What is next for the Middle East: moving beyond cycles of war and instability?

20 June 2024
Policy Dialogue

Speakers: Hamidreza Azizi, Visiting Fellow, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP); Silvia Colombo, Researcher, NATO Defense College & Associate Fellow, Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI); Aaron David Miller, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Moderator: Mihai Chihaia, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre

This online Policy Dialogue took stock of recent developments in the Middle East region; namely the war in Gaza, the Red Sea crisis, the prospects for the upcoming presidential elections in Iran, and the implications for Iran’s external relations and the region.

The discussion touched upon the US efforts to push forward a roadmap for an enduring ceasefire and the role the EU could play in this process.

This Dialogue focused on the key drivers and trends that will shape potential future developments in the Middle East region, such as creating a more integrated EU approach, and what might be next for the US involvement in the region after the US presidential elections.

Chapters

00:00 - 00:29 - Intro
03:30 - 15:50 - An overview of the current situation in the region
15:50 - 29:21 - Biden's ceasefire plan
29:22 - 38:36 - Presidential elections in Iran
38:37 - 45:12 - The role of the EU
45:13 - 51:33 - The impact of a potential Trump administration
51:34 - 58:08 - The 'red line' for the Iranian leadership
58:09 - 01:03:10 - Escalation between Hezbollah and Israel
01:03:11 - 01:03:43 - Outro