Why was Iran’s national football team allowed to participate in the FIFA World Cup?  
A paradox that says a lot about the ambiguities and challenges of today’s world, and also about the contradictions of contemporary geopolitics.  
EGIC Director Matthew Robinson discusses it with Piercamillo Falasca, Head of the Strategic Foresight Unit.

On 1 May 2026, the United Arab Emirates formally exited OPEC and OPEC+ — ending a membership that dates back to 1967 and sending a signal that reverberates far beyond the oil market.

In this episode of Bridges, EGIC Director Matthew Robinson and Head of Strategic Foresight Piercamillo Falasca unpack what the decision really means: why Abu Dhabi chose to act now, in the middle of a regional war and with the Strait of Hormuz under pressure; what the Habshan-Fujairah bypass pipeline changes about Gulf energy architecture; and why the gap between the UAE's production capacity and its OPEC quota had become impossible to sustain. They also look at the wider consequences — for OPEC's future cohesion, for Saudi-UAE relations, for Iran's strategic leverage, and for Europe, which needs stable Gulf partners as it navigates the energy transition.

The picture that emerges is of a country that used a crisis to complete a transformation it had been preparing for years — and of a global energy order that is becoming more national, more flexible and more fragmented. Bridges is the podcast of the Euro-Gulf Information Centre, exploring the political, economic and strategic connections between Europe and the Gulf.

In this episode of Bridges, EGIC Director Matthew Robinson and Head of the Strategic Foresight Unit Piercamillo Falasca examine why the Strait of Hormuz is not just a Gulf security issue, but a direct European strategic concern. As tensions rise and maritime routes face growing threats, they argue that Europe can no longer afford caution, ambiguity, or passivity.

The conversation explores the economic, energy, and geopolitical consequences of instability in Hormuz, from oil and LNG flows to shipping costs, inflation, industrial resilience, and Europe’s wider credibility as a strategic actor. Robinson and Falasca make the case for a firmer European response: stronger maritime security, clearer political language, and a more serious partnership with Gulf states facing Iranian pressure.

This is the new episode of “Bridges”, the podcast of the Euro Gulf Information Centre, hosted by Director Matthew Robinson in collaboration with Policy Affairs Manager Piercamillo Falasca.

"The Muscat Accord and beyond: Gulf Power, Europe's Place" explores the shifting power dynamics in the Gulf, the prospects of the Muscat Accord, and the role Europe can play in this changing global landscape.

Tune in and discover what lies ahead!

In this pilot episode of Bridges, Matthew Robinson and Piercamillo Falasca examine the European Union’s response to the renewed wave of US tariffs under President Trump and explore realistic pathways for diversifying Europe’s trade partnerships. At the heart of the conversation is the strategic potential of the Gulf region as a commercial, energy, and technology partner.

Featuring updated data, discussions on projects like the India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC), joint green investments, and scientific cooperation, this episode offers a comprehensive look at how Europe can build a more balanced and resilient geopolitical future.

🔗 Bridges is a podcast by the Euro Gulf Information Centre (EGIC).