Glenn Diesen - Greater Eurasia Podcast Marco Carnelos: Europe in the Middle East - Irrelevant, Destructive & Subservient
Oct 21, 2025
Marco Carnelos, a seasoned diplomat and former special envoy for the Middle East, dives deep into Europe's declining influence in the region. He highlights the unpredictable nature of Middle Eastern politics and critiques Western mistakes, particularly how the EU's reliance on the US has undermined its own diplomatic strength. Carnelos also discusses the implications of the Gaza conflict on regional dynamics and questions the portrayal of Iran as Israel's primary threat. His insights illuminate the shifting power landscape where China and Russia play a growing role.
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External Powers Dominate Regional Dynamics
- The Middle East's main influencers are often external or non-Arab regional actors rather than local populations.
- U.S. policy swings make long-term regional predictions unreliable.
European Influence Has Declined Sharply
- Europe shifted from an active partner to an increasingly irrelevant and sometimes counterproductive actor in Middle East affairs.
- Europeans now often follow U.S. decisions rather than moderating them.
Italy's Hands-On Role In Iraq
- Italy led a sizeable stabilization and training mission in Iraq and deployed troops to protect Mosul Dam.
- Italians conducted delicate talks with pro-Iran Shia groups to stabilize the ground situation.