European Institute for Studies on
the Middle East and North Africa

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In this interview with Pascal Ausseur (former French Navy officer and Director General of the Mediterranean Foundation for Strategic Studies – FMES) joins EISMENA to discuss today’s shifting geopolitical landscape—from the Arab world’s strategic recalibrations to the Israel–Palestine war, Iran’s regional position, Turkey’s trajectory, and Europe’s role in an increasingly fragmented world. This episode explores the political, security, and societal dynamics shaping the region, and why long-term analysis matters more than ever.

Chapters

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:00 Pascal Ausseur’s background (Navy, strategy, FMES)

00:06:05 Global shifts & Europe’s strategic wake-up call

00:14:20 Regional power dynamics (Iran, Russia, Turkey, Mediterranean)

00:22:00 Arab world pragmatism: security & economic priorities

00:35:00 Israel–Palestine after Oct 7: politics, society, war dynamics

00:42:00 Emotion, narratives & public opinion in wartime

00:49:02 Netanyahu, sovereignty, ceasefire politics & the far right

01:00:00 Turkey’s trajectory and the Kurdish question

01:11:20 Iran–Syria–Lebanon: Hezbollah, escalation risks, regional balances

01:21:03 Generational shift, Europe’s aging, and the role of think tanks

01:25:26 Closing & where to follow EISMENA

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