In this episode of War & Peace, Olga is joined by Crisis Group’s head of EU Affairs, Lisa Musiol, to take stock of how the EU and European capitals have responded to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. They discuss how coordinated this response has been, the balancing act of trying to preserve the transatlantic relationship while avoiding being drawn directly into the conflict, and what lessons can be drawn for further dealings with a U.S. administration that continues to flout international law. They also examine the fallout of the war for Europe, including energy shocks and pressure on support for Ukraine, and the structural constraints that make it hard for the EU to shape major crises rather than simply react to them. Finally, they explore what role the EU and European capitals might play in post-ceasefire diplomacy with Iran, whether closer cooperation with Gulf Arab states is likely, and why, despite its limitations, the EU still matters in many crises around the world.

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For more, check out our Watch List 2026 – Spring Edition as well as our Middle East & North Africa page.