Cinzia Bianco

BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner, Professor of History Quinn Slobodian, Professor of sport and geopolitical economy Simon Chadwick, and visiting fellow Cinzia Bianco discuss Saudi Arabia's growing global influence, the discovery of oil, Mohammed bin Salman's rise to power, Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, the construction of NEOM, Saudi Arabia's interest in global sports, and the country's changing foreign policy.

Cinzia Bianco, ECFR Gulf specialist, on how Gulf states navigate fear and reluctant alignment. Jeremy Shapiro, ECFR research director, on US motives, domestic pressures and likely low-commitment strategies. Ellie Geranmayeh, Iran expert, on succession scenarios, IRGC influence and regional fallout. They discuss escalation risks, Gulf dilemmas, oil and Hormuz, and Europe's limited leverage.