World Review with 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