Key Topics

• U.S. pressure on Ukraine — How Trump’s approach to Zelensky and Ukraine is shaping the war and diplomatic negotiations.
• Intelligence and Starlink support — Why intelligence-sharing, targeting, and communications can be as critical as weapons on the battlefield.
• U.S.–Russia relations and the diesel deal — The implications of reported U.S. energy dealings with Moscow for sanctions, oil markets, and Putin’s position.
• Europe’s support for Ukraine — Whether European countries can sustain support and compensate if U.S. backing weakens.
• NATO’s security challenges — Alliance cohesion, hybrid threats, and the changing demands of collective defense.
• U.S. domestic politics and foreign policy — How political pressures in Washington, including the midterms, may influence decisions abroad.
• Houthi attacks and Saudi Arabia’s security — The impact of attacks on airports and energy infrastructure.
• Drones and asymmetric warfare — How lower-cost weapons challenge conventional military defenses.
• Red Sea security and global trade — The risks that regional conflict poses to shipping routes and supply chains.
• The future of U.S. alliances — How uncertainty about American commitments is affecting the calculations of partners in Europe, Ukraine, and the Gulf.

Links

Carla Anne Robbins - https://www.cfr.org/experts/carla-anne-robbins

Shona Murray - https://events.euronews.com/euronews-on-air/speaker/1136912/shona-murray
Elise Labott - https://substack.com/@eliselabott

Michael Shear - https://www.nytimes.com/by/michael-d-shear

Ivo Daalder - https://www.ivodaalder.com/

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.org
World Review with Ivo Daalder — belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

The panel assesses the Middle East after years of regional war, asking whether Israel’s military gains have come at the expense of lasting security, political stability, and international support. They also discuss how the conflict has reshaped American politics and weakened confidence in U.S. leadership across the region.

The conversation then turns to Ukraine, where battlefield developments, pressure on civilian infrastructure, and proposed business deals with Russia raise new questions about the path to peace. Finally, the group considers the rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak in Congo and whether a more inward-looking U.S. response could leave both America and the world less prepared.

Links

Matthew Kaminski - https://cepa.org/author/matthew-kaminski/
Anton Troianovski - https://www.nytimes.com/by/anton-troianovski
Yasmeen Abutaleb - https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/yasmeen-abutaleb/

Ivo Daalder - https://www.ivodaalder.com/

Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs — belfercenter.org
World Review with Ivo Daalder — belfercenter.org/world-review-ivo-daalder

China, Iraq, and Brexit: three shifts with global consequences

Ivo Daalder is joined by Ken Moriyasu, Carla Anne Robbins, and Giles Whittell to examine the strategy and symbolism behind three major international stories. The panel discusses Xi Jinping’s Washington visit and how the language around World War II could support Beijing’s preferred historical narrative. They consider whether the White House understood the significance of its messaging, and what the summit reveals about the wider U.S.-China relationship. The conversation then turns to the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. The guests explore whether the move benefits Iran, what it could mean for Iraq’s security and the fight against ISIS, and how American allies might interpret Washington’s changing commitments. Finally, they look at Britain’s revived Brexit debate. With economic growth and trade increasingly central to the discussion, the panel considers what renewed EU ties could mean for the UK—and what rejoining would require.

In this episode:

• Xi’s visit and the politics of historical narratives
• U.S.-China competition and strategic messaging
• The consequences of the U.S. exit from Iraq
• Iran’s influence, Iraqi security, and the ISIS threat
• Britain’s changing debate about Brexit and EU membership
• What these stories suggest about U.S. global priorities

Guests:

Ken Moriyasu, Carla Anne Robbins, and Giles Whittell