Key Topics

• The implications of the US indicting Cuba's former president Raul Castro and what regime change might look like
• The impact of President Trump's summit with Xi Jinping on Taiwan’s security and US strategic ambiguity
• The political crisis in Britain, the decline of the Labour Party, and the future of UK leadership
• How European countries view US and China strategies in the context of Taiwan and broader global influence
• The potential for a shifting European posture towards closer integration with the EU and re-evaluating Brexit

Links

Philip Stephens - philipstephens.net

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

Anton LaGuardia - economist.com/people/anton-la-guardia

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs —

belfercenter.org

World Review with Ivo Daalder —

belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

Key Topics

• The symbolism and outcomes of President Trump's meeting with President Xi in Beijing
• Russia's economic and military challenges amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine
• The strategic stalemate in the Persian Gulf and its global implications
• The evolving U.S.-China relationship and its impact on global geopolitics
• Iran's nuclear ambitions and the potential for diplomatic resolutions
• The role of symbolism in international diplomacy
• The impact of U.S. domestic politics on foreign policy
• Europe's response to shifting global power dynamics

Links

Yannis Palaiologos -

insidestory.gr

Carla Robbins -

cfr.org/experts/carla-anne-robbins

Jamil Anderlini -

politico.eu/staff/jamil-anderlini

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs —

belfercenter.org

World Review with Ivo Daalder —

belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

Key Topics

• The emergence of war crimes trials in Syria and their impact on societal reconciliation
• The break between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over oil production and regional influence
• The decline of US-European relations amid troop withdrawals, trade disputes, and strategic disagreements
• The instability in Lebanon and the implications for Israeli and Lebanese relations
• The evolving nature of Middle Eastern geopolitics, including Iran's regional posture and Israel's security
• The influence of U.S. policy decisions, including Syria’s oil pipelines and the Iran nuclear negotiations

Links

Deborah Amos - journalism.princeton.edu/people/deborah-amos-2018

Steven Erlanger - nytimes.com/by/steven-erlanger

Felicia Schwartz - politico.com/staff/felicia-schwartz

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs —

belfercenter.org

World Review with Ivo Daalder —

belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

• The Iran War stalemate and dual blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the mounting pressure on both sides to reach a deal
• Iran's hardliners consolidating power and the growing likelihood the regime pursues nuclear weapons as a deterrent
• King Charles III's address to a joint session of Congress and its surprising ability to unite a deeply divided chamber
• The diplomatic lesson of royalty and why pomp and circumstance may be more effective than elected leaders in dealing with Trump
• Germany's unprecedented defense spending surge and what it means for NATO, European autonomy, and the transatlantic relationship
• Trump's threats to withdraw US troops from Germany, Italy, and Spain, and whether they signal policy or political posturing
• The economic toll of the Iran War on European publics, with inflation rising and governments increasingly vulnerable to far-right challengers
• Europe's fundamental challenge of broad agreement on what needs to be done, paired with near-total failure to agree on how to do it
• The AFD surpassing Merz's CDU in German polls for the first time, signaling deepening public discontent
• The limits of strategic autonomy and why Germany's reliance on American nuclear guarantees and weapons systems keeps it tethered to NATO and Washington

• The evolving ceasefire and military dynamics in Ukraine, including the Western response and Ukraine's increasing technological resilience
• Lebanon’s fragile ceasefire extension, Hezbollah's role, and opportunities for strengthening Lebanese sovereignty
• Iran’s nuclear ambitions, domestic fractures, and the prospects for a diplomatic resolution amid US-Iran tensions
• The impact of US foreign policy, regional alliances, and the importance of strategic patience and expertise
• Ukraine’s military remains strong, with signs of a shift in the battlefield, including increasing drone attacks deep inside Russia
• Europe is rethinking its security posture, increasingly looking towards Ukraine’s resilience and local defense capabilities
• Lebanon’s internal political landscape offers a window for US and European allies to support state-building and disarmament efforts
• Iran faces multiple asymmetries—geographical, military, and trust-related—that complicate negotiations and potential agreements
• US influence in the Middle East is waning, highlighting the need for regional actors to diversify alliances and strengthen capabilitiesThe Iran ceasefire and US naval blockade: what's holding and what isn't

Key Topics

• The Iran ceasefire and US naval blockade: what's holding and what isn't
• US-Iran negotiations in Pakistan: prospects for a deal and the limits of unilateral diplomacy
• Europe's divided response: the Paris talks between Macron and Starmer and the question of inserting Europeans into the negotiations
• The Strait of Hormuz as Iran's ultimate leverage — and what "open" really means for trapped mariners
• Viktor Orbán's stunning defeat in Hungary: the economy, corruption, and the cohesion funds that sealed his fate
• Peter Magyar and TISA: how new is Hungary's new direction, and what does it mean for the EU and Ukraine?
• Orbán's fall as a setback for Putin, Trump, and the global far-right populist network
• Trump's feud with Pope Leo XIV: the politics of attacking the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics
• Hispanic and Catholic voters: the political costs of the President vs. Pope standoff
• The limits of populism: from Budapest to Washington, is the far right losing its popular touch?

Links

• Christina Ruffini — https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AX7AZxLijDQ/christina-ruffini
• Karin Axelsson — https://politiken.dk/person/7961_Karin_Axelsson
• Jamie Dettmer — politico.eu/author/jamie-dettmer
• Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.org
• World Review with Ivo Daalder — belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

Key Topics

• The fragile Iran ceasefire: achievements and uncertainties
• US presidential objectives and their evolution during the Iran conflict
• NATO's membership challenges amid US skepticism and strategic disagreements
• The influence of domestic politics on international alliances
• The strategic implications of the Strait of Hormuz closure
• The future of transatlantic relations and alliance cohesion
• Pakistan’s mediating role and regional power shifts
• The impact of US military actions on Middle Eastern geopolitics
• Broader implications for global stability post-Ukraine and Afghanistan

Links

David Luhnow - wsj.com/news/author/david-luhnow

Michael Birnbaum - washingtonpost.com/people/michael-birnbaum

Catherine Philp - thetimes.com/profile/catherine-philp

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

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

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