Key Topics

The real implications of the Strait of Hormuz closing—how it’s causing energy shocks, economic disruptions, and geopolitical shifts.

Why Israel’s military campaign, despite overwhelming strength, might be eroding its long-term security stability.

The calculus shaping Gulf leaders’ fears and hopes amid rising regional tensions.

Inside the secret strategies and political dilemmas that threaten to turn localized conflicts into larger regional or even global crises.

Hosted by Harvard’s Belfer Center, this episode offers powerful insights into international security, regional politics, and the broader implications for global stability.

Links

Bobby Ghosh - bobbyghosh.substack.com

Gideon Rachman - ft.com/gideon-rachman

Isabel Coles - observer.co.uk/contributor/isabel-coles

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs - belfercenter.org/

World Review with Ivo Daalder - belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

Key Topics

• President Trump's claims of Iran begging for a deal and the US military's posture in the Gulf
• The rift between the US and Europe, NATO's limited involvement, and European responses
• The impact of recent European elections on future political directions
• The emerging global payment systems bypassing traditional US sanctions
• The broader implications of US and European foreign policy strategies

Links

Edward Luce - ft.com/edward-luce

Peter Speigel - https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/peter-spiegel/

Stefanie Bolzen - welt.de/autor/stefanie-bolzen/

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs - belfercenter.org/

World Review with Ivo Daalder - belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

Key Topics

• The escalation of the Iran war entering its fourth week, with detailed analysis of Iran’s military capabilities, sanctions, and the potential for reopening the Strait of Hormuz
• The impact of the Iran conflict on US-China relations, including the fate of the planned US summit with Xi Jinping and China's strategic positioning amid military pressures
• The US approach to Cuba, including the potential for regime change, economic sanctions, and the long-term implications of current US policies
• The role of Middle Eastern Gulf states in the conflict, their vulnerabilities, and their shifting alliances with the US and Israel
• The broader geopolitical landscape, including the exhaustion of military resources and the strategic calculations of adversaries like Russia and China

Links

Karen DeYoung - washingtonpost.com/people/karen-deyoung

Robbie Gramer - wsj.com/news/author/robbie-gramer

Yaroslav Trofimov - wsj.com/news/author/yaroslav-trofimov

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs - belfercenter.org/

World Review with Ivo Daalder - belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder