Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes

Jana Kobzova, co-director of ECFR’s European Security Programme and Ukraine expert, discusses how the Iran war reshapes Ukraine’s struggle. She maps shifting US air-defence support and interceptor shortages. She highlights stalled diplomacy, rising oil revenues that aid Russia, and growing strains within Europe that risk weakening backing for Kyiv.

Piotr Buras, Warsaw-based ECFR analyst on Polish security. Arturo Varvelli, Rome ECFR expert on Italian politics. Camille Lons, Paris ECFR analyst on French defense. Jana Puglierin, Berlin ECFR specialist on German foreign policy. Carla Hobbs, head of ECFR Madrid on Spanish politics. They debate Spain’s firm rejection of the Iran war. They unpack Germany’s balancing act, France’s show of force, Italy’s ambiguity and Poland’s cautious margin.

Aziz Alghashian, Gulf policy analyst, Ellie Geranmayeh, Europe–MENA policy expert, and Eran Etzion, former Israeli diplomat, discuss shifting regional power after attacks on Iranian infrastructure. They examine Iran’s new leadership, Israel’s strategic aims and domestic politics, Gulf states’ dilemma between restraint and escalation, and prospects for negotiation and a regional security conference.

Raja Mohan, academic and foreign policy analyst known for expertise on Indian geopolitics, offers a candid take on India’s global stance. He discusses India balancing ties with the US, China and Russia. He explains deepening economic and security links with Europe and the idea of an Indo‑Mediterranean space. He outlines practical coalitions for regional stability and tech, defense, and trade realignments.

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.

Jennifer Kavanagh, senior fellow and director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, outlines an "armed nonalignment" for Ukraine. She discusses deterrence-focused defenses, force-size and reserve estimates, territorial trade-offs like fortress belts, costs and logistics of long-term support, and how U.S. retrenchment and transatlantic ties shape Kyiv’s options.

Mark Malloch-Brown, seasoned UN and development leader, reflects on how World Bank and IMF roles have shifted in a multipolar era. He discusses why 1945 structures no longer fit. He explores rising regional banks, China's influence, risks of politicised lending, and how institutions might refocus on surveillance, partnerships, and country ownership.

Janka Oertel, ECFR policy expert on European foreign policy and China. Ulrike Franke, defence and tech specialist on Europe’s military autonomy. Jeremy Cliffe, editorial director focused on international political dynamics. Majda Ruge, transatlantic and security policy analyst. They discuss Munich Security Conference highlights: US-Europe tensions, NATO’s future, China framing, tech regulation, Zelensky’s appearance and Europe’s defence and industrial shifts.

Elbridge Colby, senior U.S. defense official and strategist, discusses NATO 3.0 and why Europe must rebuild conventional forces. He explains flexible realism and America First priorities. Conversations cover Ukraine support limits, nuclear deterrence, managing Russia and China, Taiwan posture, and driving European rearmament and defense industry cooperation.

Jim O’Brien, former U.S. assistant secretary of state and transatlantic policy expert, and Tiago Antunes, former Portuguese secretary of state with firsthand reporting from Nuuk. They trace the Greenland crisis: how tensions rose and were diffused, why visible deterrence and European unity mattered, Greenlanders’ reactions on the ground, and the island’s economic and political prospects.