markets continue to impact Russian foreign policy.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, Hanna Notte, and janis Kluge — April 2, 2026

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The Eurofile

Competitiveness, Climate, and Transatlantic Tensions feat. Teresa Ribera

Max and Donatienne are joined by Teresa Ribera—Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition—for a conversation on the EU's economic and climate agenda.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann and Donatienne Ruy — March 30, 2026

CSIS

Europe Needs Bold Economic Action in the Face of the Iran Shock

As the war in Iran disrupts global energy markets, Europe cannot afford to wait. The European Union must launch a bold, collectively financed response—accelerating electrification, supporting Ukraine, and finally building a true European energy union.

Commentary by Max Bergmann and Federico Steinberg — March 27, 2026

Europe Needs an ASAP Program for Air Defense

The U.S.-Iran war has exposed the fragility of Western air defense stockpiles. Europe must launch a crash program to scale up its own missile manufacturing before supply shortages leave Ukraine and the continent exposed.

Brief by Max Bergmann, Otto Svendsen, and Jonathan Burchell — March 23, 2026

Russian Roulette

Transnational Corruption in Foreign Policy Today

Max and Maria spoke with Alexander Cooley and Daniel Nexon about how authoritarian and illiberal governments leverage transnational corruption as part of their foreign policies and global strategies.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, Daniel Nexon, and Alexander Cooley — March 20, 2026

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