World Review with Ivo Daalder

Key Topics

The details and potential consequences of the US-Saudi civil nuclear agreement and its departure from previous non-proliferation standards

The strategic importance of the Iran war, nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, and regional reactions to new US policies

The Trump administration's approach to tariffs aimed at combating forced labor and their impact on international trade

UK’s post-election foreign policy outlook under Prime Minister Burnham, focusing on relations with Europe, the US, and support for Ukraine

NATO defense commitments, international defense spending, and how UK’s role in security continues to shape global stability

The influence of the UK’s domestic political landscape on its foreign policy and international partnerships

Links

Hugh Tomlinson — https://x.com/hughtomlinson

Felicia Schwartz — https://x.com/felschwartz?lang=en

Robbie Gramer — https://x.com/robbiegramer

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.org

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

In this episode, we take a critical look at FIFA, global sports politics, and the way major international events can reveal deeper institutional problems.

Key Topics

Criticism of FIFA leadership and governance

How scandals reveal an organization’s true priorities

The political meaning of the World Cup and other major sporting events

Large events can temporarily distract from deeper structural failures.

Leadership is best judged under crisis, not during calm moments.

Institutions often protect reputation before they protect integrity.

Links

Mehreen Khan – https://x.com/MehreenKhn?lang=en

Edward Luce – https://x.com/EdwardGLuce

Bobby Ghosh – https://bobbyghosh.substack.com/

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.org

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

In this episode of World Review, we explore the shifting dynamics shaping global security, from tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and U.S.-Iran brinkmanship to the political and military challenges facing Ukraine. The conversation also examines Gaza’s stalled recovery efforts and the role leadership style plays in both diplomacy and war.

Key topics include:

Escalation risks in the Middle East

Internal debates over U.S. military strategy

Ukraine’s drone warfare innovation and leadership disputes

Gaza reconstruction obstacles

How trust, coalition-building, and execution shape international outcomes

The episode offers a sharp look at how geopolitics, technology, and political decision-making collide in real time.

Key Topics

Renewed fighting between the United States and Iran

Whether the Strait of Hormuz could become a toll-based choke point

NATO unity, Trump’s unpredictability, and Europe’s response

Greenland tensions and the future of transatlantic relations

Russia’s fuel crisis, drone strikes, and domestic pressure on Putin

The broader shift toward rearmament and a more fragmented world order

 

Links

Karin Axelsson - https://politiken.dk/person/7961_Karin_Axelsson

Anna Sauerbrey - https://ces.fas.harvard.edu/people/anna-sauerbrey

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

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.org

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

Key Topics

How the American experiment of government based on consent and inalienable rights ignited global movements and reshaped societies, from Europe to Asia.

The complex legacy of America’s post-1945 institutional order, the Marshall Plan, NATO, United Nations, and whether this framework still works or if it's fundamentally broken.

The rise of competing models like China’s authoritarian capitalism and the implications for democracies worldwide.

Why America’s internal struggles, polarization, and quest for national self-redefinition threaten its ability to lead and inspire future generations.

The risks and opportunities of a world where the U.S. steps back, and other nations forge a new, possibly more interdependent, global order.

Links

Zanny Minton Beddoes - https://mediadirectory.economist.com/people/zanny-minton-beddoes/

James Harding - https://observer.co.uk/contributor/james-harding

Sylvie Kauffmann - https://www.lemonde.fr/en/signataires/sylvie-kauffmann/

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.org

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