Episode 26: Understanding the new political geography of the Middle East

In this special episode, Kori Schake, Deputy Director-General of the IISS, leads a panel of experts to reflect on the major themes of the debate at the IISS Manama Dialogue 2019.Opening the discussion is John Raine, Senior Adviser for Geopolitical Due Diligence, who addresses the changes to the political geography of the Middle East already underway and what they mean for the myriad of internationalised challenges the region is currently facing.Hasan Alhasan, IISS Associate Fellow, notes the deepening geo-economic relationship between the Gulf and Asia, and especially China and India. One challenge Hasan foresees is how Gulf states will effectively convert these burgeoning economic relationships into greater diplomatic and security support from Asian countries. Senior Fellow for Middle East Security, Emile Hokayem, stresses the need to avoid complacency at a time of intense instability in the region. For Emile, battlefield dynamics continue to determine outcomes far more than political processes. Until the various geopolitical competitions being played out across the Middle East are resolved, Emile predicts instability will likely continue. Finally, Bastian Giegerich, IISS Director of Defence and Military Analysis, voices his concerns over NATO as it struggles with a series of internal challenges that have limited its ability to reassure its partners in the Middle East and to present a unified front against pressing regional concerns.Date of recording: 24 November 2019This episode was recorded at the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.Theme music: ‘Safety in Numbers’ by We Were Promised Jetpacks.

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